Gay Clergy

Dear Victorious,

Our pastor says that gay clergy is becoming a real issue in Protestant churches. I know there are specifically gay churches (there's one in my home town). But isn't this really being blown out of proportion? Is this religious homophobia really justified when the gays are really just leading on the fringe?

David C. - San Clemente, CA

Dear David,

I'm not sure how to answer your question - or even if you've really asked a question. To say that gays are "just leading on the fringe" of religion seems pretty short-sighted in my opinion. I don't think I could agree with such a conclusion. I simply don't have enough information to draw such a conclusion. But let's look at some examples that are getting the religious right riled up.

The Church wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted to allow non celibate gay clergy on its leadership rosters.

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles had six candidates for assistant bishop this past December - one of whom was an openly gay man. Another of those candidates was a practicing lesbian. (Read both of these as "non celibate.") The Episcopal General Convention has passed a resolution repealing the moratorium on consecrating gay bishops, and another allowing (but not requiring) its bishops to authorize same-sex marriages.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has tried repeatedly to loosen its sexual standards for pastors, mostly to open the door for practicing (non celibate) homosexuals or to cohabiting pastors.

I don't think you can really call this "fringe" behavior or relegate it to isolated incidents. These are the hierarchy of mainstream Protestant churches in America. And they are being more tolerant of - even embracing - what Scripture specifically forbids. That is enough to give the religious right heartburn. It's tantamount to seeing our churches embrace heresy and sin.

If you want to argue about whether or not Scripture really does forbid homosexuality, you'll need to write to someone else. I've done my homework on that subject and believe only a fool would debate what God has made clear.