Nazarene Clergy Responses to Homosexuality and Interactions with LGBT People

By: Reginald Watson

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The Church of the Nazarene claims that homosexuality is a perversion of human sexuality. The denomination and many of its members have also said same-sex sexual acts are sinful and subject to the wrath of God. Most Nazarenes maintains that “homosexual lifestyle” is sinful and contrary to scripture.


And yet the Church of the Nazarene also states that all people should be treated with dignity, grace, and as God’s image bearers — regardless of sexual orientation or behavior. And the denomination’s theology is grounded in love and acceptance.

Nazarene clergy experience a tension between the denomination’s position on homosexuality and ministering to LGBT people. They want to love and support queer people, but the denomination’s statement on human sexuality undermines love.

Reginald Watson’s qualitative study explores the lived experiences of thirteen Nazarene clergy. It identifies these clergy responses to homosexuality and clergy interactions with LGBT people. In this book, Watson identifies key themes from his study. Those themes affect clergy, the Church of the Nazarene as a denomination, LGBT people, counselor educators, and clinical practitioners.

Endorsement:

“Reg Watson’s work points to the tension many Nazarene clergy feel as they relate with queer people. On the one hand, they want to be loving, empathetic, and affirming. But the denomination’s view of queer people in general and same-sex relations in particular works against love. I recommend Reg Watson’s book to those who want to take seriously what it means to be a clergy person in a denomination that is not (yet) affirming.”

• Thomas Jay Oord, Co-editor of Why the Church of the Nazarene Should be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming

A worthy investment in academic format

Within the first few minutes of listening to this title, I learned of Reg's unexpected death, and that the publication was pushed by Dr. Thomas Jay Oord, who has pushed for the Church of the Nazarene to be "fully LGBTQ+ affirming." Refund time?

I persisted and had some sorrows in their world. "Underscore underscore underscore underscore underscore underscore" started to grate a bit from the automated Virtual Voice narration.

But the underlying message - the church's distinction between same-sex attraction, identity, and activity; and its focus on bringing sinners to Christ knowing we all need further sanctification - came through. So did the message that many of us have a hard time distinguishing sinner from sin, all the more so in this instances, or rather these instances as the matter of transgender is not identical to same-sex attraction.