Questions
and
Answers
Regarding Inclusivity for All Persons
Sparta United Methodist Church is having a
special emphasis during the spring, sponsored by the Committee on
Church and
Society, to look at the situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender
persons in relation to the church, since they are the only group of
people
singled out by the United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline as
objects of
deliberate discrimination.
What
is sexual orientation?
What
does
LGBT stand
for?
Do
people
choose
their sexual orientation?
What
do
the
Scriptures say about homosexuality?
What
is
The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church?
What
does
The Book of
Discipline say about homosexuality?
What
is
the position
of Sparta Church Council on being welcoming?
What
does
it mean to
be a reconciling congregation?
Are there
already
congregations or ministries in the Greater New Jersey Conference that
are
reconciling?
Why
do
some people
wear rainbow ribbons?
What
would it mean
to me to be part of a reconciling congregation?
How
can I
find out
more? Comments?
1. Why is
Sparta United
Methodist Church having this emphasis this spring on welcoming and
including
(LGBT) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender persons?
The Church and Society committee has been
looking at the statement of inclusion that was passed by the church
council two
years ago this spring. They became aware that the above group of people
(LGBT)
are the only persons who receive very mixed messages from the policy of
the
church at large. The committee decided to explore become a Reconciling
Congregation, specifically living out a welcome to this group of
people. During
the spring months there will be questions in the bulletin and in the
newsletter
to answer questions. There will be a book study in April and May. There
will be
a potluck supper in May to again answer questions.
We
are hopeful that will in this time all of us will become better
informed.
2. What is sexual orientation?
Sexual orientation, like culture,
ethnicity, gender and personality traits, is one component of a
person’s
identity. It is the emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional
attraction that
one person feels toward another. Thus, a person can feel varying
degrees of
attraction for both genders. People generally come to realize that they
are
heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual. Sexual orientation may change
over time
and does not necessarily predict their gender identity.
These letters are an acronym for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. It is a broader term than
homosexuality, which
risks an inference of abnormality, disease, criminality, or sinfulness.
While
no subset of this group is more important than any other, the letters
are sometimes
changed around (such as TBLG) to indicate that transgender and bisexual
people
are often subject to greater risk of discrimination and assault than
lesbians
and gay men, and thus should be mentioned first. Gay refers to males
with a
sexual orientation toward males. Lesbian refers to females with a
sexual
orientation toward females. Bisexual refers to persons who are
attracted to
more than just one gender. Transgender people may feel that the sex or
gender
assigned at birth (female or male) is a false description of
themselves, and
may transition to another sex or gender role.
4. Do people
choose
their sexual orientation?
The leading American medical associations
agree that neither heterosexual people nor lesbians or gay men choose
their
sexual orientation. Further, these health organizations representing
nearly
half a million professionals, agree that reparative therapy (conversion
from
one sexual orientation to another) is not effective and may in fact be
harmful to
those being asked to change (usually homosexual people). Persons may
change
their sexual behavior, but it is highly unlikely their sexual
orientation will
change.
5. What do
the
Scriptures say about homosexuality?
Most Christians agree that Scripture is our
highest source of guidance and instruction in faith. Interpreting
Scripture,
however, becomes a point of some disagreement. Wesleyan heritage
directs us to
a self-conscious use of tradition, experience, and reason in
interpreting
Scripture. And, Scripture along with tradition, reason, and experience
are the
four pillars United Methodists use for theological thought and
discernment.
This becomes vital in our discussion about homosexuality.
The Biblical passages that some have used
to take a stance against homosexuality include:
·
Genesis
19:1-29 (Sodom)
·
Leviticus
18:22 and 20:13 (prohibition by Levitical Law)
·
1
Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:9-10 (Paul’s condemnation of
homosexuals and
effeminate), and
·
Romans 1:24-27 (men giving up natural intercourse)
Biblical scholars are not in agreement
about how to interpret these passages. Are they about homosexuality, or
are
they about inhospitality, exploitation, and idolatry? Given the
difficulties in
Biblical interpretation, it is probably important that we exercise
caution
before using these few Biblical passages to condemn gay and lesbian
persons
today.
The word “homosexuality” was not coined
until the late 1800s, so it does not appear in a rightly interpreted
translation of the Bible. As readers of the Bible, we must rely on the
translations of Biblical scholars for their understanding of what
Scriptures
mean. Scripture does not speak to loving, committed homosexual
relationships.
