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List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality

March 08, 2023

This is a list of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality. The issue of homosexuality and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological debate within and between Christian denominations and this list seeks to summarize the various official positions. Within denominations, many members may hold somewhat differing views on and even differing definitions of homosexuality.

Adventism

Main article: Homosexuality and Seventh-day Adventism

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is opposed to same-sex sexual practices and relationships on the grounds that "sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of one man and one woman." They believe the Bible consistently affirms the pattern of heterosexual monogamy, and all sexual relations outside the scope of spousal intimacy are contrary to God's original plan.[1]

Ancient Church of the East

The Ancient Church of the East regards marriage as only being between one man and one woman, stating "We believe that faithful in Christian Marriage between a male and a female, free of impediments, is the only legitimate state for sexual expression between individuals."[2]

Anglicanism (including Episcopal)

Main article: Homosexuality and Anglicanism

The Anglican Communion has been divided over the issue of homosexuality in several ways. The Church of England, the mother church of the Communion, currently maintains (according to the statement Issues in Human Sexuality) that same-sex partnerships are acceptable for laypersons, and gay clergy may enter in a civil partnership as long as they are expected to give assurances of celibacy.[3][4] The Lambeth Conference of 1998 called homosexuality "incompatible with Scripture" but this remains a purely advisory guideline as there are no communion-wide legislative bodies in the Anglican Church.[5] On the other hand, in 2003 the Episcopal Church, which is the American body (province) of the Anglican Communion, approved Gene Robinson to the bishopric of the diocese of New Hampshire. Bishop Gene Robinson is the first openly gay (non-celibate) clergy to be ordained to the episcopate.[6] Mary Glasspool became first open lesbian suffragan bishop to be consecrated a bishop in the Anglican Communion in the Diocese of Los Angeles of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. In 2016, Nicholas Chamberlain, the Bishop of Grantham, became the first bishop in the Church of England to come out as gay and in a same-sex relationship.[7]

In the Seventeenth Session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia in 2017, the Anglican Church of Australia passed a motion recognising "that the doctrine of our church, in line with traditional Christian teaching, is that marriage is an exclusive and lifelong union of a man and a woman, and further, recognises that this has been the subject of several General Synod resolutions over the past fifteen years".[8] In 2018, the Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, released an ad clerum reiterating the current position that clergy cannot perform a same-sex marriage.[9][10] The Anglican Church of New Zealand has experienced division and some bishops decided not to allow non-celibate homosexuals to become clergy.[11] However, the Dunedin Diocese of the Anglican Church of New Zealand ordained an openly partnered gay man as deacon and, subsequently, as priest in 2005.[12][13] The Dioceses of Auckland and Dunedin allow blessings for same-sex relationships.[14][15] In 2014, the Anglican Church in New Zealand voted for "a resolution that will create a pathway towards the blessing of same-gender relationships, while upholding the traditional doctrine of marriage."[16]

In response to several controversies in the Episcopal Church, among which was its changed policies relating to sexual morality, a number of alternative Anglican churches were founded during the 1960s and 1970s. They are customarily referred to as the churches of the Continuing Anglican movement.

In 2008, conflict in the worldwide Anglican Communion over the issue of the acceptance of homosexuality, the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church in the U.S., and a growing concern about the ambivalent position of the Anglican mother church in the U.K. led to the founding of a global network of conservative Anglican churches representing more than two-thirds of Anglicans throughout the world.[17] This is the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA).

Favoring more inclusion of same-sex relationships, "more liberal provinces that are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow for same-sex unions include Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, South India, South Africa, Spain, the US and Wales."[18] In 2015, the Church in Wales published "a series of prayers which may be said with a couple following the celebration of a civil partnership or civil marriage."[19] In 2016, the Anglican Church of Canada voted to allow same-sex marriages, but a second vote, in 2019, failed to reach the two-thirds majority required from the House of Bishops.[20] In the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay proposed a prayer of blessing for same-sex marriages and civil unions, but the proposal did not pass.[21] The archbishop of the Southern African Church, Thabo Makgoba, is "one among few church leaders in Africa to support same-sex marriage."[22] However, in 2017 the Scottish Episcopal Church became the first major Christian church in the U.K. to allow same-sex marriages[23] and in June 2018, the General Synod of Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil did the same.[24]

The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) was formed in 2009 as yet another conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church. It and the Continuing Anglican churches are primarily made up of people who left the Episcopal Church, partially in opposition to its approval of homosexual relationships and gay clergy.

Assyrian Church of the East

The Assyrian Church of the East does not recognize same-sex marriages.[25]

Baptists

Main article: Homosexuality and Baptist churches

The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest of the Baptist denominations and the single largest Protestant group in the U.S., believes that the Bible says practicing homosexuality is a sin, stating clearly that its members "affirm God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a 'valid alternative lifestyle.' It is not, however, an unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ."[26] Independent Fundamental Baptist churches (in general) also view homosexuality as sinful or unnatural.

