[Diva]

Originally Posted by Ozio

Man has long used religious belief to control his fellow man. In Christianity this has historically been done through the deliberate misinterpretation of scripture and the demand that all conform to religious doctrine based on that skewed interpretation.
In modern times there have been a few christian churches arise from the rubble of the christian queer's demolished faith in organized religion. Those who stubbornly, and rightly, clinged to a belief in God and in correctly interpreted scripture and felt a need to congregate for fellowship, worship, and study of his word established churches and developed queer inclusive doctrines.
In recent years, many traditional denominations have seen the err of their ways, and developed queer tolerant, or queer accepting doctrines for their congregates, yet there still persists among the Clergy a "queer is bad" mind set. For some denominations it is perfectly OK for congregates to openly be queer, but it is frowned upon for a member of the clergy to be openly queer unless already partnered with someone.
Accepting churches seem fine with same sex partnering..and do not consider their congregates who are "partnered" instead of "married" to be living in sin, however, they hold clergy to a much higher standard. If queer clergy has not the benefit of same sex marriage, or legally sanctioned partnership, then cohabitation with their lover is, for them, considered a sin and the clergyman can be expelled from their position and the church.
I was curious as to the views of Christians on this site about queer Christianity and queer clergy. Is it OK for a member of the clergy to be openly queer? And if yes, then what about clergy in states that do not have same sex marriage laws or partnership acts? Is it a sin for queer clergy to cohabitate if there is no legal standing for the relationship in their state of residence? Would you lose faith in your pastor's ability to minister if she/he were openly cohabiting with a lover without legal sanction?

After our abbreviated discussions about this, I'm sure You won't be surprised when I say that I wouldn't have an issue at all with my pastor's ability to minister if he/she were openly living in a gay/lesbian, etc. relationship without legal sanction. Or single, either, and living an openly gay life.

First, I believe that a relationship ~ whether within the clergy or not ~ is sacred and goes beyond what any court could sanction.

Is it ok for clergy to be queer? Certainly. It is a part of who they are, just as being left~handed might be....I don't mean to trivialize, but really, it is just a portion of the person, is it not?

When the "higher levels of authority" pooh~pooh the idea, or sit in judgement upon gay clergy, I find their opinions to be more fear~based rather than Christ~based. We fear what we do not understand, is this not correct?

Paul was not married. And yet he ministered to many. Jesus, as well.....unmarried. And we are not privy to their private lives, unfortunately. It is one of my questions when I get "There", to be sure.

There were contradictions ~ I find ~ even in the New Testament ~ about same~sex relations (re: Cornelius) which I find interesting. But perhaps that is another topic altogether......forgive me....I'm rambling!

In closing, I must say there is just way too much judging (and fear) going on about what lies within each heart. And when we release THOSE things, it will cease to be religion and become Christianity.





~Diva