PARENTING

When Children Come Out: A Guide for Christian Parents

by Mark A. Yarhouse & Olya Zaporozhets
IVP Academic. Dec. 2022. 192p. ISBN 9781514000083. pap. $20. CHILD REARING
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Yarhouse (psychology, Wheaton Coll.) and Zaporozhets (psychology, Regent Univ.), who both coauthored Costly Obedience: What We Can Learn from the Celibate Gay Christian Community, wanted to offer Christian parents whose child has come out as LGBTQIA+ a research-based guide that also shows church leadership and its congregants how to provide support. Based on a qualitative study of 200 Christian parents, the book’s chapters all end with insight and advice from some of the survey’s participants. The book is chronological, covering the moment of awareness, through voluntary disclosure or accidental discovery, and navigating emotions that may occur over time in both parent and child. A “Your Turn” section includes an opportunity to process the information and apply it to maintain and possibly improve loving relationships.
VERDICT The question of how churches can be more supportive to LGBTQIA+ people is a valid one, but the small sample size raises questions about whether the book can draw accurate conclusions.
Reviewed by Julia M. Reffner , Feb 01, 2023
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