The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) officially regards homosexual conduct "as incompatible with Biblical teaching";[27] however, there are a number of Baptist churches in the ABCUSA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that have less literal views.[28] The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, a group of some 50 churches and organizations, is committed to the "full inclusion" of gay and lesbian persons in their churches.[29]

The historically African-American denominations of the National Baptist Convention have issued no public statements on homosexuality; however, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. does not allow its clergy to officiate at ceremonies for same-sex unions.[30][31]

Canadian and American Reformed Churches

The Canadian and American Reformed Churches cite Biblical sources from Leviticus 20:13, which reads: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable." NIV

A homosexual member of one of these churches will be placed under censure or excommunicated and can only be received again into the communion of saints and be admitted to the Lord's Supper in these Reformed traditions after he or she has declared repentance from his or her homosexuality, which the churches teach is a sin. After repentance, the person is declared forgiven by the church.[citation needed]

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

In July 2013, the General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ issued a "Sense of the Assembly" resolution (GA-1327 "Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All") that (in part) acknowledges that people within society and within the church have been "devalued and discriminated against... because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity," calls for the church to "welcome to all God’s children though differing in... sexual orientation, (and/or) gender identity," and that it "affirm(s) the faith, baptism and spiritual gifts of all Christians regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and that neither are grounds for exclusion from fellowship or service within the church, but are a part of God's good creation." Through this resolution, the General Assembling endorsed the ordination of LGBT clergy.[32] GA-1327 also states, however, that local congregations have final say over matters of consciences.[33]

Local Disciples of Christ congregations have also performed same-sex marriages (such as the First Christian Church of Davenport),[34] although the General Assembly has no official policy on same-sex marriages.

Christian Reformed Church in North America

The Christian Reformed Church in North America has maintained the stance since the 1970s that homosexuality is the direct result of a "broken," sinful world, but that the Church should offer a compassionate community for Christian homosexuals. "Homosexualism" (explicit homosexual behavior) is considered disobedience to God's will revealed in Scripture. Celibate and repentant gays and lesbians should not be denied any right granted to heterosexuals. They have the right to maintain office and be an active member in a congregation, as their gifts can still be used to glorify God. The Church must provide support for homosexuals to find "healing and wholeness" in their "broken sexuality".[35]

Although the First Christian Reformed Church of Toronto (also the first CRC congregation to call a woman minister) voted to allow gays and lesbians in committed partnerships as elders and deacons, this decision was later rescinded in the face of pressure from Classis Toronto (regional gathering of churches).[36]

Eastern Orthodox Church

Further information: Eastern Orthodox view of sin § Homosexuality

The Eastern Orthodox Church holds the opinion that sexuality, as we understand it, is part of the fallen world only. In Eastern Orthodox theology, both monasticism and marriage are paths to salvation (sotiria in Greek; literally meaning, 'becoming whole'). Celibacy is the ideal path of exclusive concern for the Kingdom of God, exemplified in monasticism, while marriage is a reflection of the Messianic covenant and blessed under the context of true unitive love ("Man must love his wife as Jesus loved his Church": this phrase is part of the Orthodox marriage rite) with openness to procreation ("bearing fruit"). This context can be interpreted by the non-Orthodox as not being exclusive of homosexuality; whereas it is seen as exclusive of homosexuality by all Orthodox Christians. Traditionally, the Christian East has maintained a comparatively non-legalistic view of sin (see above), in which homosexuality is spiritually disordered. Although some members of the Church may have assumed an active role in encouraging negative social stereotypes against unrepentant homosexuals, they misrepresent the stance of the Orthodox Church, which does not promote judgment of people but judgment of actions. However, several prominent members of the clergy[who?] have made statements condemning homosexuality.

All jurisdictions, such as the Orthodox Church in America, have taken the approach of welcoming people with homosexual feelings and emotions, while encouraging them to work towards overcoming its harmful effects in their lives, while not extending the holy mysteries (sacraments) to people who seek to justify homosexual activity.[37]

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, the highest Orthodox Christian representative body in the Americas, reaffirmed in a statement in September 2013 that "the Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, two millennia of Church Tradition, and Canon Law, holds that the sacrament of marriage consists in the union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage reflects the sacred unity that exists between Christ and His Bride, the Church".[38] "Acting upon any sexual attraction outside of sacramental marriage, whether the attraction is heterosexual or homosexual, alienates us from God".[38] Moreover, the Assembly reminded that "persons with homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed on all of humanity by our Lord Jesus Christ".[38]

LGBT activism within Orthodox Christianity has been much less widespread than in Roman Catholicism and many Protestant denominations. In 1980, the group Axios was founded in Los Angeles to affirm and advocate for sexual minorities within the Orthodox Church, and has since started several other chapters in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses consider same-sex sexual activity to be sinful, but recognize that some people may be prone to homosexuality, including members of their congregation. Members are required to abstain from any sexual behavior outside of marriage, including homosexual behaviour, which is listed as a serious sin, but are told not to hate homosexual individuals. Their literature has stated that Christians should not make homosexuals the target of ridicule or harassment.[39][40] They believe that God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman,[41] and, regarding same-sex marriage, they have stated that it "cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability", and are told to avoid debates about the legality of homosexuality: "Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah's Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws."[42]

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main article: Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 
An LGBT Pride flag in front of the LDS Salt Lake Temple.

