Facing Our Differences: The Churches and Their Gay and Lesbian Members (Risk Book Series)

The deep controversies within many churches have created a reluctance in many quarters to place the issue of homosexuality on the ecumenical agenda. Yet an essential vocation of the ecumenical movement is to enable a dialogue among the churches at precisely those points where their differences of conviction are sharpest. This book seeks to encourage just such a dialogue. The author points the way towards respectful mutual understanding of divergent interpretations of the Bible, theology and ethics in order to help Christians to reflect on their own convictions and to face together a sensitive topic which has profound consequences for the lives of many people and for the unity of the church. In this book Alan A Brash seeks to encourage just such a dialogue on homosexuality. What he has to say reflects his experiences in a local congregation in Aotearoa-New Zealand as well as a familiarity with churches around the world that comes from many years of international ecumenical service.

Alan A Brash, a Presbyterian minister from Aotearoa New Zealand, was Deputy General Secretary of the World Council of Churches from 1974 to 1978.