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In this Lavender Lunch theologian and librarian Keegan Osinski discusses her recent book, Queering Wesley, Queering the Church, (Cascade Books, 2021) and its presentation of a prototype for thinking about Wesleyan holiness as an expansive openness to the love and grace of God in queer Christian lives rather than the limiting and restrictive legalism that is sometimes found in Wesleyan theology and praxis.
In Queering Wesley, Queering the Church Keegan presents a queer reading of ten John Wesley sermons, a reading which offers the church a fresh paradigm for theological innovation, while remaining in line with the tradition and legacy of Wesley that is so central and generative to Wesleyan churches.
Arguing that a coherent line of thought can be drawn from Wesley’s conception of holiness to the queer, holy lives of LGBTQ+ Christians, the book playfully utilizes queer theory in a way that is fully compatible with Wesleyan teaching. This book aims to be a first step in seriously considering the theological voices of LGBTQ+ Christians in the Wesleyan tradition as a valuable asset to a vital church.
Co-Sponsor: The PSR United Methodist Studies Program
Keegan Osinski
Keegan Osinski is Librarian for the areas of Theological Studies and Ethics at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology; a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science; a Master’s of Theological Studies; and a Carpenter Certificate in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality.
Her research interests are liturgy, sacrament, and ritual studies, as well as queer theory and philosophy of religion. She is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, and therefore does work with Wesleyan theology.