Questions of transgenderism have already for a time been a challenge that has often caught ministry leaders off guard and unprepared. But there is another new phenomenon on the horizon that requires our prayerful attention, and that is the explosion of new terms that young people are using to describe and curate their sexual and gender identities.
In this follow-up conversation with Dr. Mark Yarhouse about the book he recently co-authored entitled “Emerging Sexual Identities,” Mark helpfully explains the new terms people may use to describe not only their sexual orientation but also their gender identity, their romantic feelings, their sexual attraction, and their sexual behavior — and the ways in which these terms might be mixed and matched with a high degree of specificity to create what he calls “micro-minoritized identities.” In addition to orienting us to this emerging language, Mark offers advice for parents, pastors, and youth leaders regarding best practices to embrace and common pitfalls to avoid as we seek to minister to young people exploring emerging sexual identities. Mark offers a strong encouragement to help bridge the gap between the language of the Bible and the language of our culture in order to promote a robust outreach and discipleship effort within our respective ministries.
Dr. Yarhouse is a clinical psychologist who specializes in conflicts tied to religious identity and sexual and gender identity. In particular, he assists people who are navigating the complex relationship between their sexual or gender identity and Christian faith. In addition to being the author of “Understanding Gender Dysphoria” and “Emerging Sexual Identities,” Mark is a Psychology Professor at Wheaton College, and he runs the Sexual and Gender Identity Institute and the Mental Health Collective.
The Sexual and Gender Identity Institute, Wheaton College
Emerging Sexual Identities: Navigating the Landscape with Today’s Youth by Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky
Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture by Mark Yarhouse
Sign up for the Resound Project newsletter.
Find more resources on our website.
