Blood on its hands? The Church and LGBT youth

Over half of young people between 18-24 in the UK currently identify as not exclusively heterosexual. Yet a sizable majority of Christian Churches in the UK, US and Australia still refuse to acknowledge the immutability of most LGBT identities or to engage with the lived realities of LGBT people. This apathy - and sometimes downright hostility - creates a toxic environment for some of our most vulnerable young people, leading to isolation, despair and sometimes, tragically, suicide. This poses the question, does the Church have blood on its hands?

Blood on its Hands? should serve as a wake-up call to take LGBT identities and LGBT mental health seriously, to avoid some of the tragedies highlighted in this book. It is intended to be used as an aid to discussion in worship communities.

Dr Carol A Shepherd is a published academic and trade author, whose works include Bisexuality in the Western Christian Church (Palgrave) and Bi: the Way, Pastoring Bisexual Christians in Europe (EYP). An experienced and engaging public speaker, Carol can be booked for talks and workshops at www.easyyoke.org