Q&A: ‘Heavy Burdens’ Author Bridget Eileen Rivera Says the Church Must Be Safe for All LGBTQ Christians

Faithfully Magazine recently spoke with Bridget Eileen Rivera, blogger of the popular website, Meditations of a Traveling Nun. Rivera is also author of Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church.

In Heavy Burdens, Rivera examines how Christian faith communities alienate and condemn LGBTQ people, highlights the pain of LGBTQ Christians, and outlines a path for churches to develop a better approach.

Associate Editor Timothy Isaiah Cho spoke with Rivera about the themes explored in her book. The transcript below has been edited for clarity.

Can you tell me a bit about your background and your work?

I was raised in a Christian home, conservative Evangelical. I was part of the homeschool Evangelical movement. And I went to a very conservative college for homeschool graduates called Patrick Henry College. And I guess that’s kind of very central to what has shaped me as a person. I’m still a Christian to this day. I’m still very thankful for my conservative Evangelical upbringing. I feel like it provided me a lot of foundations for life and everything.

RelatedArticles

Tulsa Massacre Survivor, 109, Is Oldest Woman in the World to Release a Memoir

August 19, 2023

Enslaved Women Who Fought Back and Killed Their Captors Focus of ‘Brooding Over Bloody Revenge’ Book

July 15, 2023

Today, I am getting my Ph.D. in sociology and I do a lot of LGBTQ advocacy. And a big part of that right now is that I have a book coming out called Heavy Burdens and that book is about the experiences of discrimination in the church that LGBTQ people have. And I think it’s a very important topic right now, especially as I think that these issues are reaching a point where churches can’t ignore them anymore. So I’m really hoping that this book can be a part of making the church a healthier place for queer people.

This is Premium Content. Most of our articles are free. However, a subscription is required to enjoy our Premium/Exclusive Content. Your subscription helps us maintain this website, pay our writers, and keep Christian media diverse.
LOG IN SUBSCRIBE

Monthly

^$10

Monthly Partner (first month is $5; cancel any time)

Pay $5 now and then $10/month for the remaining 11 months.

Select

Yearly

^$100

Yearly Partner

Pay $100 now to enjoy full access for 1 year.

Select

Yearly+

^$200

Yearly Partner + Gift

Pay $100 to enjoy full access for 1 year, and also make a one-time donation of $100 or more.

Select

Advertisement