Book Review: Leigh Finke’s Queerfully and Wonderfully Made + Welcoming and Affirming
These two book reviews by the Rev. TJ Remaley, CNP Board member and pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, ID, are the first in a series of book reviews to help equip ministry leaders.
Leigh Finke has edited two invaluable books for the church: Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens and its companion, Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Supporting and Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth. Together, they form a conversation across generations: one book is written for teens themselves, while the other is for the adults who walk alongside them. I don’t often use “should” language in ministry, but in this case it feels right: every faith leader who seeks to create an affirming context, especially those working with children and youth, should keep these books close at hand.
Queerfully and Wonderfully Made is written directly to LGBTQ+ teens and those who are questioning. With short, accessible Q&A chapters, it tackles the real-life concerns young people face: coming out at school or at home, handling anxiety or bullying, navigating safe sex, and responding to messages like “it’s a phase” or “it’s a sin.” A glossary of terms and interlude chapters on cultural and Christian icons make it both practical and encouraging. Still, the volume acknowledges the sadness, pain, and struggles young people may carry as a result of their identity. This is an affirming resource that tells young people clearly and without hesitation that they are beloved by God.
Its companion, Welcoming and Affirming, takes the same approachable style and places it in the hands of pastors, youth leaders, educators, and caregivers. Here, the focus is on the questions adults wrestle with: how to respond when a teen comes out, whether and how to involve parents, how to navigate bathrooms or overnight trips, and how to create spaces where pronouns and language are respected. Personal reflections from queer young adults ground the guidance in lived experience, and practical chapters on mental health, safety, and inclusion give leaders tools they can use right away.
These books aren’t meant to debate theology or scripture; they begin with the assumption that affirmation is the goal. What they offer instead is something both simple and profound: concrete tools to help LGBTQ+ teens thrive, and to help churches embody Christ’s love in tangible ways. Among the contributors to both volumes is the Rev. Ashley DeTar Birt, a PC(USA) pastor who previously served on the board of More Light Presbyterians and now serves on our denomination’s Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity (ACQ+E). That connection underscores what many of us already know: these resources not only serve the wider church, but also grow out of voices and commitments already deeply rooted in our Presbyterian family.
For any congregation serious about welcome and belonging, these two guides are essential companions. Even faith communities that already see themselves as affirming will find wisdom that sparks new learning and deeper practices of care.
Finke, Leigh, ed. Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens. Minneapolis: Beaming Books, 2020.
Finke, Leigh, ed. Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Supporting and Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2020.