Author:
Rev. Robert Towns, Th.D.
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Date Posted: 14:49:32 03/08/05 Tue
Author Host/IP: adsl-068-157-198-127.sip.tys.bellsouth.net/68.157.198.127
Have you seen the latest United Church of Christ t.v. ad that shows a lesbial couple with their arms around each other on the steps of their church with the "We accept you just as you are theme"?
The Bible calls lesbianism a sin. Sinful lesbian sexual acts are an abomonation to God. Yes, we are to love the lesbian , but to REJECT their sin of lesbianism.
The United Church of Christ ad suggests that the church views that it is o.k. to be lesbian at their church.
They have gone too far.
"Do not act like the world in order to reach the world"-Dr. Michael E. Schmidt
Read B.A. Robinsons insightful comments below.
Robert
_____________________________________________
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST AND HOMOSEXUALITY
"The United Church of Christ was created in 1957 with the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. They currently have about 1.5 million members. 1
Congregationalists had an impressive history of opposition to discrimination based on race, gender and sexual orientation. They were the first American mainline/liberal Christian church:
to make the first public declaration against slavery (1700)
ordain a black person (Lemuel Haynes, 1785),
ordain a woman (Antoinette Brown, 1853),
ordain the first openly gay man (William Johnson, 1972), and
ordain the first openly lesbian woman (Anne Holmes, 1977).
In 1973, The United Church Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns was formed. 7 In 1998-NOV, Rev. Paul H. Sherry, President of the UCC, commented that the coalition "has been a prophetic presence in our church, clarifying concerns, challenging stereotypes, providing leaders for every setting of the church's life, gently and persistently changing hearts and minds, providing a refuge for those who have suffered wounds of prejudice and exclusion in church and society..." 5
In 1975, their General Synod passed a resolution in support of full civil liberties and equal protection under the law to persons of all "Affectional or Sexual Preferences."
In 1977, the Church passed a resolution which "deplored the use of scripture to generate hatred, and the violation of civil rights of gay and bisexual persons and called upon individual members, local churches .... to continue to work for the enactment of civil rights legislation at the federal, state, and local levels of government."
Ordination of active homosexuals was formally accepted by the denomination in 1980. Its clergy are also free to bless same-sex unions. Local associations have the authority to decide on their own ordination policies. Some associations, like Western North Carolina have gone on record as refusing to consider any homosexual candidate for the ministry.
Some congregations follow the homosexual-positive "Open and Affirming" program. In 1985, the General Synod formally urged local churches to welcome gay and lesbian members and advocate in their behalf against discrimination and persecution.
General Synod Resolutions/Pronouncements from 1991 to now:
The General Synod meets biannually, typically in mid-JULY.
1991: The Synod called on the Virginia state legislature to repeal its sodomy laws and to nullify other laws directed against sexual minorities.
1993: The synod called on the church to take greater leadership to end discrimination against gays and lesbians.
1997: The Synod of the United Church of Christ considered a "fidelity and chastity" resolution. This was similar to those in many other Christian denominations. It would requiring members to be monogamous if married, and sexually inactive otherwise. It's main intent was to deny the legitimacy of gay and lesbian committed relationships, and of heterosexuals living together without being married. The Synod took "no action" on the resolution. A second resolution was proposed and passed. Termed an "fidelity and integrity" resolution, it reaffirms "that the standard for sexual and relational behavior for members of the United Church of Christ is fidelity and integrity in marriage and in other covenanted relationships, or singleness, and in all relationships of life." When compared to the defeated fidelity and chastity proposal, it widens the standard to include both sexual and non-sexual aspects of all relationships: married couples, living together couples, singles, gay, lesbian and heterosexual. It presumably also covers professional, work, friendship, social, church, and other non-sexual relationships.
1999: At GS22, The Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ proposed a resolution "Justice and Civil Rights for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Persons." which asked the delegates to "reaffirm the historic commitment to justice and civil rights for all persons including lesbian, gay and bisexual people." They asked that the UCC work to defeat DOMA-type legislation at the state level, and to support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Finally, they asked that their congregations provide "opportunities for open, honest and respectful discussion within their Christian Education and youth programs of issues pertaining to human sexuality, utilizing curricula such as 'Created In God's Image...' " The UCC Executive Council recommended that the resolution be referred directly to the appropriate agencies for implementation.
