Sexual and Gender Identities: Andrew Bunt

Andrew is part of King’s Church Hastings and Bexhill. He is Emerging Generations Director at Living Out and a training and resources consultant for New Ground Churches. He studied theology at Durham University and King’s College London. Andrew is the author of Who in Heaven’s Name Do You Think You Are? (Charis Books, 2015), People Not Pronouns: Reflections on Transgender Experience (Grove Books, 2021) and Finding Your Best Identity: A Short Christian Introduction to Identity, Sexuality and Gender (IVP, 2022), which is the focus of our conversation. Most of our conversation is focused on understanding the pros and cons of what seems to be an over growing list of sexual and (especially) gender identities, and how we can walk with teens who are wrestling with their sexuality and gender identity.
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[@Christopher_Lind]

I think it’s easier to dismiss people desiring a label for their experience until you’ve experienced feeling like you don’t fit into any of the existing categories and Andrew highlights that well. I also very much agree with his point that while it can be helpful to have that label, the risk is you can go too far and find your identity in that label. Furthermore, as we see all the time, what that label describes and our own experience often changes, and it can leave people feeling trapped in a label that no longer fits and back to where they started.

[@rgmrtn]

I like what Mr. Bunt says about the language debate, gay or same-sex-attracted. I like his nuance.

[@jeng3609]

@Preston, regarding being created in the image of God, this has always confused me, because we refer to God as a male, but God created male and female in His image...How can both a man and woman be made in the image of God when these are so essentially different? Would it be safe to say that God is both male and female? What if "God" is all things, and humankind being made in the image of God would necessitate variety, such that the image of God is present among us by way of us existing with our variation. Then we (humankind) as a whole, male and female, gay and straight, transexual or not, are all necessary components of humanity because together, not individually, we are God's image.

[@couchconcerts]

Insightful!

[@westyso.cal.8842]

Preston, you really ought to consider inviting MD Perkins on to your show for an interview. He is a well-researched and very solid Biblically based resource to weigh in on the topic. I’m sure your listeners would benefit greatly from his input.