Dave Cornwell

Things I believe
about homosexuality, the Church, and the attitudes of some Christians
- Sexual orientation is not a matter of choice.
It is more like being right handed or left handed.
- Therefore being gay/lesbian is not something
to be repented of or to feel guilty about.
- Gay/lesbian persons are part of God's great
and diverse creation.
- Biblical passages used to condemn
homosexuality are interpreted very narrowly and selectively while other
contextual information is ignored. Anything can be proven by "proof
texting." In the past Christians have used this method to defend
slavery, the supremacy of males, and a flat earth (plus so
much more falsehood that this entire space would be occupied if I attempted to
list it!).
- Jesus never mentioned homosexuals or
homosexuality. He did mention money, religious elitism, public displays of
religion, hypocrisy, judgementalism, and legalism. (Wonder where the
religious right happens to be on these issues?)
- Members of the religious right, by their
anti-gay rhetoric encourage homophobia, bigotry, prejudice, hypcroisy and gay
bashing.
- "Don't tell, don't
ask" rules enforced by various denominations (such as The
United Methodist Church) toward gay/lesbian clergy and laity are more
immoral than the conduct they are attempting to prevent. In effect, they are
saying, "Lie about who you are and then we will accept you."
- Most Church and denominational leaders refuse to be real leaders. They
check the direction of the blowing wind, straddle the fence, and are afraid to
offend constituents.
- Gays/lesbians have been and continue to be
sinned against by the Church. Many gays and lesbians have been hurt
emotionally, spirituality, and personally by the attitude and actions of the
church.
- Pat Robertson, James
Dobson and Don Wildmon and other religious
right leaders have made careers out of vilifying homosexuals. Many mainline
churches (such as the United Methodist Church) are duplicitous in this sin by
their failure to exert leadership and by their attempts to silence any
prophetic voices that dare speak the truth.
- Being anti-gay is a new "article
of religion" among conservative groups (examples are the so called
"Good News" and "Confessing"
movements in the Untied Methodist Church).
- To the religious right, gays/lesbians issues
and the "gay agenda" have become a new scapegoat, replacing
Communism, and opening up potential sources of emotion, support and income from
"true believers."

Last revised:
5/31/99