Methodists' courage on homosexuality draws Baptist ethics leader's praise

by Don Hinkle & Dwayne Hastings                                                         Vol. XIII, No. 6, June/July 2000

Pro-homosexual members of an Illinois United Methodist Conference have criticized the Southern Baptist Convention for its stands against same-sex unions and homosexual ordinations, characterizing the nation's largest non-Catholic body as "rigidly doctrinal" and "legalistic about people's lives."

Richard Land, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, commenting May 16 on the characterization of the SBC, said, "We take it as a compliment that this homosexual Methodist [group] would look upon Southern Baptists as being a denomination that is 'literalist,' which means faithful to God's Word, and 'rigidly doctrinal and legalistic,' which means obedient and faithful in practice, concerning God's standard for living. Far better to be known for that than to be identified as part of a group that espouses a sexual lifestyle that is condemned in Scripture as immoral and unnatural (Romans 1:26ff)."

A letter signed by 14 members and friends of the Northern Illinois Conference, published in the Daily Christian Advocate (DCA), the official publication of the United Methodist General Conference, was written in response to a May 9 DCA article by a United Methodist pro-family group, Transforming Congregations, that believes homosexual orientation can be changed through Christian faith.

In its article, Transforming Congregations asked: "Why would people remain connected to a group who doesn't affirm them or approve their behavior?" It went on to suggest that those who do not agree with the UMC's rules against homosexual practice might be happier in other denominations that "bless and approve homosexuality."

The Northern Illinois delegation's letter of response noted: "We're not looking to leave home and family we love, even as some do and say the most hurtful things. But that's what love does. Love never gives up. Love never ends. Love never turns away. Love never fails.

"If you want a church that is literalist in its interpretation of Scripture and rigidly doctrinal and legalistic about people's lives, the Assemblies of God and the Southern Baptists and others open wide their doors to your narrow views and limited love and measured grace."

"True love is tough love," Land told Baptist Press. "Tough love tells the truth. The truth revealed in Scripture is that homosexual behavior is an abomination to God and that in the love and power of Christ homosexuals and lesbians can be delivered from this lifestyle as were some of the church members addressed by Paul in the first Corinthian letter, writing, 'and such were some of you' (1 Corinthians 6:11)."

Land, in his national "For Faith & Family" radio broadcast, encouraged Baptists to express to friends who are Methodist their appreciation for their denomination's "strong and uncompromising stance" against ordaining homosexuals as clergy and against the blessing of same-sex unions.

"I thank God that Methodists, in spite of tremendous pressure, boldly took a stand for morality on this issue," Land said, noting the stance will be in place until at least the next General Conference in four years. He noted that the Methodists' stance is courageous "particularly in light of they criticism they will inevitably receive in today's culture."

The criticism came in the wake of United Methodists' General Conference, during which 992 delegates voted by 2-to-1 margins to retain current language in the denomination's Book of Discipline, which affirms that God's grace is available to all people, but states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," and to retain the rule that "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" cannot be ordained into the ministry.

To the Northern Illinois Conference, Land said, "I don't how loving, inclusive, and tolerant it is for a small homosexual minority within Methodism to invite the vast majority of Methodists who believe homosexual behavior to be immoral and unbiblical to leave Methodism and abandon it to its homosexual minority. After all, all Methodists did was affirm Methodist doctrine."

The General Conference also voted to retain the prohibition against using official church funds for any organization or program that promotes homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

Throughout the conference pro-homosexual supporters appealed for unity while pressing their demands, but pro-family members said unity is not always best. "In terms of unity, it can be a false god," said conference attendee Andrea Garcanz, a former lesbian who heads Stop the Cycle, a ministry to the sexually and relationally broken in Long Island, N.Y.

Ultimately, Garcanz said, homosexuality serves as a flash point over scriptural authority. "If we look at foundations, there are two worldviews," she said, according to a United Methodist Press Service report. "One sees the Bible as authoritative. If you say it is not authoritative, then you have a relativistic view. They [homosexuals] are welcome, but what it will come down to is where we stand with Jesus Christ. It is being played out on the field of homosexuality, but it is really about the authority of the Bible." [BP]