Lent 24

This CPE unit is all about sex. We are currently reading Homosexuality and Christian Faith edited by Walter Wink. It's a pretty good read. As we, as a CPE group, struggle together to find responsible language and the most loving response to one another, we've been spending a lot of time talking about homosexuality. I offer a couple of perspectives...

The UMC Social Principles (as found in the BOD, page 103-104) states that "We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God. All persons need the ministry of the Church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. We affirm that God's grace is available to all. We will seek to live together in Christian community, welcoming, forgiving, and oving one another, as Christ has loved and accepted us. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."

The intro to the Wink text is written by James Forbes, perhaps one of the most engaging preachers I've ever heard. He says, "Holy Ghost, talk to us. Some things are different now from the other days. Jesus, when you were preaching in the old days, people assumed the sexuality thing was basically that God made everybody heterosexual in orientation. Now, Jesus, the scientists and other people are telling us that we were deceived in that. That just as the bodies in heavens are different and the constellations are different, and just as in nature there are differences that we never noticed, that human beings are not all the same. That if you lined all of us up around the room, that we may be as different as you can imagine in our tastes, in our desires, in our approach, in what we would do with ourselves, in what would be a fulfilling relationship for us. Line us all up: even all of the straights are not the same. And all of the gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgendered folks don't have the same perspective. We are so different, and we ask the Holy Ghost: Holy Ghost, will you help us to walk around this circle and tell us, Holy Ghost, which ones of these you want us to put outside of the circle because they are an abomination in the sight of God?"

I don't know how I feel about this issue, or many others. I struggle through how I feel and what I think on a consistent basis. I am thankful that the UMC also commits to struggling through the issue. As I struggle, no matter what, I tend to fall on the side of love. Love your neighbor. Love your neighbor for all he or she is. I don't want to make the choice about who has to step out of the circle and who gets to stay in. I have faith that we--whoever we may be at any given point--can work toward faithful response, language, and love in all things.