Out of Exodus

“In this book Darryl Stephens not only explains the relevancy of the Book of Exodus to the realities that many churches face as they become ‘welcoming and affirming,’ but he also inspires congregations that choose to take this journey through what can be a traumatic transition.”


—Tony Campolo, Eastern University





“The biblical story of Exodus is one of movement: from Egypt to Sinai, from slavery under Pharaoh to relationship with God, and from degrading oppression to true freedom. This volume wonderfully works and unpacks these texts to show how we, ourselves, can move: from hardness of heart to compassion, from rigid ways of thinking to openness of heart and mind, from exclusion to invitation, . . . and eventually onward to respect and love. It should be on every Christian’s bookshelf, both those who are working for full inclusion and those who are struggling along the way. A wonderful resource for the church!”


—Roy L. Heller, Associate Professor, Perkins School of Theology





“This is such an important work. In Out of Exodus, Stephens challenges our narrow notions of what the Bible teaches about our LGBTQIA+ family. He reminds us that we are all precious, anointed, and beloved children created in the image of the Divine. This book teaches us that we are all on the journey together and that we must stay in this struggle together, in the name of God.”


—M. Garlinda Burton, Executive Director, Nashville Freedom School Partnership





“Out of Exodus is an engaging spiritual journey about Christians seeking to be in ministry with people of diverse sexual orientations and perspectives. Darryl Stephens, a person of deep faith and scholarly intellect, has written a book that includes Biblical groundings, pastoral reflections and personal stories . . . As a pastor who has been engaged in this journey for over 40 years, I believe Out of Exodus will be a helpful tool for assisting churches in their desire to be in ministry with people of diverse sexual orientations.” 


—Jim Bankston, Retired Clergy, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Houston, Texas





“Out of Exodus offers poignant insight into the various perspectives of those with whom we worship. These personal stories offer opportunities for the reader’s self-reflection, and I would recommend this work to those wishing to explore issues of faith and inclusion within the congregation of believers.”


—Michelle Daniels, Christ Servant Minister, The United Methodist Church





“In a time when entire denominations are threatening to split over human sexuality issues Darryl Stephens in Out of Exodus offers us the account of a refreshing journey taken by a congregation in south-central Pennsylvania to face challenging moral issues and find God’s grace in the midst of faithful wrestling and societal ambiguity. . . The hope of finding and preserving the church’s unity in the face of moral ambiguity and uncertainty for many shines through the testimony of this volume. It should be an encouraging and helpful resource to many.”


—Bruce C. Birch, Dean, Wesley Theological Seminary





“It was so, so good for us! The sharing was amazing. We are moving forward. The best part of studying Out of Exodus for us was how it solicited sharing. We felt safe and it opened up our hearts.”


—Jonette Gay, Pastor, Otterbein United Methodist Church





“Combining Scripture, sermons, dialogue and lived experiences, Out of Exodus is a phenomenal resource for any spiritual community interested in expanding their welcome to all Gods people—especially those interested in the Reconciling process.”


—M. Barclay, Reconciling Ministries Network





“What a refreshing perspective. A sort of victory as opposed to just an apologetic. Rather than pick apart ‘the gay clobber passages,’ Stephens views the journey through multiple lenses: the heart of God for bringing people out of captivity, the history of the church in that trek, the experiences of individual believers in their walk, and the position we can reasonably embrace in the light of that odyssey. I love the book. There are so many people I hope will read it!”


—Marsha Stevens-Pino, Author of For Those Tears I Died





“Out of Exodus is a unique book that allows the reader to journey with a congregation as it becomes open and affirming to LGBTQIA+ people. The book is structured around the Exodus story and provides sermons, reflections, testimonies, and quotes from clergy and members of the congregation. Readers learn how clergy and lay leaders helped to guide conversation and reflection, how members came to new conclusions, and how genuine engagement with Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience led to spiritual growth.”


—Marie Alford-Harkey, President and CEO, Religious Institute