| Preface | 4 |
| 1. | The Ultimate and the Penultimate: Can the Center Hold? | 9 |
| The Article by which the Church Stands or Falls | |
| The Center under Attack | |
| Justification: Center of Our Unity and Mission | |
| The Ultimate and the Penultimate | |
| Questions for Reflection | 21 |
| 2. | The Root of the Present Impasse: Two Irreconcilable Hermeneutics | 23 |
| Two Irreconcilable Hermeneutics | |
| Assessment of the Arguments | |
| Questions for Reflection | 37 |
| 3. | Conflict of Interpretations: How Catholic Dare We Become? | 39 |
| Conflict at Corinth | |
| Conflict of Interpretations | |
| Questions for Reflection | 49 |
| 4. | Beyond Polarization to Common Ground: Fostering Charity | 51 |
| Toward Common Ground | |
| A Proposal on Committed Same-Gender Relationships and the Mission of the Church | |
| Questions for Reflection | 59 |
| 5. | Beyond Fear to Mutuality: Attending to Congregational Process | 61 |
| The Role of Pastoral Leadership | |
| Congregational Process | |
| Perfect Love Casts our Fear | |
| Questions for Reflection | 69 |
| 6. | Exploring the Possibilities: Giving Place to Each Other | 71 |
| Responses to 15 questions concerning homosexuality and the ELCA | |
| Questions for Reflection | 92 |
| Glossary | 93 |
| Bibliography | 95 |
