DeepSummary
In this episode, Emily P. Freeman and her husband John Freeman discuss their personal reflections after sharing parts of their story in Emily's new book 'How to Walk into a Room.' They delve into the experience of having their child come out as questioning their sexuality, and how it impacted their faith, views, and decision-making process.
The couple shares their initial fears and hesitations about discussing this topic openly, but also the sense of relief and freedom that came from sharing their story. They emphasize the need for compassion, generative conversations, and support for families navigating similar situations within faith communities.
Emily and John express their wish for the church to create a path of discipleship and acceptance for everyone, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. They hope their story can provide companionship and discernment for those feeling isolated or unsupported in their communities.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Emily and John decided to share their personal story involving their child questioning their sexuality in Emily's new book to provide support and companionship for families navigating similar situations within faith communities.
- They emphasize the need for compassion, generative conversations, and creating a path of discipleship and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals within the church.
- The couple expresses a desire for the church to find ways to disagree without shaming, othering, or dehumanizing people, and to listen to marginalized voices to gain a fuller understanding of complex issues.
- Emily and John highlight the importance of prioritizing relationships and connection over dogmatic adherence to beliefs, especially when navigating sensitive topics with loved ones.
- They share their personal experiences of initially feeling afraid and hesitant to discuss the topic openly, but ultimately finding relief and freedom in sharing their story authentically.
- The episode emphasizes the need for support and resources for families and parents navigating questions of sexuality and gender identity within their faith communities.
- Emily and John express a wish for changing one's mind and embracing questions to be part of an ordinary liturgy of life, without fear or the sense of identity crisis.
- They encourage readers to engage with Emily's book through journaling, discussion groups, and revisiting it during different seasons of life as new questions and decisions arise.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I just don't see our friend Jesus walking in and out of rooms, down hallways, rubbing his temples, wringing his hands.“ by John Freeman
- “I wanted to write a book my kids would be proud to read. And I think I did that.“ by Emily P. Freeman
- “If you want to know the reality of a situation, you can't ask the people in power or the people who have the most agency in the room. You have to go to those who have the least because they have a fuller picture of reality and of experience of what's really happening.“ by David Gushee (quoted by John Freeman)
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Episode Information
The Next Right Thing
with Emily P. Freeman
3/26/24
Today's guest is one you're familiar with by now. It's my friend, partner, and husband, John Freeman. Aside from being my biggest cheerleader, John is also a pastor. He served for 12 years in two different churches as a youth pastor, until 11 years ago when he walked out of the room of official church ministry and walked into the room of our actual home, where he worked for several years as a stay-at-home dad.
For the last few years, he's been running his own nonprofit called Grace Discipleship, offering soul care and spiritual direction for couples, pastors, and Gen Z high school and college students. Now that How to Walk into a Room is out in the world, John and I wanted to host a conversation about the book, specifically our own personal reflections on this side of sharing certain parts of our story. I hope you'll listen in.
LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:
- Grace Discipleship
- Find John on Instagram
- LGBTQ resources for parents
- David Gushee on the Making Things Right podcast
- Order a How to Walk into a Room
- Download the free discussion guide for How to Walk into a Room by visiting this page and clicking the button "Discussion Guide"