All same-sex sexual activity is forbidden by Mormonism's largest denomination the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in its law of chastity, and the church teaches that God does not approve of same-sex marriage.[43] Adherents who participate in same-sex sexual behavior may face church discipline. Members of the church who experience homosexual attractions, including those who self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual remain in good standing in the church if they abstain from same-sex marriage and all sexual relations outside an opposite-sex marriage,[44][45][46] but all, including those participating in same-sex activity and relationships, are allowed to attend weekly church worship services.[47] However, in order to receive church ordinances such as baptism,[48] and to enter church temples, adherents are required to abstain from same-sex relations or any sexual activity outside a legal marriage between one man and one woman.[49][50] Additionally, in the church's plan of salvation noncelibate gay and lesbian individuals will not be allowed in the top tier of heaven to receive exaltation unless they repent, and a heterosexual marriage is a requirement for exaltation.[51][52]

The church previously taught that homosexuality was a curable condition[53][54] and counseled members that they could and should change their attractions and provided therapy and programs with that goal.[55][56]: 13–19 [57]: 377–379  From 1976 until 1989 even celibate gay people were subject to excommunication.[58]: 16, 43 [57]: 382, 422 [59]: 139  Church publications now state that "individuals do not choose to have such attractions", its church-run therapy services no longer provides sexual orientation change efforts, and the church has no official stance on the causes of homosexuality.[60][61][62] These current teachings and policies leave homosexual members with the option of potentially harmful attempts to change their sexual orientation, entering a mixed-orientation opposite-sex marriage, or living a celibate lifestyle without any sexual expression (including masturbation).[63][64]: 11 [65]: 20–21 

The LDS Church has campaigned against government recognition of same-sex marriage,[66] and the topic of same-sex marriage has been one of the church's foremost public concerns since 1993.[58]: 1  The church's policies and treatment of LGBT people has long been a source of controversy both within and outside the church.[67][68][69] They have also been a significant cause of disagreement and disaffection by members.[70][71][72]

Community of Christ

The Community of Christ officially decided to extend the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples where gay marriage is legal, to provide covenant commitment ceremonies where it is not legal, and to allow the ordination of people in same-sex relationships to the priesthood. However, this is only in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The church does have a presence in countries where homosexuality is punishable by law, even death, so for the protection of the members in those nations, full inclusion of LGBT individuals is limited to the countries where this is not the case. Individual viewpoints do vary, and some congregations may be more welcoming than others. Furthermore, the church has proponents for support of both traditional marriage and same-sex marriages. The First Presidency and the Council of Twelve will need to approve policy revisions recommended by the USA National Conference.[73][74]

Lutheranism

Main article: Homosexuality and Lutheranism

United States

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran church body in the United States, allows for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy.[75][76] ELCA policy states that LGBTQ+ individuals are welcome and encouraged to become members and to participate in the life of the congregation.[75] The ELCA has provided supplemental resources for the rite of marriage in Evangelical Lutheran Worship which use inclusive language and are suitable for use in LGBTQ+ marriage ceremonies.[77] The group ReconcilingWorks supports the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ members in Lutheran churches in the ELCA, and provides resources to assist ELCA congregations in becoming more welcoming communities for LGBTQ+ persons. ReconcilingWorks recognizes ELCA congregations that have committed to embracing LGBTQ+ persons as Reconciling in Christ congregations.[78]

The current policy on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the ELCA developed over a period of several years. During the national meeting in 2005,[79] delegates voted against a measure that would have allowed non-celibate gay ordination and the blessing of same-sex unions by 503 against to 490 in favor. On 21 August 2009, the ELCA voted 559 to 451 in favor of allowing non-celibate LGBTQ+ persons in committed monogamous relationships to become ordained ministers.[80] Another motion passed at the 2009 Assembly directed its leaders to develop a rite of blessing for same-sex unions. In 2013, the ELCA elected Guy Erwin as their first openly gay bishop.[81]

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), the second largest Lutheran church body in the United States, does not permit same-sex marriage and does not ordain homosexuals. The LCMS Synodical President Matthew Harrison was present to register the objections of the LCMS to the ordination of homosexuals at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2009.[citation needed]

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the third largest Lutheran church body in the United States, does not permit same-sex marriage and does not ordain homosexuals.[citation needed]

Canada

In 2006, Lionel Ketola became the first person in a same-sex marriage to be appointed vicar (intern) of an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) congregation. This occurred at Newmarket, Ontario.[82] Later that year, the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC voted to allow a "local option" for blessing same-sex unions. The national church, which had previously rejected such a proposal, proceeded to assert that it alone had the authority to make such a decision. The National Church Council agreed in a September ruling, but promised to bring forward another motion authorizing the local option for approval at the 2007 National Convention.

In 2011, the National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada approved a motion that allows rostered ministers to "preside at or bless legal marriages according to the laws of the province within which they serve".[83] Since same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada in 2005 through the Civil Marriage Act[84] this permitted ELCIC clergy to bless same-sex marriages. This same motion also permitted the ordination of openly-gay pastors and blessing of clergy in same-sex relationships.[85] At the same convention, the ELCIC issued a statement on human sexuality. This statement recognizes the diversity of sexual orientations and advocates for inclusion of all people within the church.[85]

Europe

Most Lutheran and united state churches in Germany, Lutheranism's country of origin, are liberal, viewing homosexuality as moral and allow gay and lesbian clergy. Most of the Lutheran and united churches in Germany are blessing same-sex unions. In general, some churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany in the more rural parishes are against blessing same-sex unions, while most other churches do allow them.[86]

In 2006, the Church of Sweden allowed blessings of same-sex unions, and in 2009 allowed same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay clergy.[87] KG Hammar, former Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden, has been very vocal in supporting gay and lesbian Lutherans. In 2009, Eva Brunne became the first lesbian woman to be elected as a bishop, in the Diocese of Stockholm.

