Come Now, Let Us Argue It Out: Counter-Conduct and LGBTQ Evangelical Activism

Come Now, Let Us Argue It Out is an ethnography that explores how LGBTQ and LGBTQ-supportive Christians negotiate identity and difference and create change in evangelicalism. It challenges common narratives about what it means to be LGBTQ and Christian in the contemporary United States and documents everyday moments of agency and resistance that have the potential to form new politics, ethics, and ways of being.

Format: Hardback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2021
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Come Now, Let Us Argue It Out offers a captivating exploration into a community that challenges prevailing narratives about the intersection of LGBTQ identity and Christian faith in the contemporary United States. Through his in-depth ethnographic fieldwork with a faith-based organization called the Reformation Project, Jon Burrow-Branine provides a rich and nuanced account of how some LGBTQ individuals and LGBTQ-supportive Christians navigate the complexities of identity and difference within the evangelical realm. This book serves as an ethnography, offering a firsthand account of how these individuals engage in negotiations and create change within the evangelical community.

In this book, Burrow-Branine introduces the concept of "counter-conduct" to describe the activism undertaken by this community. Drawing inspiration from the works of Michel Foucault, he documents everyday moments of agency and resistance that have the potential to shape new politics, ethics, and ways of being for individuals within this community. Burrow-Branine's analysis sheds light on the ways in which these individuals navigate the exclusionary politics of mainstream evangelical institutions, culture, and theology, while also engaging in ongoing conversations about what it means to be LGBTQ and a Christian.

Furthermore, Burrow-Branine expands the scope of his inquiry to consider the broader implications of this community's activism. He explores the politics of inclusion and representation within LGBTQ evangelical activism itself, raising important questions about the ways in which these movements can strive for inclusivity while also maintaining their distinct identities and values. Through his thoughtful and empathetic approach, Come Now, Let Us Argue It Out provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue about the intersection of LGBTQ identity and Christian faith in contemporary society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496224200