Space at the Table: Conversations Between an Evangelical Theologian and His Gay Son

Can an evangelical theologian and his gay son overcome the differences in belief that threaten to destroy their relationship? For Brad and Drew Harper, that question wasn't theoretical--and neither was the resounding yes they found after years of struggle. Writing to each other with compassion, grit, and humor, Brad and Drew take us on their journey as parent and child, sharing both their struggles and their victories. But Space at the Table is more than just a memoir. With callouts full of practical advice, it is also a guide, showing a way through the roadblocks that threaten to devastate both families and the broader evangelical and LBGTQ communities. Speaking from their own experience, Brad and Drew offer an invitation to join them in a place where love is stronger than the beliefs that divide us.

About the Author :
Brad Harper is a professor of theology at Multnomah University and Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. In the past, he has served as a pastor and church planter of two evangelical churches. Over the last several years, Harper has spoken to churches, conferences, pastors' groups, ministry leaders, and hundreds of college and seminary students on the topic of Christianity and homosexuality. He is the father of three adult children and lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife, Robin. He holds a BA in biblical studies from Biola University, an M.Div. from Talbot Seminary, and a Ph.D. in theology from St. Louis University. Drew Stafford Harper was born in Missouri and raised in St. Louis and Vancouver, Washington. He was educated at New York University and Evergreen State College. Harper is a journalist and an actor, splitting his time (and his wardrobe and furniture) between Manhattan, Los Angeles, Portland, and Cairo. Although he has played a bestselling author on stage, Space at the Table is his first book in real life.

Review :
Brad and Drew Harper have written an incredibly relevant book with the potential to influence a culture that is skeptical of evangelical Christian and LGBTQ reconciliation. They invite us into their conversation as father and son, evangelical and gay, and show us that love and dialogue are not only possible, but necessary and beautiful. The Harpers demonstrate what it looks like to come to the table with honesty and humility, while acknowledging the fullness of who they are and what they believe. I want ALL of my friends, no matter who they are, to read this book. --Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Association and author of Unlikely: Setting Aside our Differences to Live Out the Gospel Brad and Drew Harper's Space at the Table fills a cavernous void in the evangelical conversation around homosexuality. At once theologically orthodox and lovingly relational, this book will be enormously helpful to individuals and families caught in the painful space between evangelical belief and the real-life presence of a gay loved one. People should make a space at their table for these authors and their remarkably irenic book. --Tom Krattenmaker, USA Today Board of Contributors and author of The Evangelicals You Don't Know This book is brave, vital, and future-altering. From the first page to the last, Drew and Brad Harper share the full complexity and compassion of their familial love. This book can save lives. --Stephen Winter, award-winning director of Chocolate Babies and Jason and Shirley