Diversity without Division

Team Members/Contributors

Tim Otto Church of the Sojourners Contact Me

About this pastoral study project

Diversity without Division: How Churches are Maintaining Unity While Engaging the Conversation about Homosexuality

The debate over homosexuality in the church has been painful, divisive, and well publicized.

But I know there is an unreported story: a story of certain congregations facing into disagreement with charity and grace, a story of Christians finding ways to maintain unity in spite of disagreement.

I hear a repeated question from such congregations that I propose to investigate: how have other churches negotiated this conversation well and what might we learn from them?

I propose to identify churches that have faced into the debate concerning homosexuality and—while allowing for disagreement—have emerged with a refined vision and unity. I want to hear the stories of these congregations, and to disseminate their experiences to help other congregations.

The results would be disseminated through a website that collects the following: 1) ways that congregations have structured the process of conversation, 2) how various congregations have negotiated disagreement with larger denominational structures, 3) interviews with pastors and lay people concerning the process in their local congregations, 4) model sermons by pastors on homosexuality, and 5) a list of books and other resources that have proved helpful.

Image Title Year Type Contributor(s) Other Info
  Oriented to Faith: Transforming the Conflict over Gay Relationships 2014 Book Tim Otto