Fortress Press

"The topic of LGBTQ inclusion is among the most debated, and sadly, the most divisive religious issues today. Why Churches Need to Talk About Sexuality is a helpful guide to understanding what's at stake, why it matters, and how churches' unwillingness to discuss this topic has harmed countless marginalized people. Mark Wingfield writes with both a reporter's curiosity with a preacher's clarity, and the result is a helpful roadmap for navigating a conversation that Christians can no longer avoid. Readers on both sides of this contentious issue will find space to wrestle in the pages of this book."

“Why Churches Need to Talk about Sexuality is the guidebook so many church leaders and congregations have been waiting for. Navigating the conversation about LGBTQ inclusion can be daunting, especially in the face of significant disagreement. The hard-won wisdom Mark Wingfield shares here will be invaluable for all those seeking to help their churches become more inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ Christians.”

“Mark Wingfield is a Baptist pastor with a heart for everybody. As a person of faith serving as a senior pastor, a man who happens to be married to a man, I welcome this book as it seeks to inform, engage, and encourage all readers, but most especially persons of faith who sincerely want to learn more about the LGBTQ members of their communities, in an important conversation about the church and sexuality. In this book, Wingfield inspires faith, hope, and love. And, yes, as you will soon read, the greatest of these is love!”

“How we welcome and love all of God’s children is the most vital issue facing the church today, and Mark Wingfield writes about it beautifully, passionately, and thoughtfully. Why Churches Need to Talk about Sexuality is an essential book for anyone hoping to move their church and their faith to what comes next.”

“This book is the beacon of light that churches all over America need to help them address the topic of LGBTQ inclusion in faith spaces. With transparency, practicality, deep wisdom, and without bias, Wingfield gently teaches how to navigate this inevitable conversation. This long-awaited resource is one I will be recommending often.”

“This is our story, our church’s journey toward full inclusion of all LGBTQ Christians in the life of our faith community. It’s a hard story, but good. Good things are often hard. But the way of Christ leads to a larger table where there is always room for more. Mark Wingfield’s book is a testimony and testament to the joy that comes to a people when whosoever will may come really means everybody.”

“Why Christians Need to Talk about Sexuality is the honest and compelling story of one church’s journey toward greater inclusion for LGBTQ individuals and families. Any mainline church thinking about moving through a process of discernment will be helped by reading about the work of Wilshire Baptist in Dallas, Texas. The church conversations illustrate the challenges and gifts of faithfully wrestling with sexuality, orientation, identity, and gender.”

“In this book, Mark Wingfield walks us through the thorough, intense, and biblically serious process by which Wilshire Baptist made the decision whether or not to be inclusive of all who would come. A masterful storyteller, Wingfield sets the scene and provides a narrative that gets the reader as close to being there as nonmembers could be. In this book, there is real-life guidance for churches, families, or individuals struggling through these issues of the heart that have relevance to the greatest commandment: to love God and to love one another.”

“Mark Wingfield is right: it’s past time for every faith community to have a conversation about sexuality and inclusion. We’ve been in that place for some time now, with faith communities falling shamefully behind the rest of society in welcoming all of God’s beloved children. In this book you’ll read the story of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, a church with leaders who felt the compelling call of the gospel to move ahead in a process of faithful learning and prophetic action. You’ll read about their process and understand the risks they took, be invited into the mistakes they made, the loss they suffered, and ultimately the risky witness they embraced—together. Read Wilshire’s story so that you may act with bold witness, and so that the church may show the world the radical witness of Jesus and lead us all in the way of love and justice. May it be so.