Open Wide the Gates: An Argument for Welcome, Affirmation, and Inclusion of Gay and Lesbian People in the Local Church

The culture wars show no sign of abating. Same-sex sexuality continues to be one of the most brutal and bloody fronts in those wars and Christians, the fiercest combatants. Friendships, families, churches, and denominations continue to draw their lines-in-the-sand, split, and go their separate ways. Meanwhile, the lives of many, young and old, are deeply scarred and some even lost in the crossfire. It doesn't have to be that way! Challenging the arguments that perpetuate that conflict, Open Wide the Gates presents a carefully developed biblical, theological, and ethical argument for the welcome, affirmation, and inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life and ministry of the local church. Its irenic tone and clearly articulated presentation provides pastors, denominational leaders, and concerned laypeople with a reliable guide for navigating these often-turbulent waters. In this comprehensive study, Brian D. Cunnington points to a path forward, a path for following Jesus in the twenty-first century characterized by grace, love, and hope; a path that demonstrates the radical presence of God's kingdom here on earth for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Brian D. Cunnington is professor emeritus (counseling) at Tyndale University, Toronto. In addition to his teaching and administrative roles, he has been actively involved in clinical and supervisory work with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. An avid reader in history, social and cultural studies, and any discipline touching on the human condition, he is now retired, lives with his wife Karleen in Barrie Ontario, and enjoys summers in Muskoka with his family.



David P. Gushee is distinguished university professor of Christian ethics at Mercer University and chair in Christian social ethics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The elected past-president of both the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics, Gushee is the author or editor of twenty-nine books. He has an international reputation as one of the leading Christian moral thinkers of this era.