Out In Scripture Archive

You don’t have to leave your mind, heart and body behind when you encounter the Bible. This Human Rights Campaign resource places comments about the Bible alongside the real life experiences and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith and our allies.

Out In Scripture is a collection of over 175 conversations about the Bible. With the skilled help of 100 diverse scholars and pastors, from over 11 different denominations, you will discover a fresh approach to Scripture. Here you can be honest, question and go deeper.

Out in Scripture is a great devotional resource as you consider your life of faith and put that faith into action. It is also especially helpful for preachers preparing sermons based on the Revised Common Lectionary.

The Bible’s not about beating you up, but lifting us all up. It includes the seeds of liberation and justice. You, too, can be out in Scripture.

The lectionary is a three-year plan of selected Bible readings for each Sunday of the year. To figure out what are the assigned passages for a particular week in the Church Year, check out the 2009-2011 Lectionary Calendar. Find out even more about the lectionary at the Consultation on Common Texts

Select Bible conversations from the following seasons. The conversation will appear at the bottom of the page.

Year B

Year C

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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 14), Year A

A Community of Many Colors

    All of us – people of color, people who have disabilities, as
    well as those of us in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
    transgender community – are confronted with
    obstacles placed by those who cannot or will not accept
    the wondrous variety of God’s creation. Collectively, today’s
    Bible readings convey the message that faith in God will
    sustain us in the face of those obstacles

This week's lectionary Bible passages:

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 & Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b or I Kings 19:9-18 & Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-23

Who's Out in the Conversation
What's Out in the Conversation
Prayerfully Out in Scripture

Who's in the Conversation
A conversation among the following scholars and pastors

“Resisting the desire to hibernate, we are called to remember that we struggle for justice along with countless people, many whom we don’t even know both in and outside the LGBT community."

Deborah Appler

“Speaking out as a member of the transgender com-
munity, I have been scorned and ridiculed by those who would prefer to act on their own feelings about transsexuality – rather than having to accept it. This is God’s test for me.”

Sarah Carpenter-Vascik

“It is important to recognize the way ‘preference envy’ works in our lives. Are not LGBT people vulnerable to envying the ‘normality’ of non-LGBT people?”

Ron Hopson

“Envy and mis-
understanding each other’s dreams can divide us as brothers and sisters in God’s human family."

Mona West

What's Out in the Conversation
A conversation about this week's lectionary Bible passages

In Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28, Joseph was the 11th of 12 sons of Jacob and Leah, Zilpah and Rachel, and the firstborn son of Rachel. This made Joseph a favorite of Jacob who was 90 years old at the time. This favoritism was demonstrated when Jacob presented Joseph with the “coat of many colors” (verse 3). Jacob’s willingness to display his preference for Joseph sets Joseph up for the envy of his brothers. Joseph’s apparent naiveté suggests a willingness on his part to revel in his preferred status. While it might be easy for marginalized people to identify with Joseph, it is important to recognize the way “preference envy” works in our lives. For example, Ron Hopson ponders, “Are not LGBT people vulnerable to envying the ‘normality’ of non-LGBT people? Sometimes I find myself envying the ease with which straight people can move through the world so unselfconsciously regarding their affectional orientation.”

The lectionary omits verses 5-11 which also indicate another source for the envy of Joseph’s brothers: he is a dreamer. Granted the dreams do not seem to be favorable for the brothers, but – as the end of the Joseph story indicates – the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream means life for the brothers, not subservience. Martin Luther King Jr. was a dreamer and while his “I Have a Dream” speech continues to inspire many in the work of justice today, it is a dream that has been threatening to others. Envy and misunderstanding each other’s dreams can divide us as brothers and sisters in God’s human family. Joseph’s brothers are so envious they want to “kill this dreamer” (verses 19-20).


	What are some misunderstood dreams in the life of your community and what can you do to promote understanding? What are the ways you “revel in your preferred status?” Name some ways ‘preference envy’ works in your life, the life of your community.

Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b requires us to give thanks and to tell of God’s works and promise. This thanksgiving recalls the covenant made with Abraham, a covenant not only for Abraham, but also with all his decedents. In these selected verses we meet up again with Joseph (verse 17), who is being tested by God and is now a slave in Egypt. Joseph’s faith in God is unwavering and indeed, God re-emphasizes the covenant by setting Joseph free. Joseph goes on to become a prominent member of Pharaoh’s household. Sarah Carpenter-Vascik reflects, “Speaking out as a member of the transgender community, I have, like other transgender advocates, been scorned and ridiculed by those who would prefer to act on their own feelings about transsexuality – rather than accepting it. I have occasionally faced threats of physical violence. This is God’s test for me.”

However, when this psalm is read in its entirety it exemplifies the best and worst of Exile literature. At once celebrating the goodness of God in the face of catastrophe, while also looking toward the vengeance of God disguised as promise to be restored (verses 11 and following), it cannot be acceptable to see ourselves as “falling heir to what others had toiled for” (verse 44). We must hold the tension of honoring our own reality without diminishing the reality or fate of the “other” even if the other is perceived to be our perpetrator. Only as we hold the humanity of even those who are homophobic and wish to deny us the full rights of personhood, do we insure that we will not become the oppressor to an “other” of our own choosing once we are in the privileged position.

In 1 Kings 19:9-18, Elijah believes he is the only prophet left and we find him hiding in a cave – deep in the Judean desert throwing a pity party. Elijah’s role in creating a just and God-centered world in Israel is undeniable, but he mistakenly suggests that he alone is responsible for this justice ministry: "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away" (verse10).

Elijah seems unable or unwilling to recognize that others still remain who are working for justice alongside him. He is not alone, nor was he ever alone. God called Ahab’s official, Obadiah, who is feeding 100 other of God’s prophets in a cave (1 Kings 18:4). God called the widow of Zarephath and a host of angels and ravens to care for Elijah so he could fulfill his call. Now that Elijah appears tired and burned out, there are still others God can turn to — Elisha, Hazael and Jehu. Throughout his ordeal, God never leaves him.

There are times when we may feel like Elijah and want to retreat. The magnitude of homophobia and other forms of injustice overwhelm us to a point where it appears that we are working alone — that nobody cares or understands the struggle.


	When have you felt alone, abandoned in your struggling for justice for the LGBT communities? How do we sense the presence of God? By listening for the sound of God as wind and fire or by keeping ourselves open to God’s presence

So that we resist the desire to hibernate, we are called to remember that we struggle for justice along with countless people, many whom we don’t even know both in and outside of the LGBT communities. To act as if all depends on us alone is an act of pride and rejection of God and the community. It will also immobilize us.

The psalmist in Psalm 85:8-13 reminds us that God still speaks a word of peace to God’s faithful servants as God did to Elijah when he was feeling abandoned and overwhelmed in mission. This is good news! We who give ourselves for the work of justice may be heartened by the level of intimacy and power of the words in this psalm. Indeed, the very words that define the hope of the messianic reign appear: God’s salvation is near and glory will dwell with us on earth. God’s loyal love (Hesed) and truth will come to fruition in this world. Further, righteousness and peace will be so much a part of this co-created world that they will kiss each other.

While reading Romans 10:5-15, be careful not to fall into an exclusivist or anti-Semitic reading of this text from Paul’s letter. What can be lifted up here is Paul’s effort to level the playing field? No one can say who’s who in God’s economy. This is particularly applicable to LGBT persons who are often scapegoated and stigmatized.

In Matthew 14:22-33, the disciple Peter has the audacity to think that he can be as powerful as Jesus and asks him to have him walk on the water. The real miracle is when Peter is truly focused on Jesus and is able to remain above water. When we focus fully on our call to work for justice, especially for the LGBT communities, we have the resources to remain afloat in shared community. However, when we forget that Jesus and others in the larger community are also working for justice, we risk feeling abandoned and self-righteous like Peter. When Peter refocuses his gaze from Jesus to the raging sea storm, he becomes frightened and vulnerable and starts to sink. The good news is that Jesus saves him and brings him back to safety – as Jesus does for all of us.


	When do we draw upon our faith in God? When we are faced with adversity or confronted with something we can’t handle? Do we keep our faith in God with us all the time?

Year A

Year B

Year C

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 14), Year A

A Community of Many Colors