A Charismatic Learning: Open and Affirming Ministry in a Methodist Congregation
“Open and affirming” connotes ministry that is fully inclusive of LGBTQIA+ persons. As a participant-observer, the author employed narrative theory to learn how members of a congregation recently committed to this ministry understood their faith in relation to the queer experiences of their sisters...
| Published in: | International journal of practical theology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2018
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| In: |
International journal of practical theology
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Grandview United Methodist Church (Lancaster, Pa.)
/ LGBT
/ Inclusion (Sociology)
/ Holy Spirit
/ History 2005-2017
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| IxTheo Classification: | KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBQ North America KDD Protestant Church NBG Pneumatology; Holy Spirit NCF Sexual ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Faith witness
Methodism
Homosexuality
Geistesgabe
Story
B Testimony Methodism homosexuality charism narrative |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | “Open and affirming” connotes ministry that is fully inclusive of LGBTQIA+ persons. As a participant-observer, the author employed narrative theory to learn how members of a congregation recently committed to this ministry understood their faith in relation to the queer experiences of their sisters and brothers in Christ. This article offers a descriptive and interpretative account of their theological understanding of open and affirming ministry. Prior commitments—trust, respect for differences of opinion, and ongoing theological learning—created openness to the surprising work of the Holy Spirit. This research identifies radically inclusive love as a charism enabling this congregation to overcome not only LGBTQIA+ exclusion but also to address many other human-created barriers to loving God and neighbor. Die Selbstkennzeichnung „open and affirming“ meint Gemeindearbeit, die sich an Personen aller sexueller Orientierungen (LGBTQIA+) wendet. Die Artikel stellt die Ergebnisse einer erzähltheoretisch grundierten Studie zu einer Kirchengemeinde vor, die sich kürzlich zur stärkeren Inklusion queerer Personen entschlossen hatte. Basierend auf teilnehmender Beobachtung arbeitet der Autor u. a. unterschiedliche Verständnisse von „open and affirming“ heraus, die unter den Gemeindegliedern anzutreffen sind. Der Artikel plädiert für eine radikal inklusive Nächstenliebe im Interesse der Überwindung zwischenmenschlicher Trennung. |
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| ISSN: | 1612-9768 |
| Contains: | In: International journal of practical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1515/ijpt-2017-0014 |