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RELIGION/Xlit Charlotte $oat
Thursday, July 7, 2005
When it comes to gays,
Anglicans are Bible driven
By Richard N. Ostling
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In their tense debate about
homosexuality, the world’s 77
million Anglicans (called
Episcopalians in the United
States) take four approaches
to bibhcal teaching: dis
missal, perplexity renovation
and traditionalism.
Dismissal is the left-hinge
attitude pei'sonified by Bish
op John Shelby Spong, for
mer head of the Newark,
N.J., diocese. In “The Sins of
Saipture” (HarperSanFran-
cisco), he says calling the
Bible “the Word of God” (a
beUef he himself affirmed at
ordination) is “perhaps the
strangest claim ever made”
for a document.
Spong finds the Old Tbsta-
ment’s homosexual prohibi
tions ignorant and “morally
incompetent” expi’essions of
“populai' prejudices.” With
the New Ibstament, he dis
dains Paul’s condemnations
as “iH-informed” ravings fixim
a zealot who, he hypothe
sizes, was a “deeply
repressed, self-loathing”
homosexual.
“The contendir^ positions
are mutually exclusive,” he.
condudes, and “there can be
no compromise.” He dismiss
es conservative views as
“fi’ail, fi'agile and pitiful.”
The other three approaches
were displayed at a Jime
hearing before the intema-
tional Anglican Consultative
Council. (By coinddence, on
the same day, President Bush
told a Southern Baptist Con
vention session he favors
amending the U.S. Constitu
tion to protecf ti'aditional
marriage.)
Perplexity was the outlook
of Anglican Churdi of Cana
da representatives. Their
denomination affirmed the
“integrity and sanctity” of
homosexual relationships
and tolerated a diocese’s
blessing ceremonies for same-
sex couples. The Canadians
said they are “seeking dis
cernment” but face “deep
divisions” and lack consen-
Renovation was the policy
of the U.S. Episcopal Cliurch
in its report ‘Tb Set Gur Hope
on (Dhrist,” written by seven
theologians. It was the
denomination’s first official
rationale for recognition of
the unhindered same-sex
blessings in its ranks and for
toleration of openly gay der-
gy including a bishop.
TVaditionalists answered
that aigument with “A liiie
Healing,” a paper by wiiters
fix)m nine nations that the
AngHcan Mainstream group
gave to delegates to explain
the stance endorsed in 1998
by 82 percent of the world’s
Anglican bishops.
The two papers typified
debates within many main
line Protestant groups.
The Episcopal Church’s
report compared full indu-
siveness for gays with the
New Tbstament church’s
opening to (jentiles. It dted
Acts 10, where Peter receives
a vision allowing non-kosher
foods and then commends
baptism for (Entile converts;
and Acts 15, where a council
sets policy toward Gentiles.
TTie traditionalist paper
said that in Acts 15 the
church eliminated Jewish
strictures on diet and circum-
dsion for (^entiles, ‘but there
was to be continuity in the
moral sphere,” since the
coimdl upheld Jewish s^oial
morals by warning (jentiles
against “unchastity”
United Church of Christ committee
OKs same sex marriage resolution
UiE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — A committee
of United Cburch of Christ
repi’esentatives has approved
a resolution that moves the
church one step closer to
becoming the largest Christ
ian denomination to endorse
same-sex maniage.
The resolution supported
by the UCC’s president, John
H. Thomas, drew overwhelm
ing support Sunday and was
recommended for approval
when the General Synod
votes on it Monday
It would specify that bis^-
ual and transgender persons
merit the same support and
protections as gays and les
bians. The wording was
I’evised Sunday however, to
included the “I'ecognition that
this resolution may not
reflect the views or current
understanding of all bodies
within the gathered church.”
UCC churches are
autonomous, meaning the
leadership does not create
policy for its more than 5,700
congregations.
StiU, members of the com
mittee acknowledged Sunday
that some congregations
could puU out of the church
entirely if the same-sex reso
lution is approved as written.
“There are churches and
individuals who will be
deeply deeply woimded by
this derision,” said computtee
member Emily Jean Gilbert
of Allentown, Penn. “I ask
you to treat these people with
respect and honor their feel
ings.”
Sunday's debate and votes
continued the church’s tradi
tion of support for gays and
lesbians. In the early 1970s,
the UCC became the first
major Christian denomina
tion to ordain an openly gay
minister. The church
declared itself to be “open and
affirming” of gays and les
bians 20 years ago.
In addition to the same-sex
resolution, which was sub
mitted by the Southern Cali
fornia and Nevada Conf^-
ence, the contmittee of about
50 church representatives
voted against adopting a res
olution declaring marriage to
be between one man and one
woman.
Some argued the same-sex
resolution conti'adicts Bibli
cal instructions.
“Throughout the Scrip
tures, marriage is always
defined as being between one
man and one woman,” said
the Rev Brett Becker, psistor
of St. Paul United Church of
Christ in (Dibolo, Ifexas.
On the Net:
United Church of Christ:
ww\vMCCX)rg
First woman elected to Seventh-day
Adventist Church leadership post
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — The Seventh-
day Adventist Cliurch elevat
ed a woman Monday to a top
leadership post for the first
time in its history
Delegates to the church’s
worldwdde conference here
tapped a retired college
administrator, Ella Louise
Smith Simmons, as one of
nine vice presidents. Church
officials —and Simmons her
self—said the election sig
naled a desire to be more
inclusive.
“The church as an organiza
tion cannot be efficient until it
allows all people to contribute
in ways that (jod calls them to
contribute,” she said. “The
church is taking a step in the
ri^t direction.”
A lifelong educator, 57-year-
old Simmons last served as
provost and vice presid^t for
academic administration at
La Sierra University, an
Adventist college in Riverside,
Calif.
She joins a leadership team
led by the church’s president,
Jan Paulsen, who was re
elected to his post Friday, a
day after the world conference
began.
Some 70,000 Seventh-day
Adventist members are meet
ing at the America’s Center
convention center. The confer
ences are held every five
years.
The Christian denomina
tion has grown fix)m more
than 3 million members in
1980 to about 14 million bap
tized members in more than
200 countries, according to
church statistics.
The Adventists are known
for their emphasis on both
good health and strong educa
tion. Members, many of
whom are vegetarians, do not
drink alcohol or use tobacco,
and cafieine is discouraged.
On the Net:
Seventh-day Adventists Church:
www^ventist x)rg
WNAA FM 90.1 /
will host one of the ''■'i
biggest sound stages in
the Fun Fourth Festival
for the official AGGIE
IDOL TALENT
SEARCH. Contestants
will compete for prizes,
Categories will include
Group, Soloist, and
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judges will select the
An Evenm of LamUer:
Medicine for the Soul
“Cheerful heart is good medicine”
- Psalm 17:22
Friday, July 15, 2005
7:30 p.m.
Macedonia Baptist Church of Charlotte
1300 Hattenis Avenue • Charlotte, XC 28216
704-392-8496 .
Dr. John Walker, Pastor
Featuring Special Guest & Headliner Gospel Comedian
Appearances on B,E,T,’s “Screen Scene,”
Bobby Jones Show and many more.,.
BRODERICK RICE
The talent behind such comedy hits as,
“Sofj of a Preacher Man, ” and ■ “Get Yo' Laugh On ”
Ticket Donations: $20 • Children 6-12: $10
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