“A House of Prayer for All People: Contesting Citizenship in a Queer Church”
David K Seitz
Univ of Minnesota Press, 2017, 296 Pages

At A Glance: “A House of Prayer for All People” explores the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto’s approach to citizenship and community within a queer Christian context, challenging traditional identity politics and advocating for an empathetic, integrative form of queer citizenship.

Overview: “A House of Prayer for All People: Contesting Citizenship in a Queer Church” by David K. Seitz is an ethnographic study of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, a predominantly 2SLGBTQIA+ church known for its activism and advocacy. Seitz explores the church’s role in shaping community and citizenship within a queer Christian context, focusing on issues like race, gender, police relations, international outreach, and asylum seekers.

The book delves into the affective aspects of citizenship politics, drawing from cultural geography, queer theory, and psychoanalysis. Seitz proposes the concept of an “improper” queer citizenship, advocating for a model of citizenship and solidarity that goes beyond conventional identity politics and national boundaries, emphasizing empathy, integration, and reparative engagements.

Thoughts from Readers: