A great many minds, hearts, and souls have made invaluable contributions to this work, thanks be first and foremost to God.
Immeasurable gratitude goes to Caroline Perry, my radiant spiritual companion over a course of years and frontline interlocutor throughout the writing of this book. Caroline put in countless hours sifting through my first drafts, peering into the text with her characteristic brilliance and vibrant faith, helping to clarify thoughts, and offering perspicacious edits toward the elusive and sometimes maddening goal of “concision.” Her enthusiasm for this project was sustentative and very often entailed generous care both of me and of my children.
Michael Bacon is a visionary priest and steadfast friend who has long articulated the queerness of God and the sacred calling of queer people. Michael perceives the Spirit as a genuine force in our world, and he communicates Hir power and presence with galvanizing clarity. My determination to write this book was forged in the discernment, hope, and frequent hilarity of our weekly lunch dates.
Catherine Shugrue dos Santos brings her intellect, energy, and considerable heart to bear on a daily basis to make the lives of queer people better and safer, including my own. She has made important contributions both to this manuscript and to the vision that undergirds it. To her and to all my friends at the NYC Anti-Violence Project who journeyed with me as the book was taking shape: thank you for your insights, courage, and persistent witness to the power of resurrection.
Crucial support for this project came from OASIS, the LGBT ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, New Jersey. The 2014 Louie Crew Scholarship allowed me to take unpaid leave from my job to write. A year later, OASIS awarded a grant to fund production of several short films promoting core messages of Queer Virtue. These films were brought to life through the generous effort and substantial talent of Markie Hancock.
As one who thrives on vigorous engagement with strong dialogical partners, I could not have been more fortunate than to work with my gracious and gifted editors, Michael Bronski and Gayatri Patnaik. Both were unfailingly supportive of this project, even as they challenged me to broaden its vision and hone its language. Their knowledge, insight, and skill have made this a better book.
I am exceedingly grateful to numerous friends and colleagues who read early manuscripts and provided valuable feedback, including Dr. Louie Crew, Dr. Susan Gore, the Right Reverend Mark Beckwith, Canon Gregory Jacobs, Lori and Marybeth Knoth, Sheila Lewandowski, the Very Reverend Tracey Lind, Barbara Turk, Cathy Roth Miller, the Reverend Winnie Varghese, Jenn Cruickshank, and the Reverend Erik Soldwedel.
Several queer communities and faith communities have illuminated my thinking about these ideas in workshops, conversations, and responses to sermons. Special thanks to the board and staff of Hudson Pride Connections Center and to the beautifully queer young souls in HPCC’s YouthConnect program, and to the congregations of St. Andrew & Holy Communion in South Orange and All Saints Episcopal Parish in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The world would be a far better place if all queer souls were supported by the love that my family ceaselessly shows me, long manifest in robust discussion of matters political and spiritual. I am particularly grateful to my siblings Katherine Edman, Jonathan Edman, Erin Washko, and Noel Bullard. Dann Washko, Paige Washko, and Rosalind Edman joined a memorable conversation one Brigantine morning that had a direct impact on chapter 8. My father, a man of deep and quiet faith, has taught me a great deal about spiritual communion that does not require words. To Jasper and Leo: you live the dream of binary-rupturing virtue in ways that make your mother unspeakably proud.
Over the years numerous scholars and preachers, queer and not queer, have informed my approach to scripture, and many of them are named in this book. One who is not named but whose imprint cannot be missed is Dr. Phyllis Trible, with whom it was my great privilege to study while a student at Union Theological Seminary. Her encouragement lasted well beyond the Hosea seminar in which she challenged me to wrestle deeply with scripture, assuring me that “the text will sustain it.” Her wisdom has never failed. To Professor Trible, and to the prophets named herein whose profound love of scripture has allowed so many of us to glimpse the sacred, I bow with respect and gratitude.