Jen Hatmaker Expresses Her Disappointment over the Nashville Statement Regarding Sexuality

Evangelical pastors and leaders, including J. I. Packer and Francis Chan, met last week to put together a document regarding human sexuality. The Nashville Statement, as it is called, laid out their beliefs on human sexuality, including opposition to same-sex marriage and fluid gender identity, in a new doctrinal statement.  Since it was released Tuesday morning, the Nashville Statement has received both praise for its clarity and has been denounced as harmful to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

One of those that express disappointment in the statement is popular Christian author Jen Hatmaker. She tweeted, "The fruit of the 'Nashville Statement' is suffering, rejection, shame, and despair," adding, "The timing is callous beyond words."

The timing? What was she talking about?

As USA Today explains, "Christian author Jen Hatmaker of Austin, Texas, who came out in favor of same-sex marriage and whose books have been removed from the Southern Baptist Convention's LifeWay Christian Stores because of that philosophy, called the timing of the statement callous because of the Aug. 12 Unite the Right white supremacists' rally in Charlottesville, Va., and protester Heather Heyer's death." 

Last year, Jen Hatmaker posted a 650-word response on her Facebook page Monday, saying she "wrestled with and through Scripture, not around it" before coming to a decision to affirm same-sex relationships, which recently led to LifeWay Christian Resources pulling her books from its stores. 

Tags : nashville statement sexuality Francis Chan jen hatmaker jen hatmaker news John Piper j. i. packer