The Church of Iceland allows same-sex marriages.[88]

The Lutheran Church of Norway was divided, with 6 of 11 bishops accepting homosexual practice as moral, even though the church officially rejects it. But in 2015 the Church of Norway allowed the blessing of same-sex unions.[89] In 1993 lesbian Norway bishop Rosemarie Köhn was ordained. She was married with Susanne Sønderbo.[90]

Since 2012, the Church of Denmark has allowed same-sex marriages.[91] However, some controversy has arisen over the constitutionality of this move, as the Danish Constitution requires the state church to uphold the Lutheran doctrine, which states that homosexual acts are sinful.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is divided on the issue and does not approve of same-sex marriages, though many bishops have expressed their acceptance for homosexual unions. As of October 2010, the Church of Finland allows, but does not oblige its clergy to pray for same-sex couples.[92]

The United Protestant Church of France[93] and the United Protestant Church in Belgium[94] allow the blessing of same-sex marriages.

Australia and New Zealand

The Lutheran Church of Australia and Lutheran Church of New Zealand, which are both closely tied, reject same-sex unions, and affirm that homosexual acts are immoral.

Mennonite Churches

The Mennonite church has multiple LGBT-affirming denominations. However, acceptance of LGBT Christians varies widely. No Mennonite Churches in North or South America have officially endorsed same-sex marriage, but some have taken steps towards this practice. In the Netherlands, same-sex marriages can be both ordained and conducted by the Mennonite Church since 2001.[95][96]

The Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church USA, and Mennonite Church Canada denominations work with the Supportive Communities Network to support the small proportion of congregations that include openly gay members. This is coordinated through the Brethren Mennonite Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests with over 70 participating congregations.[97] In February 2014, the Mountain States Conference of the Mennonite Church USA approved the ministerial license and ordination of an openly lesbian pastor.[98]

In contrast, some Mennonite pastors who performed same-sex unions have had their credentials revoked by their conference[99] and some within the Mennonite Church USA have had their credentials reviewed without any disciplinary actions taken.[100][101] A small number of Mennonite churches have been censured or disciplined for not expelling openly homosexual members.[102]

The Pink Menno Campaign is a parachurch organization that advocates for the inclusion of LGBT Christians for membership, marriage and ordination in Mennonite churches.[103] The Welcome Committee is an ad hoc group that issued an open letter to Mennonite churches defending inclusion of LBGT members and encourages conversation in churches about the issue.

A vast majority of conservative Mennonite churches which practice conservative values (such as head coverings and modest dress) completely forbid homosexual marriage. In these churches and also in their conferences, homosexuality is seen as sinful. Homosexual marriage is seen as a sin and against the Biblical teaching of a marriage between one man and one woman.

Methodism

Main article: Homosexuality and Methodism

Timeline of changing attitudes

Since 1972, the United Methodist Church, as its official position on homosexuality, has maintained the Book of Discipline and has declared "homosexual practice" to be "incompatible with Christian teaching." Following the 1972 incompatibility clause, other restrictions have been added at subsequent General Conferences. Currently, the Book of Discipline prohibits the ordination of "practicing, self-avowed homosexuals," forbids clergy from blessing or presiding over same-sex unions, forbids the use of UMC facilities for same-sex union ceremonies and prohibits the use of Church funds for "gay caucuses", or other groups that "promote the acceptance of homosexuality."

Despite this language, members of the Church are not of one mind on this issue. Preceding the incompatibility clause, the Book of Discipline clearly states that "homosexual persons, no less than heterosexual persons, are individuals of sacred worth." Some believe that this "sacred worth" clause stands in contradiction to the following statement regarding the incompatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching. The Book of Discipline affirms that all persons, both heterosexual and homosexual, are included in the ministry of the church and can receive the gift of God's grace. While the Book of Discipline supports the civil rights of homosexual persons, and rejects the abuse of homosexuals by families and churches, it also calls for laws defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Failed efforts have been made to pass resolutions to "fully include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the life of the Church"[104] at General Conferences since the introduction of the incompatibility clause in 1972; delegates from annual conferences in the Northeast and on the West Coast typically vote to do so, but are outnumbered by those from Southeast and Africa.

Some of these issues have come before the Judicial Council. On 31 October 2005, the Council undertook two measures on this topic. Firstly, the Council upheld the revocation of Irene Elizabeth Stroud's clergy status for disclosing she is openly lesbian. The council also rendered a decision allowing a Virginia pastor to deny church membership to a gay man. The latter decision appeared to UMC LGBT proponents to contradict both the Constitution and membership policies of the United Methodist Church which stipulate that membership shall be open to all persons "without regard to race, color, national origin, status or economic condition." The Judicial Council had previously found that the word "status" applies to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons (See Decision 1020). Decision 1032 created vigorous debate on the level of autonomy individual pastors and congregations have in interpreting and applying Church doctrine.

Methodist Church of Great Britain

The Methodist Church of Great Britain Within the Methodist Church of Great Britain, people have many views about human relationships, sexuality and the nature and purpose of marriage.

On Inclusion

In 1993, the Methodist Conference passed six resolutions on human sexuality (see below), including a Resolution 6 which “recognized, affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbian and gay people in the Methodist Church”. Furthermore, it called on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination, to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexual orientation. In passing these resolutions, the Methodist Conference made its opposition to homophobia known.

