As Pride Month approaches, many open and affirming churches are preparing to celebrate queer identities, and I’m excited to highlight a powerful book by queer author Trent Clifford: Reclaiming Faith: Learning to Reimagine Church, God, and Ourselves.
Belief Behind the Book is a feature that offers readers a deeper understanding of the beliefs—or what I like to call the “WHY”—that drive progressive spiritual leaders to write the books they do. Inspired by the Ministry from the Margins Books program, this feature gives insight into why authors like Clifford write the books they do, and how their work can offer practical advice for readers rethinking their own spiritual journeys.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m not religious; I’m spiritual”? It’s a phrase that reflects the internal struggle many experience as they seek a meaningful connection with God outside of traditional religious structures. Reclaiming Faith presents a tender yet practical guide for those seeking to reconnect their spirituality with the faith they feel they’ve lost.
After surviving marital abuse and religious discrimination, Clifford reconciled his sexual and spiritual identities. With vulnerability, he invites readers to join him in his healing process and to learn from his journey. His approach is deeply personal, yet rooted in universal principles that offer both solace and guidance.
In Reclaiming Faith, Clifford provides actionable steps to help you:
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Read the Bible as though you are living within its pages, rather than viewing it as a distant text
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Worship in a way that makes “church” feel like a personal sanctuary, not just a public institution
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Look within yourself and recognize that God dwells there—because, indeed, God does
Trent Clifford, MDiv, is a poet, speaker, spiritual director, abuse survivor, and passionate advocate for reclaiming faith. As a writer and spiritual guide, Clifford’s ministry offers a space of rest for those processing trauma, inspiration for those seeking to return to a faith that has harmed them, and a space for reimagining God through new eyes.
When asked about the motivation behind Reclaiming Faith, Clifford shared:
“Reclaiming Faith is the culmination of a deeply personal spiritual journey. It reflects my struggle to understand why faith remained so important to me, despite how it had hurt me. Untangling my experiences in the church, as both a gay man and a survivor of domestic violence, wasn’t easy. A resource like Reclaiming Faith would have been invaluable to me during that time.”
Clifford’s practical advice for readers focuses on the importance of trauma-informed techniques, encouraging readers to trust themselves as they embark on the journey of recreating their faith in the image of a creative, compassionate God—one that is not bound by an established religious order.
As we enter the sacred season of Pride, may Reclaiming Faith serve as both balm and beacon for your journey. May it remind you that your story is sacred, your questions are holy, and your queerness is not a detour from divinity—it is, in fact, a doorway.
Let this be your invitation: Go not in search of a faith handed down in harm, but in the reclamation of a faith that rises from your own truth. Go boldly, go beautifully, go in peace.
