New Kinship

In this episode, we, joined by our friend and project manager/editor Alaina, talk about covenant brotherhood, via the particular instantiation of TJ’s covenant brotherhood/s with four brothers. TJ shares his general story, we talk about the general shape and contours of the relationship, consider its relationship to celibate partnerships, and provide general preliminary advice about what it might look like to pursue this relationship in the US context. This is the first of many planned conversations on this topic - enjoy!Show Notes:Book - Brothermaking in Late Byzantium and Antiquity by Claudia Rapp: Brother-Making in Late Antiquity and Byzantium - Claudia Rapp - Oxford University Press (oup.com)Your Other Brother’s Podcast on Covenant Friendship: YOBcast 083: Covenant Friendship w/ Dr. Paul Eddy • Your Other BrothersShare feedback or questions by sending us a voice message at https://anchor.fm/communion-shalom or emailing us at davidfrank.mn@gmail.com Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

Recommendation for episode #916 on the podcast Theology in the Raw.https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/theology-in-the-raw/916-misty-ironsPreston Sprinkle gives good introductory thoughts on "gay" identity before sharing an incredible talk from Revoice by Misty Irons that we've mentioned before. Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

David Frank shares about his "coming out" story at church and with family, reflecting on formative influences on his sexuality, and how God has established him in a Side B life that is committed to sewing into community._____________[CONTENT WARNING: Story includes brief mentions of direct sexual desire and addiction.]_____________1:03 - Revoice Recap6:48 - Jesus and My Sexuality14:07 - Sin and Fanning the Flames17:50 - About Coming Out to My Church29:32 - Coming Out to My Family39:12 - Why Do I Struggle Less?47:43 - Difficulties & Gifts of Being Queer/SSA/etc. 50:33 - Why not Side A? Why Side B?53:10 - 1st Principal and Foundation of St. Ignatius*_____________Show Notes:Misty Iron's Blog https://moremusingson.blogspot.com/We had audio inconsistencies that may be noticeable. Apologies!*Sound from http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/Share feedback or questions by sending us a voice message at https://anchor.fm/communion-shalom or emailing me at davidfrank.mn@gmail.com Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

TJ Espinoza shares the history of his personal understanding about his own sexuality, and how God has lead him through study, community, and spiritual experience towards a Side B conviction, even if it leaves him with many loose ends for his life._____________[CONTENT WARNING: Story includes brief mentions of moments of direct sexual desire.]_____________2:24 - TJ in Americas19:06 - Queer in Africa22:38 - Christian College27:33 - Entering the Side B Conversation31:37 - Why not Side A?47:09 - Tension in Singleness (America & Africa)50:40 - Why Side B?56:47 - Queer Identity vs Christian Identity | Identity Hierarchy_____________*We had technical problems that required some audio re-recording. Share feedback or questions by sending us a voice message at https://anchor.fm/communion-shalom Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

David and TJ get into one of the most commonly controversial topics currently regarding the Side B conversation and Side B Christians – terminology! We talk through some common reason why contemporary queer Christians may use queer/lgbt+ terminology in their lives versus people who would eschew such terms and often focus on instead using same sex (sexually) attracted (SS(S)A) terminology or else encouraging Christians not to use any such terms at all.  This conversation is of particular relevance to the differences that separate Side B and Side Y / X Christians in our contemporary times. Apologies to our listeners for some audio issues on TJ’s end. _____________ Show Notes: Yarhouse’s post providing commentary on the recent Anglican Church of North America’s Pastoral Statement regarding same sex relationships, identity, language, etc.: Reflections on The ACNA Pastoral Statement – Mark Yarhouse (wordpress.com)Two side B Christians, Rachel Gilson and Greg Coles, have a dialogue on the use of “Gay” vs. “Same Sex Attraction”: “Gay” Vs. “Same Sex Attraction:” A Dialogue | The Center for Faith, Sexuality & GenderA post by Rosaria Butterfield who is typically labeled as Side Y where she calls into question using sexual orientation language: What is wrong with gay Christianity? What is Side A and Side B anyway? — Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (rosariabutterfield.com) Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

David and TJ discuss the goals, statuses, and potential impacts of several overtures (i.e. amendments) that were brought to the PCA national conversation in June/July of 2021. The Presbyterian Church in America's (PCA's) General Assembly was an event of much debate and controversy as this denomination tried to take a stance on ordination of "gay" pastors.  While these proposed changes won't directly affect members of PCA congregations, they do aim at barring/removing pastors and other officers from serving in the church if they identify as "gay", "SSA", etc. _____________ Contents: 00 - Intro to PCA, Revoice, Greg Johnson, Study Report, "SSA Sin", Overtures 20 - General Assembly and 3-Step Process for Overture Amendments 22 - Overture 16: "those who identify as homosexual and claim to practice celibacy" 24 - Overture 23: “Those who profess an identity . . . that undermines or contradicts their identity as new creations in Christ” 37 - Overture 37: Character examination of candidate & “must not be known by reputation or self-profession for his remaining sinfulness" 47 - Concluding Steps and Recommended Actions _____________ Links: 5 Reasons to Vote No To Overture 37 by Travis Scott (why it will not bring peace and unity to the PCA) Summary of the Overtures 23 and 37 (the two overtures on homosexuality that passed through General Assembly)   PCA Study Report on Human SexualityVideo Conversation from Tim Keller and Kevin DeYoung on the Study Report (YouTube)  An Open Letter from Pastors in the PCA on Charity and Faithfulness (afaithfulpca.net) Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

David and TJ describe the “Sides” terminology/heuristic device used among many Christians engaged in the conversation around sexuality and Christianity in the US. They describe the most common fourfold system - A, B, Y, X – including the key principles that animate the particular school of thought, key organizations and/or figures, and values or postures that seem to be embedded among people in each broad school.This conversation will be of use to listening to many future episodes as we are likely to use this system as a basic reference system when talking about the various schools of thought._____________Show Notes:Here is David's shorthand tool for remembering the 4 sides:Side  Affirming homosexual practice    #affirmSide  contextualizing traditional Biblical sexuality       #renewSide  whY talk about sexual orientation   #renounceSide  eX-Gay therapy             #rebuild_____________A Summary Chart of ABYX [PNG Link]A thorough breakdown and history of the 4 sides [4 Sides - Life on Side B]_____________The origination of the Side A and B distinction from the Gay Christian Network (note: the contemporary Side B perspective is more expansive than this) [Bridges-Across: The Sides of the Divide -archive]Mudblood Catholic’s Definition and Origination of the Side Y Descriptor [Mudblood Catholic: Gay and Catholic, Part I: Gaystation Two]Bible Gender, and Sexuality by James V Brownson [Book link]Michael Hannon Article “Against Heterosexuality” [Against Heterosexuality by Michael W. Hannon | Articles | First Things]Rosaria Butterfield’s What is wrong with gay Christianity? What is Side A and Side B anyway? [What is wrong with gay Christianity? What is Side A and Side B anyway? — Rosaria Champagne Butterfield (rosariabutterfield.com)]Strength of His Might’s Definition System – Adding Sides C & O [Definition of Terms | Strength of His Might (wordpress.com)]Kevin DeYoung’s Article “Four Approaches to Race, Politics, and Gender” [Four Approaches to Race, Politics, and Gender - Kevin DeYoung (thegospelcoalition.org)] Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

TJ and David have a lovely time chatting with Raye! Raye is a Side B woman, who shares her experience growing up in a conservative Christian home and church, and later comes to terms with her tilted perspective. At times she identifies as "queer", yet she has recently and happily joined in marriage with her husband._____________00 - Gender Roles, Sexuality, & Growing Up11 - Hospitality and Vulnerability20 - Explaining your Marriage as a Queer Person32 - Importance of Friendships41 - Unexpected Goods; "Queering" in Art45 - PCA56 - Sharing Personal Convictions to Side A and Side X people_____________This episode is a bit longer than anticipated, so feel free to listen to this as 1.5x speed to keep it under an hour ;) Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe

Communion & Shalom's first episode, where TJ and David discuss why many straight Christians feel pulled to "Side A", an affirming progressive sexual ethics perspective (i.e. approval of gay marriage/sex). TJ and David discuss these dynamics, and the impact on queer/gay/SSA/etc Christians who are "Side B" (i.e. not-straight, but affirm the historical Biblical teaching of sex between husband and wife). Get full access to New Kinship at newkinship.substack.com/subscribe