Re: Gay Minsiters

[aleggett]

Paul, I will try to answer your question.(from my own perspective)   It seems to me that the simple fact is that the UCA is divided on the subject and that the Assembly has made the only responsible decision it can, that is, that it is up to individual congregations to decide if they are open to calling a Gay minister.   The issue boils down to whether or not two people of the same sex who are living in a committed relationship are doing anything morally wrong.   On one side we have some people saying yes they are because the Bible says that homosexual acts are wrong in the eyes of God. On the other side of the debate we have people saying that the biblical writers had no knowledge of sexual orientation and that it is part of the reality of life that a certain proportion of the population are created that way without having any say in it and therefore God has had a hand in them being the way they are so how can God condemn them. The first group will then point out that since the Bible is the word of God then clearly God does condemn them if they engage in same sex activity. The second group then replies that the Bible was written by humans with a very limited world view to which the first group replies that they were humans that were writing the Bible under the direction or inspiration of God and then the second group replies that we don't believe that because there are clearly so many contradictions in the Bible that God could not have been looking over the shoulder of the writers and so on and on we go.   Who is correct? I know I clearly stand on the side of the second group and so I believe that I am correct. But I confess that I have no chance of proving my case, only arguing for it which is exactly what the other side are doing.   Ultimately the real issue, as has been said here before, must come down to our understanding of God, scripture and how the two relate to each other.   So I don't believe the UCA can or should attempt to make a blanket decision one way or another.   Grace & Peace Allan       ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Johnson To: Insights Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 10:08 AM Subject: Gay Minsiters Question ?   I know there has been some debate with the gay Minister's issue on this group and within the Church as whole, but my question is:   Is the Church supposedly turn its back on making a decision to excepting or not excepting of Gay people in the Church?   Everybody gets them those doorknockers from another 'Church ?' They come to my door and like a Salesman want to know what church I go to, and when I tell them they carry on this there is some Christian that have wrong and maybe the Uniting Church is promoting this. Say that because we may except Gay people in our ranks we are mislead and supposedly going to Hell. They then discuses Laws and Revelations.   It seems to me that these people don't know what grace, fogginess and what love is. Certainly its a personal question, people's sexuality, but what about 'Gay Ministers'? I know you have been discussing this for sometime now. Its up to the Church to finally make a decision and leave it there. There is always someone who will disagree, that's what make life so interesting.   One sin is not less important that another, and in the end we will be judged by God and not by our peers. So do these doorknockers come like Salesmen with their belief in hope that I want their selling?   Paul Johnson ARMIDALE NSW Carer Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]