Evangelical Prof's 'Radical Decision to Stand in Solidarity With the LGBT Community'

Homosexuality is "primarily an issue of human suffering" and "not primarily an issue of Christian sexual ethics," says an evangelical Christian writer and ethics professors, explaining his move to a position of support for LGBT people.

The professor, David Gushee. has penned for a column for The Washington Post, published online Tuesday, about his decision to support the LGBT community.

Gushee, an ordained minister, wrote the recently released book Changing Our Mind: A Call From America's Leading Evangelical Ethics Scholar for Full Acceptance of LGBT Christians in the Church. And he is expected this week to give an LGBT-affirming speech at an event in Washington.

"In recent years, my moral position has shifted," Gushee wrote in his Post column. "It has dawned on me with shocking force that homosexuality is not primarily an issue of Christian sexual ethics. It's primarily an issue of human suffering. With that realization, I have now made the radical decision to stand in solidarity with the LGBT community. ...

"It is hard to describe exactly why my moral vision shifted in this way. But undoubtedly, it had much to do with my move to Atlanta in 2007 and my growing contact with LGBT people, especially fellow Christians. I hardly knew anyone who was gay before that move, but afterward, they seemed to be everywhere, and a few became very dear friends.

"It became clear to me -- in a deeply spiritual place that I will allow no one to challenge -- that God was sending LGBT people to me. The fact that one of these LGBT Christians is my dear youngest sister, Katey, has made this issue even more deeply personal for me than it would have been. The fact that one place where she developed a deep struggle with her sexuality was in evangelical churches has contributed to my new moral commitment to make evangelical families and churches safe places for LGBT people."

The sister Gushee refers to reportedly came out as a lesbian in 2008. Gushee recently concluded a series of columns on "the LGBT issue" for Baptist News Global.