Rev. Gordon speaking at the Gleaner Editors' Forum stated that "the church is putting an 'enlightened' position on the problem of homsexuality."
Glenda Anderson, Staff Reporter
ANGLICAN PRIEST Canon Ernle Gordon, has called for a change in the church's attitude to dealing with the issue of human sexuality especially homosexuality in the society.
Speaking at The Gleaner's Editor's Forum last Thursday, Canon Gordon said, "I believe we have to have a new theology in the church and we have to be careful of the Fall/ Redemption theology that is judgmental, patriarchal, colonial and anti-woman. The more you democratise the society, the more you open up for humane treatment.
"We have to understand that and educate people in terms of being more inclusive in our relationships, and in our language in our churches, and we have to educate people in terms of sexuality."
While emphasising that the position was essentially a personal one, Canon Gordon also attacked the church's and society's use of Christian text (scripture) to lambast gays in society, pointing to what he said were several inaccuracies in the criticisms of homosexuality.
"It is incorrect (theologically and Biblically) to associate the (Biblical) story of Sodom and Gomorrah with homosexuality,... and it is incorrect to associate the language of homosexuality with the language of the Greek in I Corinthians 5," he said.
According to Canon Gordon, the Anglican position adopted in August 1998 at the Lambeth conference on the issue of sexuality in the church had made some resolutions to deal with the subject among its members.
"The point of view of the Enlightened church which it has decided to put on paper, says, 'the Church recognises that there are among us, persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships, and we commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual people. We wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ.'"
'ENLIGHTENED' POSITION
The resolution also condemned what it called an 'irrational fear of homosexuals.'
"So ...the church is putting an 'enlightened' position on the problem of homosexuality," Canon Gordon explained.
But local United Church minister, Norbert Stephens, says the idea of "inclusivity" has always been on the church's agenda.
"I don't know about a new theology. Maybe what is needed is to affirm what has always been an inclusive Kingdom of God, family of God. I certainly don't believe a person's sexuality condemns him to hell," he said.
But, while agreeing with this perspective on the treatment of homosexuals, one Baptist minister, Reverend Trevor Edwards, has questioned Canon Gordon's criticism of the Scriptures.
"The primary foundation for our Judeo-Christian theology on sexuality is the Bible. Post-modern thinking would challenge us to suspect the text or deconstruct it. However, if we question the biblical texts, it should not be with a view to reject, to justify a given position, but to discover the truth of the text and the relevant contemporary application. The biblical text witnesses that sex is for procreation and sexually-fulfilling relationships. Homosexuality denies the first by excluding the possibility of the procreation of life.
"There is a place in the church for accepting all persons regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. (But) accepting someone who is thus oriented, does not mean that his/her homosexual practices must be embraced. A distinction must be made between an orientation, that is, a tendency and behaviour or practice which is a choice."
