Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church

Written by Bridget Eileen Rivera

Narrated by Lisa Larsen

Religious faith reduces the risk of suicide for virtually every American demographic except one: LGBTQ people. Generations of LGBTQ people have been alienated or condemned by Christian communities. It's past time that Christians confronted the ongoing and devastating effects of this legacy.

Many LGBTQ people face overwhelming challenges in navigating faith, gender, and sexuality. Christian communities that uphold the traditional sexual ethic often unwittingly make the path more difficult through unexamined attitudes and practices. Drawing on her sociological training and her leadership in the Side B/Revoice conversation, Bridget Eileen Rivera, who founded the popular website Meditations of a Traveling Nun, speaks to the pain of LGBTQ Christians and helps churches develop a better pastoral approach.

Rivera calls to mind Jesus's woe to religious leaders: "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them" (Matt. 23:4). Heavy Burdens provides an honest account of seven ways LGBTQ people experience discrimination in the church, helping Christians grapple with hard realities and empowering churches across the theological spectrum to navigate better paths forward.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Oct 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781545919286

Reviews for Heavy Burdens

[Gina · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

All scripture used and all arguments made have no basis in biblical because this isn’t a Christian book. This woman is not a Christian she is an activist.

[K · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great listen. Everyone, Christian or not; Straight or Queer, should listen to this audiobook. The way everything is put into perspective is clear and relatable, and it can help society see things with a more realistic and kind point of view.

The reader is superb as well. An audiobook can be great but it comes down to a good reader to fully enjoy the content, so I’m thankful the reader is great.

[Emily · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very wl written book! The Church has a lot of examining, repentance, work, and learning to do and this book is a great tool to point us in the right direction.

[jpsnow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a thoughtful and constructive critique of the damage conservative Christianity has caused for countless LGBTQ members, especially in their younger, most vulnerable years.