2001: Three congregations in Pennsylvania have introduced a resolution that would have the General Synod disavow a 1999 "Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality , Justice and Healing" which was published by SIECUS -- the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. It was signed at the time by more than 2,000 Christian and Jewish leaders including UCC General Minister and President John H. Thomas. According to the UCC web site, the Pennsylvania resolution "asserts that President Thomas signed the declaration 'on behalf of the United Church of Christ.' The SIECUS website, however, says that the names of denominations or organizations are used 'for identification purposes only.' " The resolution asks that the General Synod disavow the declaration's support for the ordination of homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex committed unions.
1998: Minister Comments on Homosexual Newspaper Ads
In 1998-JUL, the Christian Coalition and some other conservative Christian groups took out full-page advertisements in leading American newspaper. The ads promoted the idea that reparative therapy is successful in converting homosexuals into heterosexuals. William R. Johnson is a UCC minister, an executive member of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, and a human sexuality expert. He commented that these ads promote "false hope...Sexual orientation cannot be changed...I am saddened that the old chestnut of 'reparative therapy' for homosexuals has again reared its ugly head." Rev. Johnson pointed out that the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association have repudiated "reparative therapy" claims.
1998-NOV: A pastoral letter
The Rev. Paul H. Sherry, president of the UCC, wrote a pastoral letter titled: "Now, No Condemnation: The Rights of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Persons in Society and their Membership and Ministry in the Church." He reviewed the difficult path taken by the UCC to become an inclusive church in which "all are welcomed, where the gifts of all are recognized and received, and where the rights of all are defended and promoted. When so many in our society would reject and exclude, it is critical that we of the United Church of Christ bear witness to the conviction that it is possible to be deeply faithful to the Bible, profoundly respectful of the historic faith of the church and of its sacraments, and at the same time support the full inclusion and participation of all God's children in the membership and ministry of the church. Likewise, there can be no compromise that all persons in this society must enjoy equal protection under the law."
He describes some of the "marvelous surprises" that have evolved from this policy of inclusiveness, with the following powerfull words:
"the growth and vitality of many local churches that have declared themselves open to and affirming of the gifts of gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons;"
"the gracious perseverance of The United Church Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns..."
"the gratitude and encouragement of Christians in other churches who have found in our church's journey to new understandings a sign of hope amid discouragement;"
"the growing self-esteem of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth in our church who are able to worship in congregations that respect their full humanity, as well as the heterosexual youth in our churches who have found themselves called to confront the anti-gay prejudice so prevalent in their schools;"
"the renewal that springs forth as we discover, again, that we are not trapped by the past but are part of a living tradition that is 'reformed, yet always reforming,' a people whose only comfort in life and in death is that they belong to Christ." 5
2000-JUN: Scholarship fund for gay and lesbian seminarians:
The United Church of Christ announced during the week of 2000-JUN-12 the creation of a scholarship fund for "self-affirmed gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender" seminary students. It will be called "The William R. Johnson Scholarship Fund," named after first openly gay person to be ordained by the UCC. This is believed to be the only such fund by any American denomination. UCC president, John H. Thomas, said: "This fund is a powerful reminder that the response to God's call to ministry should not be limited by economics or sexual orientation." They also urged other denominations to accept gays and lesbians more widely. Initial funding for the fund will be $500,000.
Biblical Witness Fellowship, a conservative, renewal group in the UCC, reacted negatively. Their executive director, David Runnion-Bareford, said: "We are saddened by the announcement that historic mission funds donated to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and entrusted in our generation into the care of agencies related to the United Church of Christ, will be perversely spent...The diversion of funds committed in holy purpose for the unholy pursuit of a sexual political agenda is a grave insult and injustice to the godly history of our churches. Covenant has been broken with those who created these funds to promote the mission mandate of Jesus Christ." 6
References:
The UCC home page is at: http://www.ucc.org
A press release on the 1997 "fidelity and integrity" resolution is at: http://www.ucc.org/synod/gs07_2.htm
A UCC Synod Forum discusses this resolution and other issues at: http://www.ucc.org/synod/gsforum.htm
A list of General Synod resolutions and pronouncements on various human sexuality topics from 1971 to the present time is at: http://www.uua.org/owl/uccres.html
The Rev. P.H. Sherry, "Now, No Condemnation," at: http://www.ucc.org/headline/pastoral.htm
ReligionToday news summary from Crosswalk.com, 2000-JUN-21
The UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns has a web site at: http://www.ucccoalition.org "
- B.A.Robinson
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United Church of Christ pro LESBIAN couple t.v. ad