How a Proper Exegesis of The "Clobber Passages" in Scripture Guided This Theology Student to an Affirming View of Her Sexuality and Her Work With The Reformation Project (with Katherine Johnson)

💡 Guest bio

Katherine Johnson earned her B.A. in Christian Ministries from Spring Arbor University and has over 20 years of ministry experience in a wide variety of fields, both in churches and parachurch organizations. She has also earned an M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Western Seminary and a Th.M. from Columbia Theological Seminary with a focus on Hebrew and Old Testament exegesis.

Katherine is passionate about helping people to encounter Scripture in ways that foster a life-giving relationship with God and personal growth in Christlike love. She is dedicated to The Reformation Project’s mission because she is convinced that the full inclusion of LGBTQ believers in the life of the church would lead to greater flourishing not only for LGBTQ Christians but also for the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.”

ℹ️ Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of Lesbi-Honest, the podcast where we delve into the stories and experiences of LGBTQ+ women in all their diverse and beautiful forms. I'm your host, Sarah St John, and today we have a truly powerful and inspiring tale to share with you.

In this episode, we'll be exploring the journey of Katherine, who has undergone a profound process of self-discovery and acceptance of her sexual orientation. What sets Katherine's story apart is the deep connection she has with her faith in Jesus, which has always been a guiding force in her life.

Growing up, Katherine felt different, struggling to fit in with either boys or girls. She wasn't interested in typical teenage pursuits like makeup, hair, and boys, which left her feeling alienated and weird. To cope with the pressure to conform, she pretended to have crushes on boys, all the while suppressing her true feelings.

But it wasn't until she experienced intense emotions for a woman that Katherine began to realize she wasn't straight. Yet, deeply ingrained beliefs associating homosexuality with sin made it difficult for her to reconcile her faith and her identity. Feeling like an outsider, Katherine yearned for belonging and authenticity.

Her journey took an unexpected turn when she met her partner, Erin. They both approached their beliefs and understanding of homosexuality from different angles – Katherine with deep study and intellectual analysis, and Erin with a more relational perspective. Their paths intertwined as they embarked on separate journeys of research and self-discovery, discovering new understandings and challenging their preconceptions.

Through their exploration, Katherine felt called to work with the Reformation Project, a mission dedicated to advancing LGBTQ inclusion in the church. Katherine's role in the organization involves overseeing programming and supporting ambassadors who promote LGBTQ inclusion in their respective contexts.

Amidst this incredible transformation, Katherine and Erin also navigated the delicate process of coming out to their loved ones. They carefully chose who to share their truth with, based on the expected difficulty of the conversation. And while they feared losing friendships, family, and their faith community, they found support and affirmation in unexpected places.

Join us as we unravel Katherine's remarkable journey of self-discovery, faith, and love. We'll explore the challenges she faced, the moments of triumph, and how she found strength and community along the way. It's a story that showcases the power of embracing one's true self, regardless of the expectations and barriers imposed by society and religion.

So grab your headphones, settle in, and get ready for an emotional and enlightening journey on this episode of Lesbi-Honest.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

- Discovering and accepting one's sexual orientation

- Feeling different and not fitting in with boys or girls while growing up

- Coping with pressure