On Marriage

In 2014 the Methodist Conference 2014 reaffirmed the current Methodist Standing Orders which state the belief, "that marriage is a gift of God and that it is God's intention that a marriage should be a life-long union in body, mind and spirit of one man and one woman." But, at the same time recognised that since 1993 British Methodists explicitly recognised, affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbians and gay men, and been committed to a pilgrimage of faith to combat discrimination and give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality. The Conference in 2014 confirmed that there was no reason why Methodists may not enter legally formed same sex marriage (e.g. civil marriage or marriage in another denomination) or form a civil partnership.

At that time, and to date (June 2018), this did not change the definition that the Methodist Church uses to define the intention of marriage. However, in 2016 the Methodist Conference set up a working group to update its Statement (canons of the church) on Marriage and Relationships, including consideration of revising the definition of marriage, including consideration of same sex marriage. The task group will report to the Conference in 2018, and again no later than 2020.

In 2014, the Conference clarified that, whilst there is no formal Methodist liturgy or Methodist resources for the blessing of civil partnerships or same-sex marriage, appropriate pastoral responses may be given to same-sex couples who are entering civil partnership or legal same sex-marriages. In other words, prayers of thanksgiving or celebration may be said, and there may be informal services of thanksgiving or celebration.

On Homophobia

The Methodist Church of Great Britain has issued the following definition of Homophobia, which is supported by supplementary guidance.Homophobia is any statement, policy or action which denies the image of God in another person due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation; which is, treating someone in a discriminatory manner because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Homophobic attitudes, words, and behaviours are inconsistent with the nature of Christian conduct and a violation of the worth and dignity of all people. Homophobia can be experienced in a number of ways, including:

  1. Physical violence or emotional or psychological abuse, including the threat of or incitement to such behaviour (which may also be deemed hate crimes in law).
  2. Applying stereotypes and assumptions to people based on their sexual orientation.
  3. Using language that is hostile, hurtful or offensive in its intent.
  4. Abusive or coercive ‘spiritual practices’ (i.e. demanding or requiring repentance or participation in healing or other types of service).

Context: the 1993 Resolutions on Human Sexuality

At the annual Methodist Conference in 1993 in Derby, following long debate at all levels of the Church's life on the basis of a detailed report, the Methodist Church considered the issues of human sexuality. At the end of the debate, the Conference passed in the same session a series of resolutions (known as 'The 1993 Resolutions'). These resolutions are as follows:

  1. The Conference, affirming the joy of human sexuality as God's gift and the place of every human being within the grace of God, recognises the responsibility that flows from this for us all. It therefore welcomes the serious, prayerful and sometimes costly consideration given to this issue by The Methodist Church.
  2. All practices of sexuality, which are promiscuous, exploitative or demeaning in any way are unacceptable forms of behaviour and contradict God's purpose for us all.
  3. A person shall not be debarred from church on the grounds of sexual orientation in itself.
  4. The Conference reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Church on human sexuality; namely chastity (not celibacy) for all outside marriage and fidelity within it. The Conference directs that this affirmation is made clear to all candidates for ministry, office and membership, and having established this, affirm that the existing procedures of our church are adequate to deal with all such cases.
  5. The Conference resolves that its decision in this debate shall not be used to form the basis of a disciplinary charge against any person in relation to conduct alleged to have taken place before such decisions were made.
  6. Conference recognises, affirms and celebrates the participation and ministry of lesbians and gay men in the church. Conference calls on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination, to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality.

United Methodist Church

On May 7, 2018, the Bishops in the United Methodist Church, a denomination long divided on questions of LGBT equality, have proposed allowing individual pastors and regional church bodies to decide whether to ordain LGBT clergy and perform same-sex weddings.[105] However, this proposal has not been formally approved yet and will be decided between February 23–26, 2019.[106][107] After voting (February 2019), this proposal was rejected in favor of a "traditional plan" which rejects gay marriage.[108]

The United Methodist Church (UMC) has a General Conference every four years to make decisions and when a decision is made, they add it to the Book of Discipline. From the 2016 Book of Discipline, the United Methodist Church Website cites multiple decisions on homosexuality. On the basis of membership, all persons are eligible to "attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection".[109]

Regarding the ministry of the ordained, the practice of homosexuality is seen as incompatible with Christian teaching. Thus self-identifying homosexuals are not "to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church".[109] Also, "ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions are not to be conducted by our ministers nor in our churches".[109] On the basis of funds, the UMC does not want any of their ministries' funds used or allocated to LGBTQ+ groups or organizations. Although UMC does not want the funds to be used to condemn any such organizations either.

On 15 July 2016, Reverend Karen Oliveto became the first openly gay United Methodist Bishop after several annual conferences passed resolutions not to conform with any LGBT discriminatory church laws. UMC Bishops are elected for life. Oliveto is married to Robin Ridenour, who is a deaconess in UMC.[110]

Uniting Church in Australia

In July 2018, the Uniting Church in Australia voted by national Assembly to approve the creation of official marriage rites for same-sex couples.[111]

Metropolitan Community Church

The Metropolitan Community Church is an international fellowship of Christian congregations. It is considered by many[who?] to be a full mainline denomination or communion[citation needed]. There are currently 300 congregations in 22 countries[citation needed], and the Fellowship has a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities[citation needed]. Acceptance of homosexuality is an important part of its theology and the church has performed same sex marriage ceremonies since 1968.[112]

The Metropolitan Community Church was instrumental in the first legal challenges to the heterosexual legal definition of marriage in Ontario (see Same-sex marriage in Ontario). Two couples used an old legal procedure called reading the banns to marry without a licence. When same-sex marriage was legalized in Ontario, their marriages were recognized.[112][113]

Moravian Church

The Moravian Church declared in 1974 that gays and lesbians were full members of the Christian community. In 2002, the Northern Provincial Synod placed a moratorium for the time being on further decisions about homosexuality. During the 2014 Northern Province Synod, they voted to permit the ordination of gay and lesbian individuals and create a ritual for solemnizing gay relationships in North America.[114] In 2018, the Southern Province Synod permitted same-sex clergy to marry their same-sex partners.[115] Currently, the questions of marriage and ordination are unresolved in the other provinces in the Moravian Church.

