Earlier this year, the Episcopal Church made history naming an openly gay bishop and continuing its practice allowing individual churches to determine the blessing of same-sex relationships.

About the same time, Lutheran World Federation delegates were unable to agree on same-sex marriages, but advocated study of 'issues of marriage, family and human sexuality in a manner appropriate to the needs of each member church.'

The controversy continues and was highlighted with a strategy meeting of conservatives of the Episcopal Church Oct. 7-9 in Dallas. At the end of the meeting, the conservatives formally denounced the denomination's growing acceptance of gay relationships and asked Anglican bishops worldwide to help them reorganize the American church.

After the meeting, Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan said, "This is a defining moment in Christian history. There's a 'life-threatening' disorder in the Episcopal Church and world Anglicanism."

The heads of the 38 branches of the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, met in London to discuss the issue and a parallel problem in Canada. The majority of Anglican leaders support the conservative view, while within the Episcopal Church, conservatives are in the minority. Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, who supports the Episcopal majority, represented the U.S. denomination in London.

Attention to the activities of the Episcopal Church recently escalated when V. Gene Robinson was consecrated Sunday as bishop, making him the first openly gay man to achieve that level of importance in any of the world's major Christian bodies.

Although much of the news reported by various media sources addresses national and international issues, the concerns also impact local churches.

Father Brian Grantz, rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Warsaw, was one of the representatives of the Northern Indiana Diocese at the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minn., from July 28 to Aug. 8, and experienced first-hand the activities. Each diocese in the Episcopal Church sends eight deputies to General Convention - four lay and four clergy.

The majority of Episcopal churches are in rural areas and lean toward conservatism, but most of the people are in the more liberal larger urban churches. The decisions were based on majority rule rather than theological consensus. Taking the conservative lead from Bishop Ed Little of the Diocese of Northern Indiana, Grantz and other representatives of the diocese voted against naming a gay bishop and development of rites to bless same-sex unions.

Little said, "We will not allow blessing of same-sex unions in northern Indiana and we are not leaving the Episcopal Church."

Grantz said, "I'm proud of the fact that we have not tried to oversimplify the situation, but have tried to address the complexity of the issue. There is no simple answer." While voting against the gay issues, he was appalled by the treatment of gays and lesbians. "We can no longer stand by while gays and lesbians are denied basic human rights. We can't tolerate violence against gays and lesbians or any other group of people."

In his message to the St. Anne's congregation following the convention, he said, "Shall I speak of the fact that the presiding bishop, Frank Griswold, the president of the House of Deputies, George Werner, and the bishop-elect of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, were reported to be wearing bullet-proof vests at all times during the convention? Shall I speak of the demonstrators who gathered daily outside of the convention center? These groups of so-called Christians chanted at all who passed by, 'God has said and it is true, God hates fags and God hates you.' It is a dangerous world for those who have compassion for gay and lesbian people. We, as a church, can no longer tolerate that. Left, right or middle, gay and lesbian people are created by God and are worthy of God's love and redemption - end of story."

What does the Bible say?

In the Old Testament, Leviticus 18:33 says, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." (NIV) Verse 20:13 adds, "... They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:26-27, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."

According to an Associated Press article in August, conservatives say the sexual pattern was set in Genesis 2:24, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This teaching was repeated in Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9. Conservatives point to the fact that no biblical verse hints at approval for same-sex activity, and that the statements are embedded alongside commonly-accepted laws against adultery, incest, bestiality and child sacrifice.

Liberals say Leviticus 18 was part of a Jewish purity code that barred practices associated with paganism, including many laws Christianity eliminated - for example, the kosher rules in Leviticus 17. Liberals also explain that the New Testament passages oppose same sex activity aimed at actions such as exploiting slaves or boys.

What do other local churches say?

Several local churches that are members of larger denominations were contacted regarding their current policy on acceptance of gays and lesbians and related church doctrine.

Presbyterian

A representative of First Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, confirmed that the congregation voted 95 percent in favor of dissolving the church's relationship with the Presbyterian Church USA and joining the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It may take several months to complete the change.

