ERIC: I’ve been thinking a lot lately about some of the BOTH/& tensions that are the heart of Generous Space and show up most tangibly in our gatherings. The BOTH/& that has been most persistently on my mind is the relationship between our core values of HOSPITALITY (welcoming missing voices) and JUSTICE (dismantling barriers to…
DetailsOne of the hallmarks of the Generous Space Community is the willingness to embrace “both / and.” Much of our world is split into an “either / or” mentality. Either you are liberal or you are conservative. Either you are affirming or you are non-affirming. Such polarity can quickly deteriorate into extremes and in worst…
DetailsWendy: A few weeks ago, I moderated a panel discussion that featured four panelists talking about faith communities, the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, and what that looks like as people hold diverse convictions about same-sex marriage. The panelists shared some things in common and some things that were distinctly different. While this was not a…
Details“I just can’t pray that way anymore.” Have you ever thought that? Your theology shifts, your ideas about who God is and how God works has changed what you think about prayer. It can be unsettling – even scary. “I didn’t hear the name of Jesus said even once in our group.” Do you ever…
DetailsLiving attuned to the depths of the longing in your being is a huge challenge. This Advent, in these crucifixion-tinged reflections, we’ve had the opportunity to consider the longing for love, for reconciliation; the longing to be free of shame and fear (including the shame and fear we feel about our longing to be known…
DetailsThe longing for things to be made right is part of our birthright. And while some have thrown this away for the bowl of stew of immediate, self-focused, gratification, there are still so many stories of every day heroes risking to care for another. A video of ducklings being saved from a storm drain garners…
DetailsI’ve been pondering recently just how queer our Christmas story is. Now, if you’re of a certain generation like me, queer might seem like a questionable word, one that has been used with derision or power-driven politics, and one that probably should be avoided. The kids tell me, however, that many are reclaiming the word…
DetailsLonging can be scary. Can you think back to an early memory of deeply hoping for something …. only to experience disappointment? Many of us learned early on to temper our desires. We do it for self-preservation. We do it in the hopes of holiness. We do it because we’re afraid. Incarnation is culmination of…
DetailsAs a young person, I experienced a traumatic betrayal and rejection. For many years, I daily thought about the person who had hurt me. These thoughts weren’t angry or vengeful. Rather, they were full of longing. A longing for reconciliation. A longing to experience the love we’d once shared, the sense of being known that…
DetailsI have been engaged in meeting with denominational leaders this fall. In particular, I’ve been meeting with leaders of Evangelical* churches (and by this term, I mean those denominations that hold to a high view of the authority of Scripture, the need for a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and the call to…
DetailsIf you’re at all engaged in the LGBTQ+ & faith conversation, you’ll be aware of the prevalence of ultimatums, boycotts, and public reactions. The latest in this sad barrage is the Jen Hatmaker story. A popular Evangelical author, Jen made some affirming statements about marriage equality and the need for the church to embrace LGBTQ+…
DetailsFor this month’s “Art Friday,” we’re excited to feature Eric Van Giessen, a member of our Toronto Generous Space Group, who recently published a zine of poetry called “Queerly Faithful” as part of an autoethnographic research study he did with other LGBTQ+ Christians, including several from our community. Eric says of the zine: Our hope and…
DetailsLast week Time magazine ran a story indicating that InterVarsity U.S.A would fire staff members who theologically affirmed marriage for same-sex couples. After the weekend’s social media commentary on the article, IVCF’s vice-president Greg Jao gave an interview to the Christian Broadcasting Network to clarify things. In a nutshell, Jao explained: IVCF considers this a…
Details“How do I come out to my parents?” This is one of the most common questions we get from LGBTQ+ Christians who contact us. We thought it would be a good idea to seek the wisdom and advice of our Generous Space community, drawing on the experiences of real LGBTQ+ people and their parents. We’ve compiled…
DetailsThis week’s poem is by one of our community members. Here’s what they have to say about this piece: I have a hard time using my voice…which can be troublesome for life, but also tricky when you’re navigating your way through “coming out”. This poem is about that experience and how I am trying to find…
DetailsThis week’s Art Friday is by Amy Hall With a background in music journalism and business speak, Amy E. Hall currently focuses her creative writing energy composing free verse poetry and haiku. The southern-born, northern-bred Tennessean has self-published three haiku chapbooks to date, as well as two poetry chapbooks. Two of her poems appear in…
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