Be the Bridge: Connecting the LGBTQIA+ Community and People of Faith

Brian Peyton Joyner
  • 5.0 (20)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Be the Bridge: Connecting the LGBTQIA+ Community and People of Faith

Our mission is to build a bridge between the LGBTQIA+ community and people of faith. We strive to help people in the gay community reconnect with their faith and to be more tolerant and respectful of those in the faith community. We want to promote tolerance. We don’t have to agree, but can we at least agree not to be disagreeable? In this clash between culture and religion, does either side have to win? Could we call a truce? Each week, host Brian Peyton Joyner connects with people of faith and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

  1. 05/23/2018

    BEST OF BE THE BRIDGE: Nick Manchester

    My favorite episode and the one where I learned the most. GOD CREATED ADAM AND EVE BUT WHAT ABOUT INTERSEX? Nick Manchester is an intersex chimera who's transgender, non-binary, gay and asexual. Doctors forced his parents to decide his gender when he was three days old, and they made the choice to raise him as a girl. But he never felt comfortable in that assigned gender. After a couple of failed suicide attempts, he realized that he needed to live his life as a man. He's been kicked out of church and told that he's a child of demons, but Nick has finally found a faith community who support him and love him and accept him. If you've ever wondered about "intersex" or "transgender," then this podcast will help you understand how God has made all of us unique and special.

    1h 3m

  2. 05/16/2018

    Southern Baptist Preacher Scott McQueen Talks About His Son's First Date with a Boy

    On Season 1, Episode 20, I spoke with Southern Baptist preacher, Scott McQueen. For thirty-one years he was a Southern Baptist preacher. And as the parent of three boys, he was a "parrot" of the orthodox message about homosexuality. But on April 8, 2014, when his youngest son came out to him as gay, Scott's life and his spiritual journey changed forever. One of the most difficult moments was when their son asked Scott and his wife Jackie to drive him to a town a couple hours away to go on a date with a boy. At that time, Scott was not affirming of his son, but he took him anyway to be supportive. Find our why Scott made this difficult decision on this bonus podcast episode. For my initial interview with Scott, check out BE THE BRIDGE - Season 1, Episode 20.  Scott is the author of REASONABLE DOUBT - A case for LGBTQ inclusion in the institutions of marriage and church.  www.reasonabledoubtbook.com

    8 min

  3. 05/09/2018

    Daniel Helmeniak Explains the Biblical Terms Abomination and Unnatural

    Homosexuality may be an "abomination" and "unnatural", but those terms don't mean what you think they do. On this episode, I talk with Professor Daniel Helmeniak talks about the Bible and Homosexuality. We talk about the Hebrew view of the word "abomination" and how it doesn't mean a sin. We look at why "unnatural" means atypical and can't mean sinful because God acted unnatural.   If you've ever wanted to better understand the "clobber verses," then this podcast is for you. Daniel is the author of the bestselling book What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality.

    23 min

  4. 05/02/2018

    Susan Cottrell on Why You Can't Both Love the Sinner and Hate the Sin

    Susan Cottrell is a prominent voice for faith parents of LGBTQIA+ kids.  We chat about our least favorite expression: Love the sinner. Hate the sin. That message is equivalent to an insincere apology, and the only message received is HATE. We talk about alternatives for parents and also deep down what that expression really means.  "I love you, but I don't understand you." This is an episode for parents of LGBTQIA+ youth and also for anyone who wants to show true love to a gay family member or friend. For more info: www.freedhearts.org Susan Cottrell, the prominent voice for faith parents of LGBTQI children, was featured on ABC's 20/20, Nightline and Good Morning America, on NBC News Out, on The Advocate Magazine’s National Coming Out Day videos, on The Advocate’s Out in Left Field with Dana Goldberg, and as a devotional contributor on the Our Bible app. She is an international speaker, author, and consultant. Through her nonprofit organization—FreedHearts—Susan champions the LGBTQI community and families with her authenticity and tender-hearted zeal. She challenges Christians to love as the foundation of faith. She spent 25 years in the non-affirming Evangelical church, is the Founder and President of FreedHearts, has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and served as the Vice-President of PFLAG Austin (Texas). Her books “Mom, I’m Gay”—Loving Your LGBTQ Child and Strengthening Your Faith, True Colors - Celebrating the Truth and Beauty of the Real You, Radically Included - The Biblical Case for Radical Love and Inclusion, and the soon-to-be-released Be Love - What the World Needs Now, and My Coffee with the Pastor: Building the Vision for Lavish Christlike Inclusion, are endorsed by The Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, The Gay Christian Network and many others. She and her husband Rob have been married for 30 years, have five children, two of whom are in the LGBTQI community, and live in Austin, Texas.

