An introduction to what scripture has to say about the dignity of LGBTQ people.
In this bible study, Episcopal priest and former teacher Margie Baker shows teens how the bible affirms and supports all of God’s beloved children. Beginning with an exploration of what it means to be made in God’s image and the ways that God is represented with a variety of male and female images and concluding with an examination of how love for all our siblings is central to God’s relationship with humanity, the study encourages youth to see how a thread of inclusion runs through the bible.
Each chapter of God, Gospel, and Gender includes an opening prayer, an activity, opportunities to delve into the biblical text, prompts to respond to the text, and a closing prayer. Designed for use by groups or individuals, this book calls youth to affirm the dignity in every person.
Margie Baker is a priest currently serving as Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Families at St. John's in West Hartford, Connecticut. Originally from Memphis, Baker lived and worked as a high school teacher in North Carolina before attending Virginia Theological Seminary, where she received a Master of Divinity degree. She has written articles for Building Faith, created and shared a free at-home pandemic VBS curriculum, and given presentations on formation and social justice issues. Baker lives in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Margie Baker has crafted a theologically grounded how-to guide for teenagers and their families as they navigate the intricacies of God, Gospel, and Gender. This is one of the most honest, direct, and love-centered explorations of the big questions facing teens and the Church as a whole. Inspirational!—Deon K Johnson, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
Margie has wrapped her arms and lived experience around a difficult and sensitive subject: the Bible and human identity. With the expertise of a master teacher, compassion of a mother, and wisdom of a well-formed biblical scholar, Margie invites young people and all young at heart to encounter the wideness of God's mercy and their beloved worthiness by queer-ing the lens through which we read scripture.—Lisa Kimball, Vice President for Lifelong Learning, Virginia Theological Seminary
Thanks be to God for Margie Baker and this Bible study! This is the Bible study I wish I had as a teen and one I'll be using with my own teens as well as teenagers across the country. It is an essential resource for such a time as this.—Traci Smith, Author, Faithful Families Series
God, Gospel, and Gender is critical reading for anyone who works with, cares for, or loves a young person in the Church today. Theology, biblical studies, and gender studies meet in this carefully crafted resource meant for Christian educators.—Jeffrey W Mello, Bishop, The Episcopal Church in Connecticut
An uplifting, pedagogically sound, and accessible Bible Study for teens that gently offers expansive perspectives on Holy Scripture and identity. The author wisely avoids an adversarial attitude towards previous interpretations and instead uses the best of traditional Christian theology to invite the readers to reflect positively and creatively on the Word of God. —Br. Luis Enrique Hernández Rivas CFC
