Praying for recognition
Gay Christians have to fight prejudice on two fronts, forced to defend both their sexuality and their religious views. Toby Green explores the issues being played out on campuses, and discovers a group trying to challenge widespread assumptions
You get a strange reaction when you mention Christianity and homosexuality in the same sentence. People apparently it’s the discussion of these issues that makes the website so special. “The group is made up of lots of different backgrounds and no one argues or condemns anyone. Instead the conversation is very free and also, very importantly, welcoming.” Michael agrees. “The problem for me when I came out was that I definitely didn’t fit into my Christian Union [Michael came out whilst doing a Masters course, not in York], which was the main group available for me at the time. However I also didn’t feel comfortable in the LGBT society, as I didn’t feel it was me. This website is a place in between; here is somewhere that can mend the two sides.”
During his time in York Michael found the pressure on how people sought to state his religious views particularly troubling. “When people hear you’re a Christian they seem to automatically want to define you. They say, oh you must think this, you must feel that.” He said this attitude was strongly typified in York University’s branch of the Christian Union. “One of my housemates in the first year was a member, and it was never anything I’d thought about joining before so I decided to come along. However it seemed like they were saying, this is the way we think which is right and this is the way that everyone else thinks which is wrong. You could either side with them as a Christian, or not be regarded as a Christian at all, and I felt alienated by this attitude and as a result, never went again.
Gay Christians are developing an increasingly strong voice on the issues affecting them.
Photo: Georgi Mabee
“I remember a little later in my time there, members of the CU went around making pancakes and handing them out on Shrove Tuesday. To get one you had to fill in a form about your religious beliefs. I filled mine in and the guy took it, read it and gave me a really puzzled look. He said ‘According to your answers you seem like a Christian, you look like a Christian, but you’re not a member of the Christian Union?’ I told him that people are different and that what suited me may not have suited him, but he just wouldn’t have it.”
The Christian Union at York, along with those at most universities, is affiliated to the EA (Evangelical Alliance), an umbrella group representing evangelical Christians and churches all over the UK. As a result of this the Union has to stand by the EA’s statements on issues such as atonement, the Israel/Palestine conflict and homosexuality in the Church. In a recent report entitled ‘Faith, Hope and Homosexuality’, it concluded that “monogamous heterosexual marriage is the only form of partnership approved by God for full sexual relations today” and that they “oppose moves within certain churches to accept and/or endorse sexually active homosexual partnerships as a legitimate form of Christian relationship.” For Deborah Fenney, a Social Policy and Social Work undergraduate at York, this meant that she had to leave her Christian Union committee position as Social Action Representative of the Union when she came out as bisexual last summer. “I met with the presidents [of the CU] and as they explained it to me, part of being a post holder is upholding the aims and values of the CU, whatever your private beliefs. Over the summer holidays I had the chance to pray and reflect on it, but at the end of it all I still couldn’t believe that God necessarily condemns all homosexual behaviour. I decided I wasn’t willing to be part of an organisation that promoted that view.” However she’s not angry at her treatment, accepting it as a difference of opinions. “My good friends in the Union have remained my good friends, and even if their personal beliefs are different to mine, we can both accept that we have as much (or as little) authority on these matters as each other.”
However some people believe that the Christian Union’s attitude could be causing more damage than is recognised. Rose Rickford and Ben Nichols, the LGBT Officers for the University of York Students’ Union, believe that the Christian Union’s policies is causing intimidation and antagonism on campus. “It’s very frustrating when organisations such as these undo any good work that may be done by continuing to underscore the notion that LGBT people are somehow ‘wrong’ or ‘deviant’.” says Rickford. “We’ve had students come to us saying that the reason they have been confused about their sexuality is because of the messages from the CU. I think that the realisation that the message that they preach isn’t necessarily the best way to ensure the well-being of those people would be helpful to them.”
My good friends in the Union have remained my good friends, and even if their personal beliefs are different to mine, we can both accept that we have as much (or as little) authority on these matters as each other.
This issue is of course being played out in the national arena as well as on university campuses, and as the modern world in general becomes more liberal towards the rights of homosexuals, the Christian Church, in all denominations, has found itself under pressure to change their ideas. One particularly contentious aspect of this has been gay marriage. Civil partnerships were made legal in the UK at the end of 2005, but in terms of Christianity there is a vast range of standpoints. Bishop Jonathan Blake left the Church of England because he was uncomfortable with their views towards marrying homosexuals, and instead has set up the Society for Independent Christian Ministry, through which he offers a range of services as a fully ordained Bishop. He appeared on Richard and Judy to bless a gay couple on live TV, which was labelled a “repulsive stunt” by The Daily Mail. He feels that it is homophobia itself that is the problem in the Church. “There is a growing momentum spurred on by the African Anglican Churches and the Fundamentalist Evangelical Churches that regards homosexuality as a sin and unbiblical and is therefore horrified at the liberal attitude towards gay issues found within Western Christianity and their associated societies. Rejection by Christian Communities does immense damage to gay people, which can fragment their entire lives. It is essential that universities ensure there are affirming and supportive Christian resources for rejected gay people.”
