How can christians help lgbtq+
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
With a total membership of approximately 600,000 people, individual congregations are organized in 32 self-governing regions across North America. Denomination-wide administration is exercised through participation on the General Board and at the biennial General Assembly, which calls on representatives from all churches and regions. While “matters of conscience” can be debated at the General Assembly, the voting body cannot dictate a particular stance for individual congregations. On “matters of policy,” however, the Assembly can request that congregations and regions adhere to specific standards, such as those related to ordination.
LGBTQ+ EQUALITY
ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY
At the General Assembly in 2013, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to affirm and welcome LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of church life, including management. While the resolution does not dictate policy for individual congregations, the denomination actively encourages congregations interested in becoming more inclusive. (The GLAD Alliance provides in-depth practical support through a wide variety of
Is it REALLY ok to be LGBTQ? A see behind and beyond the “clobber passage”
There’s a designate for what’s happening here: proof texting.
Theopodia defines proof texting as “the way by which a person appeals to a biblical text to prove or justify a theological position without regard for the context of the passage they are citing.”
If you hear someone say “the Bible says…” run in the other direction. The Bible says lots of things!
Here a rare things the Bible says:
That the Earth was covered in water when created until God formed country (Genesis 1:9) but also that the Earth was completely dry until God brought streams up and watered the planet (Genesis 2:5-6).
That God created animals first and then humans (Genesis 1) but also that God created Adam first, then animals, then Eve (Genesis 2).
That’s right, the Bible contradicts itself in the first two chapters!
“The Bible says” in Exodus and Deuteronomy that if a woman is raped her rapist must either marry her or pay her father (because he’s “damaged” the father’s “property”).
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians that Jesus will return in his hold lifetime (4:15-17).
So what does the Bible say?
The Bib
Written by Patric Peters
I recently saw a sponsored social media announce by a Catholic that said “Call the LGBTQ group for what they are: sexual degenerates.” A Catholic website garnered over 90,000 signatures in bids to stop a recent LGBTQ ministry conference at Fordham University — a conference whose humble goal was “to build community, distribute best practices and worship together.” Meanwhile, a prominent Catholic speaker campaigns to “Reclaim the Month” of June — with t-shirts and everything! — for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is apparently threatened by Pride month.
And this is just a mild sample — and all in my limited purview as a Catholic whose exposure with LGBTQ encourage has otherwise been generally positive.
Unsurprisingly, the Christian community at large offers a range of perspectives on LGBTQ issues. Many progressive churches perform same-sex marriages, ordain openly male lover ministers, and hug theologies that authorize for a more inclusive sexual anthropology. Many other churches maintain a traditional Christian sexual ethic and understanding of marriage. The Catholic Church itself, while officially upholding its longstanding sexual training and ethics,
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
What Does The Bible Speak About Homosexuality?
Introduction
For the last two decades, Pew Analyze Center has reported that one of the most enduring ethical issues across Christian traditions is sexual diversity. For many Christians, one of the most frequently first-asked questions on this topic is, “What does the Bible express about attraction to someone of the same sex?”
Although its unlikely that the biblical authors had any notion of sexual orientation (for example, the phrase homosexual wasn't even coined until the late 19th century) for many people of faith, the Bible is looked to for timeless guidance on what it means to honor God with our lives; and this most certainly includes our sexuality.
Before we can jump into how it is that Christians can maintain the authority of the Bible and also affirm sexual diversity, it might be helpful if we started with a brief but clear overview of some of the assumptions informing many Christian approaches to understanding the Bible.
What is the Bible?
For Christians to whom the Bible is God’s very written word, it is widely understood that God produced its contents through inspired
This may not be a huge surprise, but we receive A LOT of questions via email, social media, and in person on Tuesdays. What gentle of questions? Well, anything from, Should I find back together with my boyfriend or girlfriend? to What should I perform next with my life? to How should I lovingly engage those in the LGBTQ community?
In this blog series “Ask The Porch,” we’re answering real-life questions that we’ve received from you. Disclaimer: our highest priority is always to first respond with biblical counsel from God’s Word. The hardest questions to answer are those in the “grey” areas. So we’ll do our best to share our biblically-informed opinion, but recognize that we may include different convictions on the non-essentials (vs. the essentials).
Now, let’s dive into the question for this week emailed in from an online listener:
Can a Christian be gay?
“Hey David,
I am a Christian and possess struggled with same sex attraction since childhood. I would not wish it on anyone. It’s very hard being alone and longing for someone to hold hands with. I want the chance to love and have someone love me back. I want to live a life for God but I also don’t wish to live on this earth alone.