LGBT theology
To Bishop Spong, the debate is over but in case you don’t agree I’ll add my view. It seems that much – if not most – of the scriptural basis for considering homosexuality as sin can reasonably be interpreted as referring to homosexual rape rather than homosexuality itself. Don’t throw Leviticus into the argument unless you are willing to stop cherry picking and accept the whole thing (eg “Anyone who curses father or mother must die:” Leviticus 20:9). Beyond that, there are conflicts and inconsistencies in the bible and we need to go with the higher, and more general interpretation.
The first thing we have to realize is that being gay, lesbian or transsexual is not a lifestyle choice. The Lake Wobegon motto fits: “Sumus Quid Sumus” – we are what we are. Does anyone really think that someone would choose to be gay with all its disadvantages and risks just because it would be fun? How about those gay people in places where it was or is extremely dangerous? In some parts of the world it’s the death penalty if you’re found out! Furthermore, there is evidence of physical differences in the brain associated with homosexuality. Animals have been known to display homosexual behavior (New Scientist, Biological Exuberance). The claims that gay men can be made straight by proper training are nonsense – they merely show that there are circumstances under which we can suppress our true nature – at least for a while – and usually at considerable cost to ourselves!
If we accept God as a loving God then would this God create a whole class of people who are doomed to spend their life suppressing their own God given nature? This hardly is a vision of a loving God!
If we look to Jesus, we see someone who often hung out with assorted marginalized people to the scandal of the proper and respectable citizens. He suggested that one had better be careful before judging someone else. Who did he condemn? It’s summarized in the judgment section of Matthew 25: It’s not gays and lesbians – no, the fire and brimstone are reserved for people who ignored those on the bottom. “I was hungry and you didn’t give me food, thirsty and you didn’t give me drink, a stranger and you didn’t welcome me, sick and in prison …..” Not a word about “you were gay…”
The sanctity of marriage issue also is subject to all sorts of distortions. The view that the “one man one women” marriage is a sort of universal concept is nonsense. Marriage is a social construct that varies with time and place and can have many forms. Marriage evolves – look at the changes in our own society in just the last hundred years. How many people want to go back to the form of marriage in Jesus’ time? One man and possibly many women; the women basically property; different definitions of, and punishments for, adultery applying to husband and wife….
The bit that gay marriage is a threat to traditional marriage also is pure nonsense. Yes, the institution of marriage in our country has major problems – but these problems have nothing to do with civil unions or gay marriage. For children one can see some advantage to having parents of different genders – but the advantage of having two parents instead of one is of much greater importance. Research in this area has been distorted by some on the right. In any case, the difference between individuals far outweighs everything else.
The argument that the purpose of marriage is to have children – be fruitful and multiply – may have had some substance a few thousand years ago. However, we are supporting our present population levels through the unsustainable consumption of resources such as oil, gas and water – all combined with enormous environmental damage. Therefore it is in the best interest of God’s creation that we stop multiplying! (See our blog, The world in transformation, on this subject.)
Jackie’s corner
Jackie’s corner from the fall 2009 “Chronicles of St. Paul’s Willimantic:” Dear Family and Friends of St Paul’s: With sincere joy in the Lord I send you greetings. Almost a full year ago I started sharing our journey in the Lord with you. At the time I came as a supply priest. I was, and still am, working my way into a new life after my husband of 28 years, Bill, died unexpectedly in 2007. The love and acceptance of the community of St. Paul’s has truly been a healing balm to my soul.
In July the Vestry and I agreed that I would come on board as 1/3 time Priest-in-Charge. That enables me to provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care for 20 hours a week.
One of the reasons I believe the Lord has put us together is because we have both lost a defining part of ourselves. I lost my husband and all that it means to be defined as a married woman and you lost your building and all that it means to be defined as a worshipping community attached to the edifice of a beautiful stone building at 220 Valley Street in Willimantic Connecticut. I was with Bill for 30 years and I know that some of you have claimed St. Paul’s as your home of worship for that long or even longer.
Together we must discover what God intends for our new lives. We now worship as guests of the Soup Kitchen who owns the building. I am about to move out of the home that Bill and I built 13 years ago and intended to share for the rest of our lives. In the many changes that we will experience there is one thing I know for sure. The love of God has always been with us, it is present to us in this very moment, and it will always be with us! This love is faithful, compassionate, merciful, patient, creative, joy filled, and generous – to name a few attributes. We can count on this Spirit to lead us into our new way of Being.
Abraham was 75 when God called him out of Haran (Genesis 12:1-2). God said: “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. Through his faith and trust in God Abraham became the father of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian religions. God promised Abraham that if he would follow and obey, God would bless him and make him into a great nation so that he would be a blessing and all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:2-3).
In the book of Hebrews the author describes faith this way: “…faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) They go on to say “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going… For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”(Hebrews 11:8&10) As children of God we are children of Abraham and as we walk in faith as he did God will bless us to be a blessing.
I look forward to our journey and the blessings we will bring each other and those God calls us to care for.
In Christ love,
Amma Jackie
Life after the sale
The wardens comments from the fall 2009 “Chronicles of St. Paul’s Willimantic:” Changes in how we function (other than getting some underused space cleaned out) have been minimal. the big change is that we don’t have to think about property management in general and the roof in particular! Having property issues become someone else’s worry really simplified our lives.
Our “landlord” has been busy with property improvements both inside and out. Painting has improved the look of the staircase and other spaces in the church building, and the second floor of the office building is undergoing a much needed face lift. On the outside, the grass gets mowed and we have new plantings along Walnut Street.
Of course, the roof is on everybody’s mind and here is the latest news: The State money is coming but getting it turns out to be much more complicated than anyone expected. There have been a series of paperwork delays but actual construction is getting closer.
The latest issue is that the Soup Kitchen had gotten bids from a number of local contractors – but then found out that contractors had to be on a State approved list. The bidders weren’t, and so the process is being redone. Unless something else comes up we should see construction before too long. In the meantime they did readjust the tarps that are up there – and recent heavy rains didn’t seem to pour in too badly.
When the office moves we’ll have limited space to store our collection of ancient and modern documents. Lisa Ferriere, Office Administrator, has begun sorting through this material to determine what should saved. Diocesan House is the keeper of such files, and equipped to care for them. After Rev. Jackie views the material we will begin transporting it to Diocesan House for storage in their archives.
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