And Jesus did not say anything about homosexuality.
Perhaps what we need to keep in mind is
that Jesus’ message overwhelmingly encourages us to love our neighbor,
be
humble, avoid being judgmental, and to care for people who are hurting
and
marginalized by society.
6. What is
The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church?
The Book of Discipline of the United
Methodist Church is the book of policy for the UMC. It outlines our
history and
theology, as well as structure, policies, and procedures by which
United
Methodists govern themselves. Every four years the General Conference
of the
United Methodist Church amends and clarifies The Discipline.
7. What does
The Book of
Discipline say about homosexuality?
The Discipline gives a mixed message about
homosexuality. It says, “We recognize that sexuality is God’s good gift
to all
persons” and that “Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons
are
individuals of sacred worth.” It also states, “Certain basic human
rights and
civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting
those
rights and liberties for homosexual persons.” It also “implore[s]
family and churches
not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends,” and that
“we
commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.” But it
continues
to say that the UMC does not “condone the practice of homosexuality”
and “consider[s]
this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.” The Discipline
prohibits a
“self-avowed practicing homosexual” from ordained ministry. A
self-avowed,
practicing homosexual is one who openly acknowledges their sexuality to
those
in the Church. Thus, a person in an open and loving committed
relationship with
another person of the same sex is prohibited from becoming an ordained
United
Methodist pastor.
8. What is
the position
of Sparta Church Council on being welcoming?
In their May meeting of 2005 the Sparta
Church Council passed the following statement as the official policy of
this
church:
We, the
members and
friends of the Sparta United Methodist Church, invite all people to
participate
in our community and worship life without insisting or expecting that
they
become like us in order to be acceptable (including, but not limited
to):
·
Those who
hope for a
better world and those who have lost hope;
·
Believers and
seekers
·
Conventional
Christians
and questioning skeptics;
·
Women, men,
and
children;
·
Those of all
sexual
orientations and gender identities;
·
Those of all
races and cultures;
·
Those of all
income
levels;
·
Those of all
social
classes; and those of all physical and mental abilities.
You
Are Welcome!
Open
Hearts Open
Minds Open Doors
9. What does
it mean to
be a reconciling congregation?
A reconciling congregation welcomes all
persons, specifically including LGBT persons through a public statement
of
affirmation. This is the only group of people expressly made to feel
unwelcome
by the language of the Discipline, and the only group denied full
rights of
participation in the UMC. Therefore, the reconciling congregation’s
statement
intentionally welcomes all people, with specific mention of LGBT
people. A
reconciling congregation lives the UMC motto of Open Doors, Open
Hearts, Open
Minds.
10. Are there
already
congregations or ministries in the Greater New Jersey Conference that
are
reconciling?
Rutherford United Methodist Church in
Rutherford, NJ is a reconciling congregation. Nationally, reconciling
communities include 221 reconciling congregations, 28 campus
ministries, 34
communities/ministries and 18,000+ individuals.
12. Why do
some people
wear rainbow ribbons?
They are members of Church and Society, or
supporters of the Reconciling Congregation Program, and are
demonstrating in a
public way their celebration of Christian diversity and their desire
for
equality for all persons within the church. These ribbons and crosses
symbolize
a special welcome to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community,
whose
symbol of pride is a rainbow.
13. What
would it mean
to me to be part of a reconciling congregation?
As Christians, we strive to follow Christ’s
acts of welcome and love for all. But the Book of Discipline of the
United
Methodist Church contains unwelcoming language about gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and
transgender persons. To be reconciling simply means that we would
expressly
welcome this specific group of persons into our midst to journey with
us in our
Christian faith.
We as a church have already adopted a
welcoming statement which includes LGBT persons in particular. A
reconciling
congregation still lives within the parameters of the Discipline. By
becoming a
Reconciling Congregation we add our congregation to the growing
movement within
the United Methodist Church that believes and practices an inclusive
welcome.
14. How can I
find out
more? Comments?
·
Contact
Dr. Charlie McNeil, pastor, at 973-729-7773 or email him at charlie@spartaumc.org
·
Call
or email Litsa Binder, chair of Church and Society, at 973-726-3245, or
email
her at evangeline.binder@att.net
·
Explore
your thoughts and feelings within small group ministries at Sparta
Church.
·
Listen
to all viewpoints with respect and caring.
For additional resources see www.rmnetwork.org,
the website of the Reconciling Ministries Network.