The Peace Seeker: One Woman’s Battle in the Church’s War on Homosexuality

Gilmore recounts her coming to terms with her homosexuality amid strong opposition from the evangelical Christian environment surrounding her. After briefly relating her childhood, she describes her expulsion from a Florida Bible college, her sense of vocation and missionary work in Europe, and intricately details the romantic relationships she has to hide. She eventually finds an affirming congregation and accepts that loving same-sex relationships are not in conflict with her faith. Before this acceptance, she deftly portrays herself and others as firm in their sexual orientation, but also feeling any sexual behavior would be a sin. Her account is a standard gay Christian narrative, including a re-reading of the supposedly anti-gay Bible verses and a resolution that loving same-sex relationships are acceptable. Although there is little new, the writing is engaging in this memoir that addresses and softens more conservative evangelicals’ opposition to homosexuality. (BookLife)