The decision was based on a number of factors related to the national leadership of the Presbyterian Church USA not being faithful to these basic truths: 1. -ÊJesus Christ is the only way to Heaven; 2. - the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God; and 3. - Christians are called to live a life of holiness, which excludes homosexuals and adulterers.

While the issues of gay and lesbian acceptance in churches have recently come to the forefront, issues surrounding homosexuality are only part of the concern over key issues that has been growing for some time.

Redeemer Lutheran

Pastor K.C. Dehning, Redeemer Lutheran, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, said the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church does not bless same sex unions as doing so condones the "lifestyle." The church views homosexual activity as a sin, contrary to God's design for men and women according to the Bible, he said.

Recognizing all people are sinners, the church does not turn anyone away from the congregation. If a person recognizes a sin and desires to turn away from that sin, the sin would be forgiven through God's grace and forgiveness.

Dehning said, "We would want to work with them . It's the responsibility of the congregation and pastor to teach God's word about sin and to point out what activities are sinful, so individuals can recognize the sin, repent and seek repentance."

Warsaw Wesleyan

Pastor Dan Berry, Warsaw Wesleyan Church, said they are not on a crusade against homosexuals. "We take a stand that homosexuality is no worse a sin than any other. Homosexuality is more of a choice than anything else. Looking at pure statistics, based on population, one would have to conclude that there are homosexuals practicing the lifestyle in every church.

"God can transform us. God loves the sinner, but the Bible is clear on homosexuality being a sin."

Winona Lake Grace Brethren

John Teevan, pastor of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, referenced the fact that there have been and will be homosexuals throughout history. He said, "The Bible teaches that homosexual practice, like adultery, lying or stealing, is sin. It does not teach that there is a special class of people who are adulterers or thieves. It is not a sin to have homosexual or heterosexual inclinations; it is the practice, or excessive focus on it through lusting or pornography, that the Bible condemns."

If "openly gay" indicates a practicing homosexual, then the wisdom of making him a bishop is parallel to "openly adulterous" and should be treated by any church leadership group as the Scriptures indicate.

God's plan is marriage, but there is no indication in the Bible that marriage is for everybody, he said. Sexual practice outside of marriage, like lying, may be normal, but it does not obey the Scriptures' teaching. Area churches are cooperating to bring a marriage seminar to Warsaw in February to gain an understanding of marriage and to build strong marriages.

Teevan said, "In our church, we work as needed with people with homosexual inclinations to help them reach their goals of living a life that pleases God. We do not condemn their inclinations, and we keep their situation confidential just as we do with adultery or any other sexual sin. We agree with society's view that some sexual sin ought to be illegal and aggressively deal with abuse, especially the abuse of children."

United Methodist

The United Methodist Churches in this area are under the leadership of Marianne Chalstrom, Warsaw District superintendent. She stated that the UMCs in this area adhere to the church's official doctrines.

The United Methodist Church's Social Principles, Paragraph 161G, states: "Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth. All persons need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with God, with others and with self. Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all. We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn their lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons."

The doctrine on same-sex unions was stated in a Judicial Council ruling Aug. 11, 1998, that "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches. Clergy violating this prohibition can be charged with violating the order and discipline of the church." This ruling was first tested by the Rev. Jimmy Creech, First United Methodist Church, Omaha, Neb., Sept. 14, 1997, when he performed a union ceremony for two women. The Rev. Gregory Dell performed a union ceremony for two men Sept. 19, 1998, at Broadway United Methodist Church, Chicago, and was suspended from his ministerial duties until summer 2000.

Charges were filed against 69 United Methodist ministers who gathered Jan. 16, 1999, in Sacramento, Calif., to bless the union of two women. The case was dismissed, but sparked a major debate across the church during the months before General Conference in May 2000.

Regarding ordination, the Book of Discipline, Paragraph 304.3, states: "Since the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church. ... 'Self-avowed practicing homosexual' is understood to mean that a person openly acknowledges to a bishop, district superintendent, district committee of ordained ministry, board of ordained ministry or clergy session that the person is a practicing homosexual." [[In-content Ad]]