Homosexual Ministers - Gay Theology Without Apology

It is a controversial topic, especially within our church. Homosexuality is one of the last issues where bigotry and hatred is tolerated by the so-called religious. The retired Rev. John Shelby Spong of the Episcopal Church of America spoke at a recent convention saying,

"The Church is a strange institution that’s not always honest. I had to overcome the religion of my childhood to become a practicing clergyman. Christianity seems to have the need to have a victim. Jews, heretics, witches, scientists, people of color, women and now gays, every generation in the church has its victims. We always have to pass that victimization on to another. We need to get over that guilt message that you are so evil that Jesus had to die on the cross for you."

This is a very interesting point that need further study and contemplation by Christians. I believe that Rev. Spong is onto something here; it would appear that homosexuals have become the present victim of the religious. This is such a troubling fact. Homosexual men and women have been with the "church" since its inception. This notion that homosexuals are amoral or irreligious is purely based on ignorance and bigotry - such cannot be the fruits of a Christianity centered on Divine Love and Compassion.

Within the Episcopal Church of America the Right Reverend Bishop Gene Cannon Robinson was ordained as the first openly-gay bishop. It is interesting to note the backlash that the Episcopal community around the world sent the church in America. And the World Anglican Community is no the only denomination struggling with this - almost all of Christendom is obsessed with homosexuality. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has launched a study into human sexuality, the Presbyterian Church recently lifted its exclusion of homosexuals from the ministry, the Pope projected more bigotry and intolerance (which is typical of Benedict) with his statement that questioned the "masculinity" of homosexual men, and the Adventist Church refuses to address the issue with the proper consideration it deserves, instead opting to issue a "statement" on the matter - way to be a "peculiar people and "lead."

Although Adventism isn't free from its share of homosexual ministers. One example is Ron Oden. Oden who made history in November 2003 when he became the first openly gay African-American man elected mayor of an American city is also an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister; yet there are few Adventists that are aware of this fact. I find this quite interesting; true, Ron Oden left the religious life to pursue a career in politics, his ministerial credentials remain valid from what I can gather.