As any living, breathing LGBT person knows, we’re usually hard-pressed to find a church that is going to be open and accepting. And, say we do find a church that is accepting of us as individuals … How will they feel if I bring my girlfriend and heaven forbid, want to hold her hand or put my arm around her? The last thing I want is to walk into a church and feel the glare of many judging eyes. I’ve been there before. And, to be honest, it’s kept me away from Christian churches for substantial amounts of time and made me wonder if there would ever be a place where I could go and be myself … As I believe God created me to be.
The U.S. arm of the Anglican Communion (The Episcopal Church USA) has been publicly debating the issues of gay ordination and same-sex unions for half a decade. This, of course, all came out (so to speak) when Gene Robinson (an openly gay Episcopal priest) was confirmed as a bishop at the 2003 general convention of the denomination.
The American Episcopal church seems to be predominantly liberal in its approach to this issue, but some North American dioceses have already pulled out of the American church and more are threatening to do the same. So, this week, the American House of Bishops is meeting in New Orleans to come to some sort of decision on the issue. Will they stand their ground as an open and inclusive Christian denomination or will they choose to bow to the Anglican Communion, for fear of disrupting the entire worldwide denomination with a church wide schism?
“The Bishop of North Carolina, Michael B. Curry, will bring the message from his people: Don’t do it. His people tell him not to bow to demands from the Anglican Communion that the American church stop ordaining openly gay bishops and blessing same-sex unions. Rev. George Clifford, a retired priest from Raleigh said, ‘We need to stand up for the truth as we understand it and be inclusive of all God’s people.’”
September 30th has been set as the date when they need to have it all figured out. Many people think that a church split is inevitable. Others hold out a hope that there can be reconciliation. Whichever way this discussion leads, there is no doubt that this week’s gathering in Louisiana is pivotal.
To me, a self-professed Christian who just happens to be a lesbian, it’s a no brainer. My understanding of the Christian faith leads me to two central principles: Love God. Love people. It’s as simple as that. There are no loopholes. No trick questions. No secret expectations that once a church gets you in the door, they can slip in on you. It’s a simple and revolutionary faith that is as open as can be. It is one where people are loved just as they are, no strings attached. And it’s a faith and a love that gives hope for a better tomorrow. It’s my hope that the Episcopal Church will stay true to their hearts and they will stand their ground … loving God and loving people.
10 Comments
Your theology is simple if you disregard God’s descriptions of sexual holiness and His definitions of holiness. God alone, as the Creator, is the authority on what is normal. Your definitions leave the door open for all forms of unholiness. Promiscuity, pedophilia, etc. — all can be justified by your definition but all lead one further and further away from biblical holiness. Your idea of normality seems to be based on temptation. But we are all tempted by different things. If a person is constantly attracted to children, does that mean that’s the nature God intended him to have? Or does he have a choice to act or not to act? It’s no different than temptations to murder, steal, or lie. True love expresses iteself in obedience. That’s in the Bible. And if you really believe God is who He says He is you would know that He can restore you to the person He intended you to be with full, whole, healthy sexuality. That’s in the Bible, too.
Gloria- do you mean God’s descriptions or the Levites (Old Testament) and Paul (New Testament)descriptions? I don’t think there is any mention of homosexuals at all in the Gospels, which is, after all, the preaching of Jesus.
Just remember that homosexual behavior is on par with not eating shellfish and not wearing clothing with a blend of two different fibers in Leviticus. I sure hope you haven’t risked God’s wrath by violating ANY of the laws in Leviticus…
I hope the church has the guts to stand its ground. There is no place for fags and dikes in the church.
Hello… Fred Phelps called…. He’d like his comment back.
Uh, J Taylor…just so you know, it’s D-Y-K-E-S. Yes, there shall be an unannounced quiz later-you’d better bone up, as it were.
Gloria, earlier, refers to “God’s descriptions of holiness.” When someone claims that God has spelled out rules of behavior, that person does not understand that God has done no such thing. Instead, the writer(s)/scribe(s)/editor(s) of the composition we know as Leviticus composed utterances and and in that literary work presented them as being the utterances of God (or of Moses, or of whoever). Literalists like Gloria are not capable of realizing that just because some ancient Hebrew writer (or writers, or scribes, or editors) claims that God said something, IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO. In casual conversation you will hear: “Shakespeare said, ‘The play’s the thing.’” Actually, Shakespeare (or, better, the writer of the play we know as HAMLET) presents his character Hamlet as saying “The play’s the thing.” Shakespeare did not say it. He created a character in a play, and in that play the character says it.
I know that is a big intellectual step for a lot of people. Gloria appears to be one of them.
JTaylor says, “There is no place for fags and dikes(sic)in the church.” I take “the church” to mean the Christian faith in general. The last time I checked my Bible, Christianity had room for everyone, including LGBT folk. What it doesn’t have room for, however, is intolerance. I know that a lot of Christians call it conviction, but whatever you call it, it still spells a lack of self respect. And, cliche that it is, any clergyman or therapist will tell you that if you can’t respect yourself, it’s pretty doggone hard to have respect for others around you.
I ditto your beliefs (it’s a good thing, too!!). Awesome article, Ms. Glenn. I never read anything in the Bible of Jesus preaching on the sins of homosexuality (actually, I think he said more on divorce and adultery). If we all just followed his message (uh, that was “love thy neighbor”, in case you never got to the New Testament, Gloria) and lived by his example, the world would just be a better place. As far as I know, there are as many good, honest gay Christians as there are good, honest straight Christians, and it is not up to us to judge who goes where.
That’s my soapbox. And Gloria, a dike is something like a dam, or a levee - not a person.
God will strike his revenge on all the muff suckers and fudge packers.
Wow, J. Taylor, that is a mature comment. You should be an actor at the “wacko” Judgment House that the Baptist Church puts on in October. YOu know the haunted hell house where they bring people to Jesus through pure emotion and fear. You should definitely be the one to play Jesus at the end since you have already put him in a “box” to suit your own beliefs, and obviously have it all figured out. “Damn those sinner to hell!”, I’m sure that is what Jesus would say; You know the Jesus who’s very first commandment is Love thy neighbor, yeah I’m pretty sure that’s what he would say.