Q & R: Sexuality

Here’s the Q:

Thank you for the work you have done in bringing people gently into a new understanding of Christianity in our post-structural context. I have really appreciated reading your books, especiallyA New Kind of Christianity.
I have found your ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple fashion invaluable as an educator of teachers and have often found myself sharing your articles, blog entries or ideas I have come across in my classes. Of course, I’m always ‘religious’ about crediting my source!
As a subscriber to your blog, I remember a post where you mentioned a book recently published where (a friend / colleague?) had completed a study of ideas and language on homosexuality in the Scriptures. If my memory serves me correctly, it was during 2010. I have scoured every month of archived blogs in 2010 (and used the search function on your page) but to no avail. The central premise was that there wasn’t just one or two perspectives but possibly up to seven or eight potential interpretations of the relevant scriptures.
I would like to get a copy of this particular book but cannot remember either author or title, just that I read about it on your blog and that you recommended it at the time.
I was hoping that you might be able to help (realising that you are a busy man). This issue has been emerging in the Australian political scene regularly over the past 18 months or so and is currently coming to a head in the next few weeks at the Australian Labour Party’s annual conference (one of 2 major political parties in Australia, and the party of the current government). As you might expect, this issue is being highjacked along predictable lines amongst the evangelical Christian sub-culture of Australia. Given my role as a lecturer and teacher of other teachers, I would like to be able to point my students to a more nuanced response and this book was one that sounded to me like it could help. Thank you for your time and God bless.

Here’s the R:

The book is W. Stacy Johnson’s A Time to Embrace …
It respectfully presents a range of conservative, moderate, and progressive viewpoints – without insulting, vilifying, or demonizing, and then it makes a case for a viewpoint in the same spirit. Prof. Johnson was a lawyer before becoming a theologian, and you’ll find the spirit of the book to be wise and fair.
Sadly, some “progressive” voices are compassionate towards gay people but not towards conservative people who don’t see things as they do. And some “conservative” voices defend traditional interpretations of the Bible but don’t defend their gay neighbors and allies from scorn or even threats of death (as are happening in some places in Africa) launched by fellow conservatives. For people who aren’t satisfied with either extreme, this book will be a huge help.
Oh – and here’s the link you were looking for …
http://brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/from-a-christian-who-is-gay.html