The Alliance of Compassion and Integrity: Church and Theology Facing Homosexuality and the Queer Movement

The Alliance of Compassion and Integrity: Church and Theology Facing Homosexuality and the Queer Movement, by Fr. Vasileios Thermos, Alhambra, CA: St. Sebastian Press (2024)

Reviewed by Steven-John M. Harris, PhD

In times of great political unrest worldwide, which includes raging polarization around a variety of important topics that threaten to tear us apart, we are witnessing significant shifts in the area of identity and gender politics. Naturally, these matters challenge traditional perspectives as new movements, such as the LGBTQI, appear in the public square. Rather tragically, so much of the ensuing dialogue (we frequently have to strain to even dignify it as dialogue) from both sides has involved deteriorated speech, including the all-too-familiar mudslinging, name-calling, outright dismissals, and shallow vulgarities that do little to affirm the “other” in our world.

The associated movements leading up to and into the progressive LGBTQI movement have naturally led to lengthy conflicts and debates between this movement on one hand and more conservative and traditional institutions, including the church, on the other. On paper, at least, what could appear further apart than the historical Eastern Orthodox Church and the LGBTQI movement? Rather than tearing us apart, increasing divisions, potentially setting neighbor against neighbor all the more, it is timely for a work like this book to help us unpack these enormously complex issues so that we may be able to address them with more facts and open our eyes to these emerging realities, rather than shrinking back into rigid and ignorant moralistic or judgmental stances toward each other.

Upon seeing the title of this book, I felt a sense of inner tension mount as I anticipated what might emerge from reviewing these conflicts, fearing it would involve drawing more lines in the sand, provoking yet more misunderstanding and conflict. Fortunately, this work does not set its aims on these kinds of discussions but rather unpacks the topics extensively on both sides, or, I might say, when possible, on all sides of the issues. As I will outline below, readers will see that, rather than reinforcing their biases, digesting this thorough review of these topics will likely leave them humbled by the complexity of the issues and the importance of compassionate dialogue. In my view, this work is not just for the religiously inclined but also for the scholar, the homosexual, those associated with queer theory, the secular person, and others. Within the religious framework, this work also brings together Roman Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, and at times, Jewish perspectives into the discussion.

The author, the Rev. Vasileios Thermos, M.D. and Ph.D., studied at the Medical School of Athens University, after which he continued at the Theological School, becoming both a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. A Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School who also studied at Boston College, Boston University, and Andover Newton Theological School, was a Visiting Research Scholar at the Institute of Medical School of Texas University on a project about homosexuality and contemporary gender theories.  He has also engaged in training programs for clergy in Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Estonia, and the USA. For these reasons, our author is eminently prepared to help us address these enormously complex topics. In this regard, for almost the entire work, the reader may not know where the author stands on these matters because he does such an excellent job at presenting the information objectively. While he eventually weighs in briefly on matters, one is never left with the impression that he is motivated to persuade the reader to adopt his position. Instead, the author draws the reader quite effectively into the complexity of these matters, helping them come to their own conclusions, whether they approach them from a more secular perspective or are inclined to view them through their church’s lens.

By providing us with a range of important historical and current problems of definitions of sexuality and gender, including social conceptualizations and the fluidity of sexual orientation, the writer introduces the reader to broad explorations of the topics. This includes an important, lengthy review of the origins of homosexuality from psychoanalytic, hormonal, genetic, experiential learning, and a multitude of other contributing factors. The author also places importance on describing the feelings, lifestyle, and other elements from the view of the experiential world of the homosexual. The research data on these topics is presented effectively and is very informative.

A rather large section on the religious response from various denominations, including a range all the way from what appears to be characterized by the rather limited and rigid, unhelpful responses, to theological interpretations that embrace the acceptance of homosexuality. This section also addresses important matters of support, church involvement, pastoral care (when needed), and a host of other explorations that enable persons from different backgrounds to “put themselves in the others’ shoes,” understand one another, and prepare us to dialogue towards deeper understanding.

The concluding section extensively reviews important perspectives on the history leading up to the Queer movement, including emerging views on gender fluidity, the “vision” of androgyny, sex transitioning, gay and queer theologies. This includes their challenging critiques and their responses to these critiques on both (or all) sides of the issues. The author also makes a truly fascinating and important contribution by discussing eschatological perspectives used in gay and queer theology to bolster their argument about sexual identity, marriage, and gender fluidity. An important dialogue on this matter is explored further. In the book’s epilogue, the author briefly states more specifically his own position on the central matters raised in the book. The reader (at least this one!) never seems to feel that the author’s agenda is to convince them of a correct, objective, or moral perspective that he thinks the reader should adopt. Rather, the reader is left to use the information he presents and is free to draw his own conclusions. So those who simply wish to be told what to think will be greatly disappointed!

Fr. Vasileios’ "The Alliance of Compassion and Integrity: Church and Theology Facing Homosexuality and the Queer Movement" is a well-developed and comprehensive review of this enormously complex topic that blends knowledge, compassion, and respect. It offers important perspectives for all who wish to know more about this topic and is a worthwhile investment, well equipping readers for important conversations about these human and theological matters. I can strongly recommend this work without reservation and consider it a must-read for all who care to understand these issues.