A Conversation, Not a Confrontation
For anyone wrestling with questions of gender, sexuality, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus.
Sunday, February 1
Morning Services: 9:00 & 10:45 AM
Evening Community Forum & Q&A: 6:00 PM
Featuring Dr. Mark Yarhouse
Meet Dr. Mark Yarhouse
Dr. Mark Yarhouse is a clinical psychologist and a follower of Jesus. He specializes in walking with people at the intersection of sexual and gender identity and Christian faith. He serves as Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College, where he directs the Sexual & Gender Identity Institute. His team studies the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Christian contexts and helps churches and schools think carefully about how to care well for the people in their communities.
Mark has written or co-written more than 20 books, including:
Understanding Gender Dysphoria
Emerging Gender Identities
Talking to Kids about Gender Identity
Across his work, he’s known for:
Listening deeply to LGBTQ+ people and their families
Holding to historic Christian teaching while refusing to reduce anyone to a label
Helping churches and parents find language and practices that are both truthful and kind
You may not agree with all of his conclusions. But we think you’ll sense his respect for people and his desire to take both Scripture and human experience seriously.
Why This Weekend Exists
If you identify as LGBTQ+, or you love someone who does, you might have mixed feelings about walking into a church event on gender and sexuality. You might be wondering:
Is this going to be an attack on people like me?
Will they talk about us, or actually talk to us?
Do I have to agree with their theology to feel safe in the room?
We get it. These aren’t just “issues”—they’re people’s lives. Your life. Your family. Your friends. This weekend is part of our series Sex, God, & the Ache for More—an honest look at desire, design, and our deep longing for connection. The through line of the series is simple: desire isn’t the problem—it’s the pointer. It’s a signpost that we were made for relationship with God and one another.
But we also know:
Many have been hurt by churches that talked about “issues” but never really saw them.
Many families are trying to love their kids, siblings, or friends well—while also figuring out what faithfulness to Jesus looks like.
This weekend isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about creating space for honest questions, careful listening, and clear (but not combative) Christian teaching—with a posture of respect toward those who see things differently.
What Will Happen
Sunday Morning:
Teaching in Both Services
Identity, Faith, and the Ache for More
9:00AM & 10:45AM
Dr. Mark Yarhouse will teach in both services as part of Sex, God, & the Ache for More.
He’ll explore how Scripture speaks into one of the most personal conversations of our time: gender, sexuality, and what it means to be human.
This will feel more like teaching than preaching—thoughtful, gracious, and centered on Jesus.
All are welcome.
Sunday Evening:
Community Forum & Q&A
A Conversation, Not a Confrontation
6:00PM
These questions touch all of us—our kids, friends, siblings, and neighbors. If you identify as LGBTQ+, or love someone who does, you’re invited to an open, respectful conversation with Dr. Mark Yarhouse.
He’ll offer a short presentation, followed by an extended Q&A. Anonymous questions are welcome.
No debates. No pressure. No shame.
Just an honest conversation about identity and faith. All are welcome.
No childcare for this event. Content is aimed at adults and older teens.
Our Heart in All of This
We want to be upfront.
As a church, we hold to the historic Christian sexual ethic. At the same time, we know—and love—many people, including people in our own community, who see these questions very differently.
We don’t believe you have to agree with us to be welcome here. Or to be treated with respect.
We also believe something that applies to all of us: every one of us—straight or gay, cisgender or transgender—has places where our desires, choices, and stories don’t fully line up with God’s best for us.
The Christian story is that Jesus meets people there. Not with contempt, but with grace—and a call to follow Him. The church hasn’t always embodied that well, especially toward LGBTQ+ people. We want to do better.
This weekend is simply our way of saying: if this is part of your life—or the life of someone you love—we don’t want to talk at you or about you. We’d rather listen, learn, and try to hold conviction and compassion in the same hands.
All are welcome. Questions are expected.
FAQs
Do I have to agree with your beliefs to come?
No. You’re welcome whether you share our theology, disagree with it, or aren’t sure what you believe. We’d rather be upfront about where we’re coming from than vague or bait-and-switch.
Is this event “anti-LGBTQ+”?
We hold to a historic Christian sexual ethic. But we’re committed to not mocking, demeaning, or reducing anyone to their sexuality or gender. Our posture will be to speak directly to LGBTQ+ people and their families—with as much humility and care as we can.
Will this be political?
No. We won’t be endorsing candidates or policies. The focus is on discipleship, pastoral care, and how followers of Jesus can relate to real people in their lives.
Can LGBTQ+ people ask questions?
Yes. You can submit questions anonymously if that feels safer, or ask them live. We may not answer every question the way you’d like—but we won’t shame you for asking.
Will this be a debate?
No. The tone we’re aiming for is reflective and conversational, not combative. We’ll moderate the Q&A to keep it respectful.
Still unsure?
That's okay. You're welcome to just show up and see what it's like.