New Apostolic Church

The New Apostolic Church does not approve of homosexual acts:

On the grounds of Biblical tenets and Christian tradition, the New Apostolic Church does not approve of practised homosexuality. It is solely for God to determine whether, and to what extent, a person who is absolutely confirmed in his or her homosexual disposition acquires guilt before God through the practice of his or her homosexuality. In this regard, it should be expressly stated that sexual disposition has no relevance in the pastoral care of our brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters who are practicing homosexuals, or living in a homosexual partnership, cannot carry out ministerial and teaching duties in our Church.[116]

Pentecostalism

Most churches in the Pentecostal Movement view homosexual behavior as a sin. The second largest Pentecostal Church in the U.S., the Assemblies of God, makes its view clear on homosexuality in a position paper stating: "...there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual behavior found anywhere in Scripture. Rather, the consistent sexual ideal is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God."[117]

The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) similarly condemns homosexuality.[118] These churches therefore oppose same-sex unions, gay pastors, and would tend to forbid congregants who persist in homosexual practices. Politically, they are likely to support politicians with the same viewpoints. Assemblies of God churches insist that those who engage in homosexual activity should cease such behavior, as with any sin.[119] The Church of God In Christ has taken similar positions which condemn homosexuality and same sex marriage.

There are, however, a minority of LGBT affirming Pentecostal churches, both denominations and independent churches. These include the Anointed Affirming Independent Ministries, The Anthem Church was birthed out of the Pentecostal Movement, and merged into an Inter Denominational Fellowship with members from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Catholic Church, Episcopalian, APCI/GAAAP, Affirming Pentecostal Church International, the LDS Church, the Covenant Network,[120] the Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals (GAAAP),[121] the Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International (RPI) [122] and Gay Apostolic Pentecostals. Some Pentecostal churches that are gay affirming base their position on research done into scripture in the original languages, where they believe they find no condemnation of homosexuality.[123]

Presbyterianism

Main article: Homosexuality and Presbyterianism

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is currently the only Presbyterian denomination in the United States that allows same-sex marriage, and ordains self-affirmed LGBT members in committed relationships as teaching elders (clergy), and ruling elders (elders elected to serve on the Session).

On Marriage: In 2014, the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to change its definition of marriage, allowing its pastors to officiate same-sex marriages wherever gay marriage is legal. In addition, by a vote of 429–175, leaders of the 1.76 million-member Church voted during the biennial General Assembly in Detroit to change the denomination's Book of Order to describe marriage as being between "two people." A vote of the individual presbyteries began immediately after the 2014 General Assembly approval and was completed in 2015.[124][125]

On Ordination: The PC(USA) approved the ordination of non-celibate gays on 8 July 2010, when, by a vote of 373 to 323, the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries a constitutional amendment to remove the restriction against the ordination of partnered homosexuals. This action required ratification by a majority of the 173 presbyteries within 12 months for the proposed amendment to take effect.[126][127] On 10 May 2011, a majority of the presbyteries voted to approve the constitutional change.[128] It took effect on 10 July 2011. Until this vote, denominational policy prohibited non-celibate same-sex relations (as well as non-celibate heterosexual relations outside of marriage) for those serving as ministers or as elders on key church boards. After rancorous debate, that policy was upheld in a vote of presbyteries in 2002, but overruled in 2010. The denomination commissioned a study on the "peace, unity, and purity" of the church which found that homosexuality was not, in and of itself, a stumbling block to ordination. The report also suggested that Presbyteries and local governing bodies be the place where case-by-case decisions be made on the "readiness" of homosexual candidates for ministry. In 2008 the General Assembly sent to the presbyteries a vote to remove the wording from the constitution of the denomination that is seen as barring homosexuals from ordination (G-6.106b). The 2008 General Assembly also removed all precedent-setting cases and "authoritative interpretations" concerning homosexuality since 1978 which were seen by full-inclusion advocates as being stumbling blocks to ordination of homosexual individuals.

Other, smaller American Presbyterian bodies, such as the Presbyterian Church in America,[129] the Evangelical Presbyterian Church,[130] the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,[131] the Orthodox Presbyterian Church,[132] and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches[133] condemn same-sex sexual behavior as incompatible with Biblical morality, but believe gays and lesbians can repent and abandon the lifestyle.

In New Zealand, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has debated homosexuality for many years. In 1985 its General Assembly declared "Homosexual acts are sinful." The most recent decision of the Assembly in 2004 declared "this church may not accept... anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of faithful marriage between a man and a woman," but added the lemma, "In relation to homosexuality... this ruling shall not prejudice anyone, who as at the date of this meeting, has been accepted for training, licensed, ordained, or inducted."[citation needed]

Many Presbyterians in New Zealand are active in the Association for Reconciling Christians and Congregations,[134] an ecumenical group that supports the full inclusion and participation of all people in the Church, including gay and lesbian persons.

