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This week we’re going to be talking about a group that is launching a series it has titled, “Queering the Bible.” The purpose of the series is to take a new look at the gospel through the lens of those who are part of the homosexual and transgender communities. Obviously we have some things to say about this which we will discuss in this episode.
STORY – PCUSA Ministry Launches “Queering the Bible” Project Aimed at “Creating Some New Theologies”
“A ministry tied to the Presbyterian Church (USA) is ‘Queering the Bible’ to celebrate LGBT pride this summer.
“The PCUSA project Unbound: An Interactive Journal of Christian Social Justice is kicking off the new series ‘Queering the Bible’ with a 16-part study of the Gospel of Mark that will run through July 22.
“Rev. Lee Catoe, the project’s editor, told Presbyterian News Service that the study looks at the Gospel as a way of ‘learning about how we experience God as queer folk, and how we experience Scripture as queer people.’
“‘Mark has some very interesting stories that speak about inclusion and what that means, that has stories where Jesus is encountering people who have different experiences, marginalized folk, and so I just think it speaks to the queer experience, very much, right now,’ Catoe said.
“According to Catoe, the inspiration for ‘Queering the Bible’ came from a desire to go beyond rainbow flags and t-shirts during the LGBT pride ritual and challenge PCUSA to ‘go deeper in our welcoming of queer folk.’
“He said the Gospel of Mark was a perfect introduction to the series because of its length.
“The ‘Queering’ Mark 1 study by Rev. Benjamin Perry, for instance, compares John the Baptist’s experience to those of LGBT individuals.
“‘LGBTQIA+ people have long lived like John, holding in our voices and bodies a love that transcends the ways culture tries to confine it — crying out in the wilderness about what will not only free us, but what will liberate all people,’ Perry writes.
“In the conversation with Presbyterian News Service, Catoe suggested traditional biblical hermeneutics have contributed to Mark and other texts being ‘interpreted in very unhealthy ways,’ specifically because of the theological groundwork of ‘straight white men.’
“‘Oftentimes when we’re looking at Scripture, historically, it’s been a lot of straight white men who have interpreted Scripture and then creating theologies,’ he said. ‘So, when we’re talking about queering the Bible, we really are wanting to have the voice of queer folk, trans folk, who read Scripture, look at Scripture and interpret that Scripture through that lens.’
“He added that ‘Queering the Bible’ focuses on ‘going against all the heteronormative ways that Scripture has been interpreted and creating some new theologies that we can use.’” (The Christian Post)
Related material:
- What Makes One a False Teacher?
- Social Issues (Part 2): Homosexuality
- Social Issues (Part 3): Transgenderism
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