Presuposition 3: The conference presupposed that what the Church has for generations understood to be biblical Christian sexual morality is challenged comprehensively today both in theory and in practice, and that an adequate family conversation about sex must be just as comprehensive as the challenges we now face. Comment 3: It might not always be apparent from news reports, but the conference was indeed as comprehensive in its scope as it could be for a twoday event. We discussed marriage, divorce, children of divorce, sex trafficking, domestic violence, dating, singleness, pornography, and various aspects of LGBT issues. The primary theological frame was covenant but other norms such as sexual holiness and just love were presented. I do acknowledge that gay and lesbian issues surfaced more often than was scheduled. This must mean that these issues matter to a lot of people, on all “sides.” But those who were present at the conference can easily testify to the comprehensiveness of the treatment of sexuality and covenant issues. The conference presuppose the value of personal encounter within the life of the Church, because we believe that God is active and God’s Spirit can be met in the lives of Christ-followers earnestly seeking to do God’s will. This may be the most important confirmed presupposition of this event. I don’t think there was anyone I met at the conference who was casual about their Christian faith. They had spent hundreds of dollars and three days with us precisely because they want
to follow Christ and want to do God’s will, and they thought this conference could help. And the group was so diverse. People came from all over North America, though most were from the South. Perspectives varied quite a bit, though perhaps the CBF center and left were somewhat more represented than the right—of course, everyone was invited, and a variety of viewpoints were represented. I was most struck by encountering large numbers of young Christians; and perhaps especially gay and lesbian young Christians, whom I had never encountered in such numbers. They came out of the woodwork, came from the margins of Baptist life in the South, because they thought maybe this was an event in which they might be welcomed—and maybe a conversation to which they could contribute—and maybe an experience from which they could benefit. We didn’t go out looking for them. They came to us. I know that when I encountered these “living human documents,” these so often wounded and rejected and bullied and abused young people—kids the age of my own kids—my heart broke. It broke with sorrow at how much they had suffered at the hands of Christians. It broke with gratitude that somehow despite all that hurt these young people still want to be a part of the Christian community. I will never forget those encounters, and I will always seek to be true to these individuals, and what Christ taught me through my moments with them. _David Gushee Taken and adapted by permission from Associated Baptist Press, original article on April 30, 2012. Photos are courtesy of CBF. To read Dr. Gushee’s full reflection: http://bit.ly/LZndcV.
& Covenant