The Making of Better Ministers: Advantages of Queer Biblical Hermeneutics for Theological Studies Students

As it is expected for teenagers in Gen Z to be twice as likely as American adults to identify as LGBTQ+, ministers ought to expect their sphere of influence to have an increase in LGBTQ+ community members.1 In an attempt to aid ministers in relation to this trend, this paper highlights the importance for theological studies students to be taught queer biblical hermeneutics. Queer biblical hermeneutics calls for theological studies students to acknowledge the possible presence of various sexualities, other than homosexuality and heterosexuality, but also various genders and gender expressions in the Bible by means of interpreting the Bible through the eyes of all LGBTQ+ members. This involves engaging in queer literary criticism and theory.2 In order to highlight the importance of queer biblical hermeneutics, this paper seeks to highlight its advantages in terms of ministry preparations theologically, academically, and relationally. This paper encourages the need for queer biblical hermeneutics to continue or to be started in theological programs worldwide despite skepticism towards it. 1 “Gen Z: Impact 360 Institute and Barna Group,” Who Is Gen Z (Impact 360 Institute and Barna), accessed n.d., http://www.whoisgenz.com/). 2 Rhiannon Graybill, “Thematic Guide: LGBTQ Sexuality and the Hebrew Bible” (Oxford: Oxford University Press, n.d.). Online: http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/resource/lgbtq _bible.xhtml