Last Updated on July 18, 2023 by Kittredge Cherry
A theology of embodied love, music about Biblical pair David and Jonathan, and the lives of committed queer Christian heroes are highlighted in four new LGBTQ books this month.
The books are “Carnal Knowledge of God: Embodied Love and the Movement for Justice” by Rebecca Voelkel, “Jonathan’s Loves, David’s Laments: Gay Theology, Musical Desires, and Historical Difference” by Dirk von der Horst, “Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray” by Rosalind Rosenberg, and “Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World” by Sarah Prager.
“Jonathan’s Loves , David’s Laments: Gay Theology, Musical Desires, and Historical Difference” by Dirk von der Horst.
Music based on the same-sex love between Biblical heroes David and Jonathan is explored in this interdisciplinary book. The author connects the writings of LGBTQ theologians and Bible scholars with early modern musical interpretations by composers such as Handel and Weelkes. Queer possibilities are reinforced when he listens closely to the music with scholarly exegesis and historical analysis of whether the love between Jonathan and David was homoerotic. Foreword by pioneering feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether. The author teaches religions at Mount St. Mary’s University, Los Angeles. Published by Pickwick, and imprint of Wipf and Stock.
“Carnal Knowledge of God: Embodied Love and the Movement for Justice” by Rebecca Voelkel.
A theological vision of embodied love emerges from the author’s experience as an LGBTQ activist, pastor and theologian. Her approach covers four paths: the Via Positiva or Positive Way that claims the gift of sexuality and celebrates God in creation and incarnation, the Via Negativa or Negative Way that honors the suffering of colonized bodies, the Via Creativa or Creative Way that finds resurrection and resistance through artistic expression, and the Via Transformativa or Transformative Way with eschatological strategies for building a movement to transform the future. The author is an ordained United Church of Christ minister and director of the Center for Sustainable Justice. She came out as a lesbian in 1990 and served as interim national coordinator for the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns. Published by Fortress Press.
“Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray” by Rosalind Rosenberg.
The queer side of Pauli Murray is explored in this definitive biography, along with her accomplishments as lawyer, advocate for racial and gender equality, and the first black woman to become an Episcopal priest. Murray believed from childhood that she was male, admitted to “homosexual tendencies” and tried to convince doctors to treat her with testosterone. While serving on a presidential commission on women, she used the idea of “Jane Crow” to show similarities between racial and gender discrimination. The author is professor emerita of history at Barnard College, Columbia University. Published by Oxford University Press.
“Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World” by Sarah Prager (author), Zoe More O’Ferrall (artist).
Devout LGBTQ Christians are among the diverse people profiled in this hip history book for teens, including cross-dressing saint Joan of Arc, 9/11 hero and gay priest Mychal Judge, and Sor Juana de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican nun who wrote love poems to a queen. Gay Quaker civil rights leader Bayard Rustin is covered, along with more famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt. The breezy tone and illustrations make history fun. The author is an activist and founder of Quist, a free mobile app about queer history. Published by HarperCollins.
Just released
“Retreating Forward: A Spiritual Practice with Transgender Persons” by David Elias Weekley. Foreword by David Equality Watters. Published by Wipf and Stock.
Coming soon and available for pre-order
June 13, 2017
“Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity” by James Martin. Published by HarperOne.
June 30, 2017
“The Straight Mind in Corinth: Queer Readings across 1 Corinthians 11:2-16” by Gillian Townsley. Published by SBL Press.
Sept. 4, 2017
“A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth” by Cody J. Sanders. Published by Westminster John Knox Press.
More LGBTQ Christian books
New in May 2017: “Visions of Sodom” and “119: My Life as a Bisexual Christian”
New in April 2017: “Trust Truth” and “For I am Wonderfully Made”
Top 35 LGBTQ Christian books of 2016 named
Top 25 LGBTQ Christian books of 2015 named
Top 25 LGBTQ Christian books of 2014 named
Basic LGBTQ Christian books: Where to start?
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