The truth about God’s
lesbian and gay children suffered a tragic (though temporary)
setback this Wednesday, August 5, 1998. In Canterbury, England,bishops
from 160 nations representing 70 million Anglicans worldwide (including
the Episcopal Church in the U.S.) voted 526 to 70 (with 40 abstentions)
that homosexual practice is incompatible with the Bible, that
the churches will not endorse the blessing of same-sex marriage
or the ordination of non-celibate gay men and lesbians.
Our faithful friend, Bishop John Shelby Spong reacted with his usual candor and courage: "Once you take a prejudice and put it out in the clear light of day," he said, "the prejudice is finally doomed." Now, until that day, how do we respond to this latest triumph over truth by untruth?
Before volunteering to work with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, my partner, Gary, and I were long time members of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, a congregation that welcomes gays into full and unqualified membership. We thank God for all the individual bishops, clergy, and laity who are struggling to bring the truth in love relentlessly to the Anglican church. We know how painful this Lambeth decision must be to millions of Anglicans, especially to the people of Integrity (our lesbian sisters and gay brothers and their allies in theEpiscopal church.) We promise them our prayerful support.
Each person of faith must determine how he or she will respond to this tragic decision. But the Soulforce principles of relentless nonviolent resistance (as taught by Jesus, Gandhi, and King) make one thing clear. In Gandhi’s words, "It is as much our moral obligation NOT to cooperate with evil as it is to cooperate with good." The Lambeth decision is evil. It lends credibility to the untruth that leads to suffering and death for God’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered children. We must not cooperate with that evil decision.
We urge all people of faith to use this coming Sunday, August 9, 1998, as a day of mourning. Wear black arm bands to signal our grief that onceagain Christian leaders are supporting ignorance and intolerance as they did against Gandhi’s people in India and South Africa and against King’s people in the U.S. However, we must never forget the courageous Anglicans who took their stand against colonial brutality and the courageous Episcopalians who marched against slavery and segregation. Once again, we will see determined Anglican Christians taking their stand against untruth. I hope all people offaith will join them.
I’m hoping that Episcopal clergy will either use this Sunday to preach the truth or to stand in silent protest, unwilling to preach, or pray, or serve the Eucharist. I’m hoping that Episcopal organists will refuse to play and that Episcopal choirs will refuse to sing. I’m hoping that Episcopal laity will withhold their tithes and offerings and send them instead to Integrity to help support their truth mission within the Episcopal church. I’m hoping that all people of faith, regardless of our religious affiliation, will not let this Sunday pass without registering our deep concern about therising power of fundamentalism among us.
How each of us responds is a deeply personal decision. But if we do NOT respond, if we let the forces of untruth triumph without protest, if we refuse to stand for truth, we will break the heart of Christ and our own souls will begin to die a little.
For more Soulforce information see: www.soulforce.org or send us your e-mail address.