In America, More Light Presbyterians, a coalition of gay-inclusive congregations, was founded in 1980. Today the organization has 194 member churches, while many more informally endorse its mission to more fully welcome people of all sexualities into the life of the church.[135]

Quakerism

Main article: Homosexuality and Quakerism

Quakers in many countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, are supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, seeing this as necessary aspect of the Equality Testimony and part of historical Quaker activism against injustice and oppression. Quakers in these countries have become active in the fight for equality of marriage for same-sex couples, and perform same-sex commitment or marriage ceremonies as part of Quaker business.

In the United States of America, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is deeply divided on the issue. The Evangelical Friends Church International and the more conservative members of Friends United Meeting consider homosexuality to be sinful; but other Friends, such as those in the Friends General Conference and the more progressive individuals and Monthly Meetings or Churches within Friends United Meeting , strongly support equal ecclesiastical rights for gay and lesbian persons and welcome their full participation as members.[citation needed] Hartford, Connecticut Quakers as far back as 1986 issued a statement recognizing both same-sex and heterosexual celebrations of marriage, and in 1988 the Beacon Hill Quaker Meeting in Massachusetts also issued a statement in support of recognizing same-sex marriage ceremonies.

In 2009, several Quaker meetings including the Twin Cities Friends Meeting (St. Paul and Minneapolis) announced they would stop signing certificates for opposite-sex marriages until same-sex marriages were fully legalized. Conservative Friends have differing theological stances on homosexuality. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Conservative Friends defines marriage as between one man and one woman; it does not sanction same-sex unions, or accept sexual relationships outside of marriage.[136] The other two Conservative yearly meetings do accept same-sex marriage.[137][138]

The majority (52%) of Quakers live in Africa.[139] They do not usually accept homosexuality; for example, Friends Church in Kenya "condemns homosexuality"[140] (Kenya has more Quakers than any other country)[citation needed].

Roman Catholic Church

Main article: Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism

Homosexuality is considered in the Roman Catholic Church teaching under two distinct aspects: homosexuality as an orientation and homosexual sexual activity.

Homosexuality as an orientation is not considered sinful, though is referred to, in highly technical language, as an "objective disorder" as it is seen as "ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil". The term 'disorder' is used several times throughout The Catechism of the Catholic Church to reference sin in general—e.g. venial sin, sin within marriage, the disorder of divorce, etc. All sin creates a disordering of the direction and proper ordering of nature.

The Church therefore recognizes that homosexuality is an innate condition in most cases, not a choice, and cannot be considered a sin. Homosexual sexual activity, however, is seen as a "moral disorder" and "homosexual acts" as "contrary to the natural law". The same acts would be considered equally 'contrary to the natural law' if performed by heterosexual couples. "They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine effective and sexual complementary."

The Roman Catholic Church believes that marriage is only between one man and one woman, and opposes same-sex marriage at both the religious and civil levels. The Church also holds that same-sex unions are an unfavorable environment for children and that the legalization of such unions damages society.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2396: "Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices."

In the film Francesco from 2020, Pope Francis supported in an interview some legal framework for homosexuals, to guarantee rights such as hospital visitation and inheritance , stating that "that way they are legally covered. I stood up for that."[141] He further stated that families should not expel teenage children from home if they display a homosexual orientation, saying "they [still] have a right to a family."

On 9 September 2022, over 80% of German bishops at the Synodal Path supported a document calling for a "re-evaluation of homosexuality" and for making changes to the Catechism.[142][143][144][145][a]

Independent Catholic Denominations

There are a number of catholic denominations that claim an apostolic succession but have split from the historic Roman Catholic Church. Acceptance of homosexuality varies between these groups but there are a few that fully support LGBT inclusion. Some of these groups are the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church,[147] American Catholic Church in the United States,[148] American National Catholic Church,[149] Catholic Apostolic Church in North America,[150] Christ Communion,[151] Ecumenical Catholic Communion,[152] Ecumenical Catholic Church,[153] Evangelical Catholic Church,[154] Independent Catholic Christian Church,[155] Liberal Catholic Church,[154] Orthodox-Catholic Church of America,[156] Reformed Catholic Church,[157] The National Catholic Church of America,[154] and United Catholic Church.[158]

Swedenborgianism

The largest Swedenborgian denomination in North America, the General Church of the New Jerusalem, does not ordain gay and lesbian ministers, but the oldest denomination, the Swedenborgian Church of North America, does. Ministers in Swedenborgian Church of North America may determine individually whether or not they will marry same-sex couples. Ministers of the General Church of the New Jerusalem are not permitted to marry or bless any same-sex couples.[citation needed]

The Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma has no official doctrine on the debate of homosexuality. Personal opinions vary, but respecting others and not condemning anyone is an important facet of the Lord's New Church: "Human freedom is necessary if men are to be led in freedom according to reason by the Lord into the life in the Lord which is freedom itself." So the Church values the "expression of the thoughts and feelings of all in the Church provided they are not in opposition to the Essentials and the Principles of Doctrine of the Church"[159]

United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada, the largest Protestant denomination in Canada, affirms that gay and lesbian persons are welcome in the church and the ministry. The resolution "A) That all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be or become full member of the Church. B) All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry." was passed in 1988. This was not done, however, without intense debate over what was termed "the issue"; some congregations chose to leave the church rather than support the resolution. In August 2012, the governing body of the church, General Council - which gathers trianually to determine the leadership and direction of the church - selected Rev. Gary Paterson to be its moderator. He is believed to be the first openly gay leader of any mainline Christian denomination anywhere in the world.

