In Theory:

Last week, the Episcopal Church moved closer to full acceptance of gay men and lesbians, taking steps toward recognizing same-sex marriage and gay bishops. However, some believe that this decision by the church is doing it more harm than good, as seen by the many churches that exist as part of the breakaway Anglican Church in North America after the 2003 election of Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Church’s first gay bishop.

What do you think about this? Do you believe that in time, full acceptance of gay men and lesbians, same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay bishops will no longer be an issue for the church, or any church for that matter? What needs to be done?

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Yes, I do believe that in time, full acceptance of those in the gay community will no longer be an issue. Same-sex marriage will not seem out of the ordinary, and churches will ordain gays and lesbians on a regular basis.

My denomination, the United Church of Christ, already does this, and some of my clergy colleagues are openly gay. Now, will the gay and lesbian issue divide some churches? Of course; it already has. But so did slavery, and so did the Civil War. The acceptance of gays and lesbians into the mainstream is very similar to the acceptance of people of color into the mainstream.

I can remember when a mixed-race marriage was shocking; now it’s no big deal. Some famous mixed-race people include Tiger Woods, Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Dodger catcher Russell Martin. Oh, yes, there’s also the president of the United States!

So now it’s no big deal if someone is of mixed race. As for what needs to be done, those of us in the believing community need to recognize that gays and lesbians are people, too.

I did not choose to be born male and white and heterosexual; gays and lesbians did not choose to be born with their gender preference either. To those believers who want to run to their favorite scripture in order to condemn homosexuality, remember that Jesus said nothing about the subject!

Also remember that to be a follower of the man from Nazareth means to choose compassion over self-righteous assumptions of “what is right.” God called us to be faithful and compassionate, not “right.” How about a little compassion for those who can’t help the way they were born?

PASTOR CLIFFORD L. “SKIP” LINDEMAN

La Cañada Congregational Church

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