We should note that the publication in this book tells us as much about the world of liberal theological education as it does about Professor Jennings and his demented agenda.  Chicago Theological Seminary is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, a denomination that grew out of American Congregationalism and has been on a steady march leftward over the last half century or more.

The seminary's website identifies one of its core commitments in these words: "We are committed, while church and society are threatened by new forces of division under the banner of homophobia, to developing leadership for a more inclusive church and society."  The United Church of Christ is so "inclusive" that one is hard pressed to imagine someone who would not be accepted for membership.  As Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion and Democracy comments: "The most liberal of America's mainline denominations, the UCC marries gays, or ordains witches, and prefers sit-ins (just name the cause) to evangelistic rallies.  It's also been one of the fastest imploding churches, having lost about 40 percent of its members in 35 years."  The denomination was the first to approve the ordination of sexually active homosexuals and allows churches to celebrate homosexual partnerships.

When it comes to Chicago Theological Seminary, nothing is out of bounds.  In an article posted on the seminary's website, the institution explains that the publication of Professor Jennings book is entirely within his professorial rights.  The seminary explains: "The pursuit of genuine scholarship and truly free inquiry is bound to raise issues that some would rather not examine.  But the Congregationalist tradition in which this institution stands is one of freedom of conscience."  Indeed, the conscience of these professors is free even from the Bible.  "We unequivocally support academic freedom," the seminary claims--demonstrating their idolatry of the concept of academic freedom at the expense of theological orthodoxy.

Professor Jennings and his horribly offensive new book are prime exhibits of the anti-Christian ideologies accepted by the theological left and its fellow travelers.  Determined to undermine Christianity at every turn, liberal theology is losing its mind.