Faith and Sexuality: The Unstable Reclamation of Language

The Sexual and Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College presents " 2026 SGI Biennial Lecture Presents Faith and Sexuality: The Unstable Reclamation of Language," a lecture by Gregory Coles on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

7:00pm to 8:00pm Reception to follow.

The words “gay,” “evangelical,” “queer,” and “Christian” all feature prominently in today’s conversations about Christian faith and sexual identity. These four words share something else in common: Each has functioned as derogatory (or been declared derogatory) at some point in its history. To make sense of their current functions, then, we must also grapple with their reclamations—social movements designed to erase derogation and make a word neutral or honorific. Taken together, these four reclamation stories offer insight into the intersection of faith and sexuality, the instability of our words, and the undergirding stability of the Word.

Gregory Coles is the author of Sexuality Beyond Sex (IVP, 2026); The Limits of My World (Walking Carnival, 2023); No Longer Strangers (IVP, 2021); and Single, Gay, Christian (IVP, 2017). He holds a PhD in English from Penn State and lives in Boise, Idaho, where he works as a freelance writer, editor, and language scholar. Greg is Senior Research Fellow at The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place in Billy Graham Hall, Room 105 Barrows Auditorium, located at 500 College Avenue in Wheaton. For more information, contact Jorden Anton at 630.752.7206 or jorden.anton@wheaton.edu.