A great deal has been written about homosexuality and Christianity. Although generally there is a conscious move towards understanding and incorporating the experiences of gay men and women, the Church's response has been to treat homosexuality as a problem within sexual ethics.

However, a growing number of gay and lesbian Christians, influenced by liberation movements within and outside the Church, are claiming a place in the Church and finding a voice in theological and ecclesiastical discourse. Elizabeth Stuart suggests that gay people may have some important insights to contribute to theological reflection about sexuality, marriage and celibacy - most notably in the understanding of friendship to include our most intimate and committed relationships.

This is not a book about whether Christians should accept or affirm gay people and their relationships. That debate goes on. Dr Stuart's concern here is to ask: supposing lesbian and gay people were equal in the sight of God, what then might heterosexual people learn from them? What new and creative ways of relating might emerge to the benefit of the whole community?