I know I rant and rave about some liberal topics from time to time. I believe that everyone should have equal rights and that certain decisions shouldn't be made for me by church or state. But here is a topic that is hot in our area (and I believe it just may be making national headlines by now). There is a Paster from a church in our area...he happens to be a SHE...and SHE happens to be gay. I was listening to the local AM station this morning because they are a super conservative station and they really get me laughing at how ridiculous they are about some things (not all things...don't beat me, rob). But they started talking about this female Preacher and the fact that she's finally come out of the closet and has been living with her "clam-diving" partner for over 6 years and that she's worried she's going to lose her congregation.
Now this is where you insert the soundbite of tires screeching on the sidewalk...
I'm pretty sure that the Bible is pretty clear on their stance of homosexuality. I think the church is pretty clear that being gay is a bad thing. And, of course, you have the old saying "Hate the Sin, not the Sinner" but this is a congregation's head honcho.
I don't look at a church as a public forum. Its more like an exclusive country club...or better yet, a fraternity. And, folks, Christians pretty-much wear their ideals right out on their sleeves so my question is how could she have any tiny inkling that this was okay?
Aww shit...i gotta run...i'll conclude this tomorrow....please leave a comment though
posted by Michael Witmer @ Wednesday, December 01, 2004
9 Comments:
If I were, you'd be my one and only alter boy. Hey Chris, wanna post links to each other's blog?
Are you going to braid each other's hair and send notes in study hall too?
jess
weeeeell....im not sure really what my stance is on gay preachers and the church's official statement on it.. i have gay friends, lots of them.. and i dont really find myself judging them as 'wrong' yet Im christian and am active in my church.. I really dont know how id feel if my pastor were gay. What exactly are you looking for from us, wit?
Not looking for anything other than opinion. I guess my point with the church is that christians base their lives on the bible and its pretty cut and dry so I can't understand how someone who is gay could justify christianity. I watched that movie "Saved" the other day...everyone should check it out.
I guess its kinda like this: I have nothing against racoons but they're not allowed in the boy scouts.
I suppose it's kinda like this: I wouldn't have a problem with a pastor being homosexual.
When you place people in a position where the inheret relationship is trust between parties, such as a pastor and congregation, you expect a certain level of honesty. If spiritual growth is what you expect to get out of church, and that person is leading you in that endevor, you would want this level of trust.
It's not so much that this woman has announced that she's gay, it's jus the manner in which she choose to do it.
It would be somewhat alarming if you visited a shrink for a number of years only to find out that after telling him/her all your life's problems he or she never had a degree. All along you have been getting adviced based on a "Dear Abby" writings....
Either way, if you haven't been up front in the first place, perhaps a public forum such as church would not be the best choice to make your announcement?
"Good morning worshipers, todays surmon will be on the benefits of female on female action..."
Regardless, chances are, even if you don't know someone that's gay, you probably do. Doubtless they would use a little more tact for making their sexual orientation known.
you know, i've tried being accomodating, i've tried being being patient but now you've pissed me off. WHAT IN THE HELL do you know about churches and Christians!?!?!?!?
"I don't look at a church as a public forum. Its more like an exclusive country club...or better yet, a fraternity. And, folks, Christians pretty-much wear their ideals right out on their sleeves"
"I think the church is pretty clear that being gay is a bad thing."
a country club?, a fraternity?
dude, what church have you been visiting?
most churches are just like nightclubs except you go in the morning and the lights are UP and the music is different. Churches are just a place where lots of people go to see, or be seen or to feel better about themselves.
And futhermore, if "most Christians wore their ideals on their sleeves" then we wouldn't be in this mess were in today called the USA - there would be less homeless and less abortion (because of adoption, not because of picketing clinics, etc....), and less poverty because the "church" was actually doing what Jesus told them to do.
And as for the "church being pretty clear that being gay is a bad thing" .........
if being gay is a bad thing, then what about divorce, what about sexual molestation of children and what about starving children, what about ..........you name it. the people who go to church are no different than the people who stay in bed Sunday morning....we're all lost and up the crik and we all need help, guidance, Jesus, Jehovah, whatever you choose to identify it as - but there in lies the myth, everyone (including a large number of the Christians thinks it's "us" and "them"
Dude, as you know, in my opinion, if there is no God, Saviour, Creator, Surpreme Being, then we're all screwed - church attendee or not!!!
I don't mean to rant but Christianity is supposed to be about following Christ, not church or politics or moral majority, or red states or whatever and so to answer you question how can something like a lesbian becoming a pastor happen because the "church" is so consumed with being relevant to society, it seems to have lost sight of Jesus (translate into "loving others and you yourself would be loved")
GEEEESSH!!!
have i taught you nothing?!?!?!?!?!
ha ha ha
luv you brother,
trig
PS - in the word of our leather clad, sunglass wearing prophet:
"You (the american church)
speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I’m waiting on the crumbs from your table"
HAAAAA...I knew this post would get you to respond...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I can now go to my grave a happy man
But one comment I'd like to make...Its one thing for a member of the congregation to be gay. But my whole point is this: If you're going into the whole path of becoming a minister don't you think it would be a huge warning sign if you were gay? I mean, being gay is a sin, right? A pretty huge one, I think (yes, along with divorce and murder and abortion and yada yada...) but I guess my point is why would she follow that path of religious leadership KNOWING the controversy she would start. I guess this compares to the whole Gay Bishop thing a while back and look what happened there.
Wit,
This is the one sin where christianity falls on its face. You can't cure a person from being gay, they just are. Thats almost as bad as saying "hey, you're mentally retarded. THATS A SIN!"
I wouldn't exactly say Christianity falls on its face...that's a little too cut and dry for this subject. But I agree with you as far as the whole gay thing goes. I really don't think people choose to be gay or that they catch it like the flu. I guess my whole point was why would this lady who knows she is gay head forward into a position of authority and scrutiny, knowing full well there is a pretty good chance she'll get caught. And on top of that...why would she act suprised that half her congregation is hitting the road. That's all I mean. I wasn't knocking jesus and and gang of merry men.
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