Some of these accusations were put to the Christian Union and they were invited to join the debate. Instead of answering these questions directly they decided to give a general response, saying because the issue is “so emotive, often debated at extremes and can quickly become depersonalised and hurtful, we want to recognise how difficult an area this is and try and avoid oversimplification of the arguments given by all sides.
“The Christian Union is primarily about a group of people who are focused on Jesus. The society exists first and foremost for Him rather than the members of the society. Anyone is welcome to attend any CU meeting, regardless of whether they’re a member or not, and regardless of their opinions or orientations. Membership is free and for official AGM processes you have to be able to sign a membership statement which is on the website.” For most though, the statement will be the stumbling block. Although it doesn’t specifically mention its position on homosexuality, it does state it’s affiliation with the EA.
James and Michael both see the views of such groups as the Christian Union as understandable and acceptable. “These people’s interpretation of what the Bible is saying is legitimate. However what is wrong with it is that it often declares that it is ‘the’ Christian view” says James. “I believe that if you are setting yourself up as the Christian Union, then you should at least be implying there are other views.
Some Christians are saying that what gay people feel isn’t love, it is a perversion.
“They are not the only Christian body available on campus, for example some members of the chaplaincy at York have very different and liberal views, but because of the Christian Union’s absolutist view it can create animosity,” says Michael. “The Christian Union can often make people not want to be any sort of Christian. It’s not just homosexuals - anyone that follows a way of life that is condemned is told that their beliefs are ‘the way’ and that everyone else should follow their path. In fact there are so many different aspects in the Bible that simply come down to how we read it. There are passages in the Bible that can be read to condemn gay people if that’s how they are read, but there are also instructions in there which in our modern times you just wouldn’t live by, so why are the anti-gay bits being concentrated on?”
It seems likely that members of organisations such as the Christian Union would feel victimised for wanting to follow their beliefs, however the opposition to their viewpoint seems to take two angles. Some, such as the YUSU LGBT officers and Bishop Blake, believe that the Christian Union and Evangelical Alliance’s view on homosexuality is wrong and immoral. Others, like James and Martin, accept their beliefs and interpretation of the Bible as valid, yet believe they should make clear that they don’t represent the majority of the Christianity viewpoint. What does seem conclusive though is that for Christians who are considering coming out as gay, or homosexuals who are considering becoming Christians, opinions are being upheld in some parts of the Church in a way that can be damaging. “There are Christians saying that what gay people feel isn’t love, it’s perversion. But there are bits in the Bible that say ‘Jonathan became one in spirit with David and he loved him as himself’. Hopefully our website provides somewhere for people to discuss and embrace their homosexuality and Christianity, and show that they don’t have to be a paradox.”
The polarised issue of gay and lesbian Christianity
Group members
Young Lesbian and Gay Christian Society
“It’s not easy to put the negative images and messages of the press and the churches into perspective, alongside the Christian message of love and redemption. Yet my experience of both being gay and being Christian is fundamentally one of love.”
Rose Rickford and Ben Nicholls
YUSU LGBT Officers
“It’s frustrating when groups such as the Christian Union undo any good work that may be done by underscoring the notion that LGBT people are ‘wrong’. Some students have said they are the reason why they are confused over their sexuality.”
Evangelical Alliance
Alliance of Evangelical Churches and CU’s
“We call upon evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active homosexuals, but to do so in the expectation that they will see the need to change their lifestyle in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teaching.”
Society heads
University of York Christian Union
“The society exists first and foremost for Him rather than the members of the society. Anyone is welcome to attend any CU meeting, regardless of whether they’re a member or not, and regardless of their opinions or orientations.”
Evangelical Alliance - ‘Faith, Hope and Homosexuality’
Extracts from the conclusions of Evangical Alliance’s report on homosexuality
> We affirm that monogamous heterosexual marriage is the only form of partnership approved by God for full sexual relations today.
> We affirm God’s love and concern for all humanity, including homosexual people, but believe homoerotic sexual practice to be incompatible with His will as revealed in Scripture.
> We repudiate homophobia insofar as it denotes an irrational fear or hatred of homosexuals. We do not accept, however, that to reject homoerotic sexual practice on biblical grounds is in itself homophobic.
> We deeply regret the hurt caused to lesbians and gay men by the Church’s past and present hatred and rejection of them.
> We oppose moves within certain churches to accept and/or endorse sexually active homosexual partnerships as a legitimate form of Christian relationship. We stand prayerfully with those in such churches who are seeking to resist these moves on biblical grounds.
> We commend and encourage those homosexual Christian people who have committed themselves to chastity and celibacy. We believe that such people should be eligible for ordination and leadership within the church.
> We call upon evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active homosexual people, but to do so in the expectation that they will come in due course to see the need to change their lifestyle in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teaching.
> We believe habitual homoerotic sexual activity without repentance to be inconsistent with church membership.> We would resist church services of blessing for gay partnerships as unbiblical.
Sources of support
York Lesbian Line
01904 646812
University Counselling Service
counselling@york.ac.uk
Nightline
01904 433735
YUSU Academic & Welfare Service
01904 43 3732
