VennBrown's courage, insight, and strength are evident throughout the book, Easily approachable, Anthony's story takes us on his inner journey through faith and how he came to accept himself.
He survived and has many valuable life lessons to share with others facing the same or similar trials to find congruence with who they truly are.
If you have the honor of reading Anthony's story be prepared to be challenged and inspired, A fascinating story but the timeline often got muddled and I would have to sort out what happened where just could have been a little bit tighter.
I met Anthony long before I read his autobiography, I knew him to be a man of integrity and strength in his life and mission,
This book describes Anthony's journey to selfacceptance as a gay Christian man, It is an interesting look at his life,
As someone who grew up surrounded by evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity, I could relate to much of Anthony's journey.
The fact that he survived the perceived struggle between his faith and sexuality is testament to his strength of character.
This is a joyful story of the triumph of love,
An honest, powerful and courageous memoir by exPastor VennBrown, This is an important book that cuts through to the painful reality of the
many misguided teachings of 'the Church', and the neglect, hatred, and pain it causes to those who do not fit the mould of what these organisations assume makes a perfect Christian.
"In any difficult or tragic situation, if you look deeper you may find that youve unknowingly been given something of great value" An extraordinary read.
Anthony's journey has been a long hard struggle, He spent much of his life as a Pentecostal minister with a family, He fought against his homosexuality, eventually being sent for 'treatment', It didnt work, and the story that unfolds when he finally 'falls from grace' is an inspiring and motivating story.
As an individual he has worked tirelessly for recognition of same sax attraction from the Pentecostal and other churches.
A great read too. Great Book. I give itonly because of the graphic nature of many of the sexual encounters, I think for the point he is making through his life story becomes muddled and lost at time because of the way these encounters where written.
At points it seemed to read like a steamy sex novel not the true story of a real human.
I thank Anthony for writing this though, what a story, glad you made the choice to tell it.
I being a straight, Jesus loving, Bible reading, church goer needed to be reminded that wrong thinking can truly hurt and destroy.
A heart breaking and inspiring book about a preacher coming to terms with his sexuality and moving from self persecution to self love.
It is incredible that despite what Anthony experienced, he has chosen to work with faith communities, to break down ignorance through education, information and just being himself.
For me, reading Anthony's book moved me, earthed me, dissolved me and filled me with determination and love, to refute ignorance and judgement in any way that I can.
Coming from a Christian background I found the narrative helpful in validating my own journey, out of repressive fundamentalism and self hatred, to empathy and self love.
What an important book, so pertinent for men and women of faith and non faith backgrounds, Thank you for writing it, Everyone should read this book, Gay or straight. It provides a wonderful insight to growing up gay in Sydney when it wasn't at all acceptable to be so.
I've heard and read up on much about Sydney's gay history, but I'm surprised I've only just found something so personal as Anthony VennBrown's story.
As a gay man, I find stories like this so cliché, I've encountered many men coming to terms with their sexuality, I've met men who have dealt with the contradiction between church and sexuality, But for Anthony to have put it down in such an honest and brutal way is applaudable, more so when you consider it was published during a time when society was still grappling with gay freedoms and gay culture.
I cannot say it is a timeless book because things have changed since Anthony made is gay debut from the closet.
But it's definitely a pillar in the Sydney's queer history,
Anthony is a natural storyteller, which is noted in how succinct every word, paragraph and grammatical input had its purpose.
As an atheist myself, though, I had to skip a few pages as I couldn't stand the religious waffling, but I do appreciate how he emphasised these parts.
I don't agree in divine intervention, but I respect his thoughts, Other than that, it's well worth the read if you're into learning about Sydney queer history, the trials and tribulations of queer people, the cruelty within churches and even unlearning your own prejudices.
Writing this review a long time about a month after I finished reading the actual book, although on the other hand, I'm also writing this review after a week at the UCA Assembly, where we discussed various issues relating to what ended up being called "samegender relationships/marriage".
I kind of don't want to discuss the ins and outs of that debate in this review, but I will say this: I really am glad that I've finally read VennBrown's book.
I remember when this book was first released, VennBrown's situation had garnered a little press, the book got a hell of a lot more, It was a thing naturally: a clergyperson from a conservative Christian group not only coming out, but coming RIGHT out.
But reading this book in light of the UCA Assembly coming up, that kind of wasn't what I was focusing on.
I found VennBrown's dismissal of mainline to borrow a term from the US Christian bloggers denominations hurtful as a member of one and adherant of another, technically, although I entirely understand that's where he comes from.
Doesn't make it less annoying, to be honest, I found his lack of knowledge of mainline denominations throughout the book infuriating, but again, that's because of his subject position and mine.
Which are significantly different.
I could have done with a trigger warning in the early stages of this book damn specific triggers and I know that doesn't form part of the standard marketing etc: I really do find it difficult.
I acknowledge the honesty of VennBrown's writing, as much as it hurt me in myriad ways, I appreciate the perspective of a gay male, and particularly a gay male Christian who is willing to write about these things.
I still think, however, that the "letter to all denominations" at the end shows an ignorance of the position of the Uniting Church, which although it is far from where I believe we ought to be as a church, is still far beyond where VennBrown seems to think any church is at all.
It was a valuable read, and I'm glad to have finally finished it, .