FROM PATRICK S. CHENG

Dear Jonathan,

I'm excited to let you know that my new book, "From Sin to Amazing Grace: Discovering the Queer Christ," will be released next month by Seabury Books, the trade imprint of Church Publishing Incorporated.

This book seeks to reclaim the doctrines of sin and grace for LGBT people and others who have been wounded by such doctrines. In the first part of the book, I challenge the traditional crime-based model of sin and grace in favor of a christological, or Christ-based, model. In the second part of the book, I propose seven new deadly sins and seven new amazing graces based upon seven models of the Queer Christ.

The book addresses cutting-edge theological, ethical, and pastoral issues, and it is suitable for classroom as well as congregational use.

Here are some endorsements and advance praise for the book:

"Cheng takes us through a systematic re-working of the classical doctrines of sin and grace, and lands us in a place where, surprisingly, these ideas can once again sing with life for Christian LGBTQ persons. It's a serious and splendid book." -Serene Jones, President and Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York

"This gifted theologian and teacher offers an accessible and compelling case for why LGBT persons (and others) need to take back the words 'sin' and 'grace.' Be forewarned: reading Cheng is likely to stretch your theological and moral imagination, but all for the good." -Marvin M. Ellison, Willard S. Bass Professor of Christian Ethics, Bangor Theological Seminary

"Patrick Cheng has given the Christian church and the theological academy a precious gift. Cheng's work ranks among the best scholarship of a new generation of theologians. I have experienced more amazing grace - and grown more mature theologically - because of this book." -Tat-siong Benny Liew, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, and Professor of New Testament, Pacific School of Religion

"Cheng provides our hurting community with a healing theology; an accessible christology which celebrates an open and affirming Christianity desperately needed by most of our churches. This book is good news for all who are queer, as well as for those who are not!" -Miguel A. De La Torre, Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies, Iliff School of Theology; President, Society for Christian Ethics

"'Christ is the treasure hidden in the scriptures,' wrote Irenaeus, the second century theologian. Christ is the treasure, and Cheng's work is a treasure map of LGBT advances in theology that helps us find, once again, that God loves all of us and wants us to be free." -Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Professor of Theology and Past President, Chicago Theological Seminary; Blogger, WashingtonPost.com

"Patrick Cheng has produced a much needed pastoral book for LGBTIQ and, in fact, all Christians. This is a remarkable theological and pastoral exploration that can help individual Christians and their congregations to re-align their spiritual development." -Robert E. Shore-Goss, Senior Pastor and Theologian, MCC in the Valley; Author, Jesus Acted Up and Queering Christ

"The act of reading Patrick Cheng's Christ-centered theology of sin and grace offers both healing pastoral care and political empowerment. Christians who have been wounded, alienated, or simply befuddled by the ongoing use of Christianity to further heterosexist hate and disenfranchisement have been waiting for this book." -Traci C. West, Professor of Ethics and African American Studies, Drew University Theological School

This book is available for pre-order at Amazon. I would be ever so grateful if you would purchase through my AMAZON PURCHASES widget in the left hand side-bar. It won't cost you anything extra, it won't reduce Patrick's royalties, but it will give me some commission.

From KittKatt:

I'm really looking forward to this book! In case anyone wants more of a preview, here is a link to a series at the Jesus in Love Blog that became the basis of the book:

Rethinking Sin and Grace for LGBT People Today