    16 min
  5. Why the Bible is NOT inerrant with Robert Cottrell

    04/25/2018

    Why the Bible is NOT inerrant with Robert Cottrell

    The Bible contains inconsistencies so why do some people claim the Bible is inerrant? I speak with Robert Cottrell about the flawed concept of "Biblical inerrancy." No one takes the Bible literally. Some people just cherry pick verses they want to believe, exclude the rest and call their individualized faith an "inerrant view of the Bible." We talk about the Bible is used as a sword to attack the LGBTQIA+ community and how the Bible can be used as a shield against such attacks.

    22 min
  6. Mikah Meyer on Breaking a World Record and Changing Lives

    04/18/2018

    Mikah Meyer on Breaking a World Record and Changing Lives

    Mikah Meyer just finished visiting his 308th park on his world-record trip to be the youngest person to visit all 417 U.S. National Parks. We talk about his childhood as the kid of a campus pastor, how he knew that gay was wrong, and how he decided to attempt this extraordinary feat. As a kid, Mikah prayed to be ordinary (straight) but after he embraced his sexuality, he realized that he could become extraordinary. THE BIG SURPRISE - Christians around the country are supporting his mission. Please support Mikah in his efforts by helping fund his last big hurdle. Visiting all 23 parks in Alaska. www.mikahmeyer.com

    52 min

  7. 04/11/2018

    Dr. Paula Trimble-Familetti Questions Teachings about Biblical Women:

    Dr. Paula Trimble-Familetti is a passionate advocate for women's rights, inclusive language, and biblical literacy.  She holds a B.A. in Religion from Chapman University, an M.A. in Religion from Liberty University and a Dr. of Ministry in International Feminist Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary.  She has taught Women in Religion and Women's History classes at Chapman University.  Her book Prostitutes, Virgins and Mothers: Questioning Teachings about Biblical Women is an incredible reimagining of certain Biblical stories through the eyes of the female main characters. Informational and entertaining, this book made me look at the Bible in a whole new but deeper way. Dr. Paula Trimble-Familetti paula.trimblefamiletti@yahoo.com WhyBelieve1.blogspot.com www.drtrimble-familetti.com facebook.com/Dr.PaulaTrimble-Familetti @DrPaulaFae

    47 min

  8. 04/04/2018

    Ibrahim Kamara on Reconciling His Queer and Muslim Identities

    Ibrahim Kamara was born in Kuwait but moved to Tennessee as a kid. He was raised Muslim, and he cherishes his faith community. At the age of 13, he realized that his attractions were different from other boys. He tried to pray away the gay, bargaining with Allah because Ibrahim wanted to spend Paradise in his own Versailles-like palace.  Eventually, he realized that he had to live an authentic life. He has a passion for helping others understand that we are all intersectional beings, and those diverse aspects make us who we are. He is active in queer interfaith groups on his college campus and is the co-founder of a Denver-based group for queer Muslims.

    42 min
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5
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About

Our mission is to build a bridge between the LGBTQIA+ community and people of faith. We strive to help people in the gay community reconnect with their faith and to be more tolerant and respectful of those in the faith community. We want to promote tolerance. We don’t have to agree, but can we at least agree not to be disagreeable? In this clash between culture and religion, does either side have to win? Could we call a truce? Each week, host Brian Peyton Joyner connects with people of faith and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

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