Senate hopeful Adam Hamilton questions biblical authority on same-sex relationships
Democratic Senate candidate and pastor Adam Hamilton said Christians may need to reconsider parts of the Bible, including Paul’s teachings, during a discussion with an LGBTQ-affirming group.
During a pastors’ panel hosted by the Reformation Project, Democratic Senate candidate and senior pastor Adam Hamilton said he struggles with how much latitude Christians have to question biblical texts, including the Apostle Paul’s statements. He said encounters with gay members of his congregation prompted him to rethink a literal approach to scripture, especially verses often cited against same-sex relationships. Hamilton traced his doubts to a 2001 sermon series and later highlighted a 2025 sermon on Mary Magdalene, arguing that churches have misread Paul when restricting women’s ministry.
The Reformation Project, founded by Matthew Vines in 2013, seeks to shift church teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity. Hamilton, who leads the Church of the Resurrection, the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation, is running against Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, with a Public Policy Polling survey indicating a tight contest.
Why it matters
Hamilton’s remarks could influence voters’ views on religion and LGBTQ rights in a competitive Senate race.
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