Unconditional Conference, Andy Stanley, and LGBTQ+ Issues in the Church

North Point Community Church, which is pastored by Andy Stanley, recently hosted a conference that caused quite a stir. Called the Unconditional Conference, the two-day event was geared toward helping Christian parents of LGBTQ+ children navigate their relationships with the children and to equip ministry leaders to support those parents.

However, the conference came under sharp criticism for hosting speakers who are LGBTQ+ affirming theologians, two of whom were gay married men. One of the biggest names weighing into the conversation was Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mohler accused Stanley of departing from “biblical Christianity,” a claim Stanley took exception to.

While Stanley clarified that he and his church still uphold the traditional view of sexuality and marriage, he said that he doesn’t want to “draw lines” but instead “draw circles.” Despite his words, many have interpreted Stanley’s actions as a tacit endorsement of LGBTQ+ affirming theology.

In this episode, we wade into the mess of navigating grace and truth in light of LGBTQ+ issues. How can we prioritize relationships with people within the LGBTQ+ community while not compromising our convictions? What can we learn from Andy Stanley’s example, both for the positive and the negative?

RELATED RESOURCES

READ: Navigating LGBTQ+ Pride Month With Grace and Truth
READ: Is Letting Women Preach a Slippery Slope to LGBTQ+ Inclusion?
READ: Should Christians Practice Pronoun Hospitality?
LISTEN: Should Christians Use Other People’s Preferred Pronouns?

REFERENCED ON THIS EPISODE

Unconditional Conference Website
READ: “The Train Is Leaving the Station: Andy Stanley’s Departure From Biblical Christianity” by Albert Mohler
WATCH: I Love My Church | A Message from Andy Stanley
READ: “Go and Sin No More: Andy Stanley Doubles Down on His Departure From Biblical Christianity” by Albert Mohler
WATCH: A Raw Response to Andy Stanley and the Unconditional Conference (Theology in the Raw)

 

Subscribe On Apple Podcasts | Follow On Spotify

Latest Episodes

Is There Such a Thing as a Gay Christian?
Do the 10 Commandments Belong on Public School Classroom Walls?
Tony Evans, Robert Morris, Carl Lentz, and the Fallout From Pastor Scandals
What If We’ve Gotten Heaven All Wrong?
Is the Pope Catholic? Francis' Appearance on 60 Minutes
PTSD, John MacArthur, and Mental Health Awareness Month
What Is the Purpose of the Church?
What To Make of Richard Dawkins' Cultural Christianity
When and How Should Christians Start Disciplining Their Children?
A Better Christian Vision for Immigration
Who Is the Devil? A Deep Dive on Satan
A Christian Perspective on IVF and Other Reproductive Technologies
Cremation, Sainthood, Unforgivable Sin, and Other Questions
Religious Scrupulosity: Super Faithful or Mentally Ill?
Is Alistair Begg Wrong About Christians Attending Same-Sex Weddings?
Does Paul Contradict Jesus? Progressive Christianity on TikTok
Is Joe Biden a Christian Nationalist?
Asian Jesus? Exploring Our Cultural Assumptions About Jesus Through Artwork
Pro-Life or Abortion Abolitionism: Who’s Right?
The Christian Origins of Santa Claus
Can You Walk Away From Church Without Walking Away From Jesus?
Are Ghosts Real?
Seeking Moral Clarity in Israel and Palestine
Unconditional Conference, Andy Stanley, and LGBTQ+ Issues in the Church
Ecumenism: How United Should the Global Church Be?

Explore More Episodes