I face a church trial near the end of July. I’m charged with teaching against the Church of the Nazarene’s statement on Human Sexuality. I’m queer affirming; the denomination is not. I’m also charged with conduct unbecoming of a minister for arguing the denomination should be fully inclusive. I fully affirm queer people; I want […]

I face a church trial in late July 2024 for being queer affirming. To prepare, I’ve written a lengthy defense. And I’ve decided to publish it before the trial to make my arguments available to the public and not just the jurors. My arguments are published in My Defense. The eBook version can be purchased […]

I want to bring you up to date on the charges and pending trial I face for advocating for my LGBTQ+ friends and their allies. CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT ME First, a bit about me for those who may not know me. I am Thomas Jay Oord, professor of theology at […]

(This essay was first posted in June of 2023 on lovingnazarenes.com.) Disingenuous That’s the most charitable word to describe your actions in recent days. Disingenuous. The actions to which I am referring are characterized by quotes like the following: In your (Caleb’s) review of Why the Church of the Nazarene Should be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming, […]

My daughter Alexa and I co-edited a collection of essays with the title, Why the Church of the Nazarene Should be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming. The writers of the essays are current or former members of the denomination. And their writing is simply OUTSTANDING! The essays are divided into three sections: Queer Voices, Ally Narratives, and […]

I’m working on the final chapter of a new book called, The Death of Omnipotence… and Birth of Amipotence. In previous blogs, I’ve identified reasons we should stop saying God is omnipotent. The final chapter in this new book explains the word “amipotence.” Amipotence combines two Latin words ami and potens. The first means “love,” […]

Fifty years ago, a little-known theologian named Mildred Bangs Wynkoop published a provocative book. That book, A Theology of Love: The Dynamic of Wesleyanism, still sparks conversation and controversy today. It presents a powerful argument for love as Christian theology’s priority. Love as Central The first third of A Theology of Love offers the heart of Wynkoop’s […]

I’m happy to announce the publication of a new book, Partnering with God: Collaboration in Open and Relational Theology! The title itself will strike some readers as audacious. After all, who can really claim to “partner with God”?! Partnering with God answers that question by claiming collaboration with the divine is a real possibility! Seventy-seven […]

In a series of essays on this website and in books, I’ve argued that God requires creaturely cooperation for love finally to win. To put it another way, the ultimate victory of good over evil requires creatures to cooperate with God. I’m not saying God alone will right all wrongs and bring about universal salvation. […]

“The finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.” The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene includes these ominous words. The phrase “the finally impenitent” was in use prior to the denomination’s beginning. And other Christian groups currently include these words in their belief statements. “Impenitent” refers to those who do not repent from sin […]