Churches & Gays

Dear Editor:

I realize Vermonters adhere to a variety of belief systems,
but right now I'd like to address the Christians and their churches.

Vermont churches should not condemn and reject persons who perceive themselves as "gay" (much less those who we may perceive as gay). This is a grievous sin! It not only adds to the pain and anguish felt by those who have experienced ostracization perhaps all their lives. It also encourages, instigates and sanctions hateful harassment and violence and even murder of those perceived to be gay.

But neither should the churches accept and affirm intimate homosexual behavior as normal and natural. This too is sin! Such intercourse is unhealthy, sterile, and destructive of wider relationships. It compromises the dignity, diminishes and ultimately destroys the individual. It is seen as a threat to society itself. From a Biblical perspective, it is an "abomination" to God. St. Paul lists it among some of our other worst sins, including murder, prostitution, rape, child molestation, adultery, fornication, greed and thievery.

But what about the Christian message of love? The gay community claims that it's love, and caring, and acceptance, and respect for persons which draws them together. Should the churches of Jesus Christ be offering less?

If there are any Christians out there reading this letter and wondering how to be true to scripture and also the gospel of God's forgiving and transforming love, one way might be to get onto the internet and click on EXODUS NORTH AMERICA --if the theology turns you off, as it may for some, skip over it and browse through the "Articles" link instead. Also, try reading St. Paul's letters thoroughly, not just selected texts. He had to deal with an Empire permeated by gay culture.

True Christianity offers not only a loving, caring community; it also bears witness to the all-embracing love of the very Creator of the universe, whom we can know as our heavenly father, and who knows each of us by name. This is the message entrusted to the churches. Why isn't it being heard? Why isn't it being lived?

(Signed by a Vermont pastor)

P.S. For a theological treatis on this issue, visit Reprobate Theology -The homosexual seduction of the American church and also click on Responding to Gay Theology

P.P.S. Here is an interesting website on churches taking an intentional Christian approach to ministry which includes homosexuals:

TRANSFORMING CONGREGATIONS (You may click on this title for their web site.)

Transforming Congregations is a movement among "mainline" denominational churches to affirm that those who deal with homosexual temptations are loved and that Christ can and does have power to change those who face such temptations.

MISSION STATEMENT:

Transforming Congregations encourages transforming ministry to all persons affected by relational brokenness resulting in sexual sin.

TRANSFORMING CONGREGATIONS seeks to:

> AFFIRM the Biblical position that God loves all persons, that homosexual practice is one sin among many and that the Holy Spirit is available to transform all persons - including homosexual persons.

> MINISTER to persons struggling with homosexuality, their families, and all others affected by homosexuality as partners in Christ's work of healing.

> CALL the church to recognize its need for repentance and healing of its homophobic and accommodating responses.

> INTEGRATE all persons striving to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ into full membership in the local church

THE RELIGIOUS FACTOR

As was mentioned on the home page of this website, It cannot be denied that most of those whose current lives testify to having successfully left the gay or lesbian lifestyle first experienced an epiphany of religious conviction and commitment to Christian discipleship, which proved for them the most effective means of escaping the snare of homosexual orientation. The religious factor cannot be easily dismissed. A sure conviction that the ultimate power and Creator of the universe has loved you from the moment of conception and loves you still, knows you by name and is always there for you, called you into being for a purpose and has a wonderful plan for your life --definitely has a positive effect on your well-being, self-acceptance, and aspiration to grow toward that for which you are created.

Here is one church group's statement on being other than "Open and Affirming" (or "Welcoming and Affirming"):

WELCOMING AND WITNESSING CHURCHES

There are many within the American Baptist family who are opposed to “Gay Rights” and the endorsement, encouragement and acceptance of homosexuality and other “gender benders” within our contemporary society. However, our opposition is based on love rather than hate, contrary to the claims of others. Our preference is that our culture move forward in paths of righteousness, truth, and honest love in the manner of Christ’s ministry.

Surely as Christians we do not oppose love for one another. Neither is there great harm in forming a chaste and celibate household with same-sex roommates. And although we would not call such an arrangement –even a long-term arrangement –a “family,” we recognize everyone’s need for primary relationships of trust and caring concern, loving and being loved, as well as for a sense of identity and of belonging. We also recognize that the ultimate in human relational fulfillment comes from that of one man and one woman happily united in marriage, with the hope, or accomplishment, of enlarging the family with children through procreation or adoption. Daily interaction with both mother and father are essential to the balanced and optimum development of each child.

We do not endorse, encourage or condone homosexual intimacy. There is just too much harm and heartache, and ultimate destruction of precious persons which comes of this behavior. It's no great wonder that the Bible defines this behavior as "abhorrent" to God, who loves and cares about each of His children. Besides being supported by theologians of Christianity and other world religions, our position is supported by physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, and cultural historians.*

Speaking the truth in love, we are willing to refute the mythology of homosexual immutability, providing evidence that homosexuality is neither inborn, innate, nor unchangeable; and we will readily supply documented studies and research showing the medical, psychological, social and spiritual damage done to persons by this behavior, as well as by other forms of abuse and misuse of the sacred gift of human sexuality. In Bible study and dialogue we will share Biblical evidence that this is unacceptable human behavior which portends dire consequences for individuals and even for nations or civilizations which would accommodate it. But above all, we will show sincere love and concern for each person and the life issues they confront. Our conclusion is that sexual perversion is wrong, and will ultimately destroy those who accept it as “an alternate lifestyle.”

