Preaching That Affirms Sexuality with Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis
How can preaching help heal a church that’s been divided by conversations around sexuality?
In this recast from a Knox College book launch, Dr. Sarah Travis and a panel of ministry leaders explore how preaching might become a space for repair, honesty, and renewed connection. Drawing from Sarah’s book Remembering the Body, the conversation holds space for complex themes of affirmation, uncertainty, and the lived reality of diverse congregations.
About Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis
Sarah Travis is the Associate Professor, Ewart Chair in the Practice of Ministry and Faith Formation at Knox College and has been teaching at Knox since 2012.
Sarah is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Her primary areas of research and teaching are preaching, worship and the practice of ministry. From decolonizing worship practices to trauma-informed preaching, Sarah has published several books aimed at facilitating a conversation among Christians about topics that matter for the church today. She is a 2023 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Teacher-Scholar Grant recipient, exploring how playful theologies can enhance the worship and self-identity of very small congregations.
Show Notes
Remembering the Body: Preaching That Affirms Sexuality
Debates about human sexuality have divided the church across denominations. The Body of Christ has been wounded by profound theological disagreement. Preaching can be a healing balm for those who have been bruised and harmed by these debates. This book asks the church to remember its own nature as a Body that has a baptismal identity rooted in the triune God. We remember the beauty and value of the human body and we remember that we belong to a baptismal community with a distinctive ethic. Sermons are an opportunity to refresh and heal a Body that has been broken by division. By affirming sexuality and the body, preachers can build toward an affirmation of all sexual identities while making space for those whose theology is not affirming. In recovering the body as a focus for preaching, this book argues for a more equitable and inclusive understanding of Christian identity.
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Transcript
Coming soon.