We can easily fall into the trap of only thinking about our position.
It’s much tougher to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and process through what they are thinking or feeling.
In hopes of helping us do that in one of the more sensitive areas of our culture, here are 6 questions I believe gay students are asking about us and our ministries:
- How is it possible for me to relate to Christians in a church context?
- Will everyone define me as “gay?”
- Will people think I chose to be like this?
- Do they think I’m going to hit on them?
- Will they kick me out if I’m honest?
- Will I be able to fit in with everyone or will I be treated differently?
Food for thought!
Chuck
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Thanks for sharing. This is definitely something to think through. How do you facilitate the environment to be welcoming to those who struggle with this so they can be open about it?
If a teen confessed to being gay, how would you respond?
Thanks,
-Justin
Thanks for sharing. This is definitely something to think through. How do you facilitate the environment to be welcoming to those who struggle with this so they can be open about it?
If a teen confessed to being gay, how would you respond?
Thanks,
-Justin
It’s such a touchy subject for churches. These are great questions to consider, especially for any of us who haven’t yet paused to answer those questions ourselves. Personally, I think that this topic should be one we breach much more often.
It’s such a touchy subject for churches. These are great questions to consider, especially for any of us who haven’t yet paused to answer those questions ourselves. Personally, I think that this topic should be one we breach much more often.
How do we as parents approach a Youth Pastor about our son who struggles with his sexuality?
How do we as parents approach a Youth Pastor about our son who struggles with his sexuality?
This is a very important conversation for youth workers to be having right now. Mark Yarhouse is one of the most reasonable and balanced Christian voices I have heard on this subject. He has a new book, Understanding Sexual Identity, written specifically for Christian youth workers to help them understand how to allow space to have a conversation with someone who is experiencing same-sex attraction, as well as how to lovingly address all issues of gender identity in youth ministries.
This is a very important conversation for youth workers to be having right now. Mark Yarhouse is one of the most reasonable and balanced Christian voices I have heard on this subject. He has a new book, Understanding Sexual Identity, written specifically for Christian youth workers to help them understand how to allow space to have a conversation with someone who is experiencing same-sex attraction, as well as how to lovingly address all issues of gender identity in youth ministries.