Recognizing a rift of different perspectives even among some sister churches who opt for an “Open –or Welcoming –and Affirming” ministry (which seems to require convoluted Biblical interpretation and denial of scientific and medical fact), we prefer to be perceived as “Welcoming and Witnessing Churches.” We acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness by the grace of God. Thus each congregation is seen and experienced as “a church community open and receptive to all persons seeking spiritual fulfillment; churches with a ministry of witness to the all-embracing love, truth and righteousness of Almighty God our Heavenly Father revealed in Christ Jesus His Son, and to the transforming power of His unconditional love for every individual: you who are created in His image and whom He knows even by name.”

Our faith is grounded in and directed by the Holy Scriptures culminating in the Gospel of Christ in the New Testament. Key chapters in regard to our position include not only those proscribing homosexual behavior, but also John 15, Romans 12, 1Cor. 13, and Ephesians 4-5. Reading whole chapters from the Bible is always better than one- or two-verse “proof texts,” but Bible reading should not stop there. The New Testament presents the full Gospel of God’s redeeming and transforming love. The Old Testament reflects its roots. Happy reading!

Even Pastors can change their minds. Here's a statement from one Pastor:

What I'm Doing Here

Almost 40 years ago I launched my professional career. Through the years I have known, and loved, and admired and respected a number of young persons who incidentally considered themselves to be gay. At first I considered that was their own private business; their talents and intellect and other personal qualities were of greater importance. Besides, it was reported that sexual orientation was innate and unchangeable –an aspect of one's own being as they were born to be. Later I realized that this may not be so, but if I were to speak critically of the lifestyle, someone might take that as justification for gay-bashing, and I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt on account of what I might have said.

However, throughout the duration of my ministry, I found that I was being asked by my gay friends for counseling in their darker times of crisis and depression. And I would be called upon, sometimes in the middle of night or wee hours of the morning, to come and pray with them and help them deal with personal crises. Too many faced premature death, and I would grieve with them in their final hours, pray for them, bid them farewell, commending their precious souls to the forgiving love and grace of God. Then I would officiate at their funerals, and try to console their grief-stricken families.

Seeing the dark side of the gay lifestyle, I began to regret my laissez faire silence. Having learned how to access the internet, I began some research beyond the gloss of the popular press and found that Biblical principles –which I should have paid more attention to considering my educational background and professional position –were substantiated by morbidity and mortality rates within the gay community. Debilitating and terminal illness, medical problems, deep depression and suicide were all much higher, and earlier in life, in the gay community than in the general population. Average lifespan is reduced by about twenty years, which is three times what smoking does to kill people off prematurely. (No responsible person encourages smoking anymore.) Many gays have come to the conclusion that they really wanted to leave their lifestyle, but doubted that they could.

Meanwhile, I had heard that the "inborn, unchangeable" claims for sexual orientation were highly questionable. A group from the Vermont United Church of Christ (UCC) invited me to a conference where I met and got to know several ex-homosexuals who had successfully left the gay lifestyle, and I further discovered that nationwide there are actually tens of thousands who were former homosexuals and now live normal lifestyles, including being married and raising children of their own. I have read their own stories; their lives have been completely transformed. They are living proof that sexual orientation is not an inevitable and fixed condition, and certainly not one’s unavoidable destiny.

I also learned, through research, that homosexuality is not a fixed state of being –of "who you are," but rather a mode of behavior that is developmentally established and built into one's identity and sense of self –especially during pre-adolescent and adolescent years. And I learned that kids, especially those lacking a stable homelife and firm sense of self, are easily recruited during these tender years into a gay lifestyle. How this comes about I have written elsewhere (see the homepage of the website "Straight Talk In Vermont", but my point here is that if schoolchildren are indoctrinated to believe that homosexuality is "normal, natural and healthy" and "worthy of experimentation" a lot of our sons and daughters will be doomed to misery and early death, or at best a sterile relationship not conducive to self-fulfillment.

It has also become apparent to me that a lot of essential information on this topic is being withheld from the public, and we're fed a carefully censored version of what homosexuality, bisexuality, transexuality –and anything else along a fantasized "sexuality continuum" –is all about.

Therefore I have resolved, in honor and in memory of friends I have lost, to do what I can to open lines of communication regarding what our children and grandchildren are learning on this topic, and what we adults need to know about the subject stripped of all the mythology that's been and is being spread around by the popular media. I am willing to be available to groups with whom I can share information I have gathered.

–Dave Garrecht, Guilford, VT

-----------------------------------------------------------------------