Many Members, Yet One Body: Committed Same-Gender Relationships and the Mission of the Church

by Craig L. Nessan

"Many Members, Yet One Body engages biblical texts as well as theological and ecclesiological issues. Each chapter is accompanied by questions for reflection. Nessan's goal is to enable discussion in ways that avoid dividing the community--so that, as he says, "we will find a way to be church together in spite of our disagreements." The book should serve as a welcome guide to open, careful discussion at the congregational level.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2003

Reviews

[Jon Coutts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels a bit dated in places but remains a valuable insight into how a denomination might deal with its disagreements on sexuality. Nessan's 2004 proposal for the ELCA - stay together and allow local churches to differ - is intriguing and admirable, even if it probably satisfies no one and ends up being temporary. Perhaps the most important claim to wrestle with is the one which says that the "two sets of arguments both are warranted with biblical authority" (36). This book may underplay the justice question, on one side, and the view-of-Scripture question, on the other, but for those in churches yet to really play this conversation out, I think this book is very helpful.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it like for a church to face real disagreements about ethical matters such as committed same-gender realtionships? Craig Nessan offers what I consider a fair-minded survey of the biblical material and differing perspectives on how to interpret the scriptures. He also offers a good analysis on why this does not need to be a church-dividing issue. In fact, his proposal of allowing local congregations to make discernments based on their mission is what the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted in 2009. This book is under 100 pages.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting.