David Gura speaks wh Rev. Kimberly Stt about last week's meetg of the Uned Methodist Church's Council of Bishops and s impedg vote on whether to orda gay pastors.
Contents:
- BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP
- GAYS AND THE CHURCH
- 10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS
BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP
While many black pastors nmn homosexualy om the pulp, the choir lofts behd them are often filled wh gay sgers and micians. The fact that gays and lbians often hold learship posn the church is the worst kept secret black Ameri. * gay in church *
This is an important lson for church and nomatnal bodi to learn as they nsir one of the most challengg qutns of our time: how to addrs the cln of persons who are gay, lbian, transgenr or otherwise nonnformg to tradnal rol.
While affirmg belief that persons of homosexual orientatn are persons of sacred worth who need the mistry and guidance of the church, the statement add that the church “do not ndone the practice of homosexualy and nsirs this practice patible wh Christian teachg. One was to clare an abeyance (lay) on submtg or procsg plats related to homosexualy until after a procs for separatn had been approved and the nomatns that may rult om uld hold their first post-separatn General Conferenc.
The agreement about abeyance, though, beme effective immediately among s signers, and many other bishops the Uned Stat have likewise agreed to hold homosexualy-related plats agast clergy abeyance until after a post-separatn Uned Methodist General Conference 2028 term what new polici, if any, will be. He offers the grace to accept their te inty – not as gay, lbian or bi-sexual – but as His sons and dghters, embracg their blogil realy as male or are also ncerned about homosexualy’s impact on fai, the church and our culture. Society and fai always do bt when dividuals follow God’s created tent for rourc this sectn will help you unrstand and articulate God’s sign for human sexualy and rpond to revisnist theologil arguments that have been created to jtify homosexual behavr.
GAYS AND THE CHURCH
When to gays and lbians, the Gospel valu of love, mercy and passn are the buildg blocks of all church teachg. * gay in church *
The virtuosy of gay sgers, micians and posers has been the drivg force velopg popular gospel choirs — even chart-toppg, Grammy-wng acts — that make money for a church, help expand ngregatns and raise the profil of pastors.
10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS
* gay in church *
" Gospel mic superstar and megachurch pastor Donnie McClurk shocked the non-gospel world years ago by revealg a 2001 book that God "livered" him om a gay "liftyle" that he said was a rult of beg sexually abed as a boy. (CNS photo/Pl Harg)Sce Buildg a Bridge, a book on misterg to lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr Catholics, was published, I have been asked—at Catholic parish, retreat centers, lleg and universi and nferenc—a few qutns that recur over and over. Buildg a Bridge tentnally steered clear of issu of sexual moraly, sce I hoped to foster dialogue by focg on areas of possible monaly; and the church hierarchy and the majory of lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr Catholics rema far apart on the issu.