The church campaigned starting in 1977 to have the federal government add sexual orientation to federal non-discrimination laws, which was accomplished in 1996.[160] The church has also engaged in activism in favour of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada, and on 20 July 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas and the first country outside Europe to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act. In 2012, Gary Paterson became first open gay moderator of United Church of Canada.

United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ (UCC) was formed by the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Its polity is such that the views of one setting of the church cannot be unwillingly 'forced' on another church setting, whether between congregations of local churches, or between the upper levels of the church and individual congregations. Each individual church is independent and autonomous, in effect ecclesiastically sovereign.[161] Thus, views on many controversial matters can and do vary among congregations. David Roozen, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research who has studied the United Church of Christ, said surveys show the national church's pronouncements are often more liberal than the views in the pews but that its governing structure is set up to allow such disagreements.[162]

The United Church of Christ General Synod in 1985 passed a resolution entitled "Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming"[163] saying that "the Fifteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ encourages a policy of non-discrimination in employment, volunteer service and membership policies with regard to sexual orientation; encourages associations, Conferences and all related organizations to adopt a similar policy; and encourages the congregations of the United Church of Christ to adopt a non-discrimination policy and a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian, gay and bisexual orientation within the community of faith". General Synod XIV in 2003 officially added transgender persons to this declaration of full inclusion in the life and leadership of the Church.

In July 2005, the 25th General Synod[164] encouraged congregations to affirm "equal marriage rights for all", and to consider "wedding policies that do not discriminate based on the gender of the couple." The resolution also encouraged congregations to support legislation permitting civil same-sex marriage rights. By the nature of United Church of Christ polity, General Synod resolutions officially speak "to, but not for" the other settings of the denomination (local congregations, associations, conferences, and the national offices). This Synod also expressed respect for those bodies within the church that disagree and called for all members "to engage in serious, respectful, and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender."

Some associations permit ordination of non-celibate gay clergy and some clergy and congregations are willing to perform or allow same-sex marriages or union services. Approximately 10% of UCC congregations have adopted an official "open and affirming" statement welcoming gay and lesbian persons in all aspects of church life. A few congregations explicitly oppose the General Synod Equal Marriage Rights resolution – an independent movement called "Faithful and Welcoming Churches(FWC)" that partly defines faithful as "Faithful... to the preservation of the family, and to the practice and proclamation of human sexuality as God's gift for marriage between a man and a woman."[165] Many congregations have no official stance; these congregations' de facto stances vary widely in their degree of welcome toward gay and lesbian persons.

The United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns 8 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine is one of the officially recognized "Historically Underrepresented Groups" in the United Church of Christ, and as such has a dedicated seat on the United Church of Christ Executive Council and a number of other boards. The Biblical Witness Fellowship, a notable conservative renewal organization within the UCC, formed in the 1970s in response to general synods opinions on the sexuality issue and has argued that there "has been a deliberate and forceful attempt within the mainline church to overthrow Biblical revelation [about] ... what it means to be human particularly in the Biblical revelation of a humanity reflective of God and sexually created for [heterosexual] marriage and family."[166]

Uniting Church in Australia

Main article: Uniting Church in Australia § Homosexuality

The Uniting Church in Australia allows for the membership and ordination of gay and lesbian people and permits local presbyteries to ordain gay and lesbian ministers,[167] and extends the local option to marriage; a minister may bless a same-sex marriage. In July 2018, the Uniting Church in Australia voted by national Assembly to approve the creation of official marriage rites for same-sex couples.[111]

The role of gay and lesbian people in the church, their possibility of being ordained and the blessing of same-sex unions have been issues debated throughout the Uniting Church's history. The fairly broad consensus has been that a person's sexual orientation should not be a bar to attendance, membership or participation in the church. More controversial has been the issue of sexual activity by gay and lesbian people and the sexual behaviour of ordination candidates. In 2003, the church voted to allow local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian people as ministers.[168] Ministers were permitted to bless same-sex couples entering civil unions even before same-sex marriage was legalized in Australia in late 2017.[169] In July 2018, the national assembly approved the creation of marriage rites for same-sex couples.[111]

Since 1997, some ministers living in same-sex relationships have come out without their ordination (or ministry) being challenged. In 2011, the church approved the blessing of same-sex unions.[170] Seven years later it allowed local congregations and ministers to decide whether to perform same-sex marriages, and ministers may now do so.[171]

United Reformed Church

A detailed report was submitted to the 2007 General Assembly of the United Reformed Church exploring its position on homosexuality.[172] In 2011, The United Reformed Church in United Kingdom allowed the blessing of same-sex unions.[173] On 9 July 2016 the church formally voted by 240 votes to 21 in favour of allowing any local church to offer same-sex marriages, if it chooses to obtain a licence.[174]

Swiss Reformed Church

In August 2019, the blessing of same-sex marriages is allowed in Swiss Reformed Church.[175]

Vineyard Churches, USA

The United States branch of the Association of Vineyard Churches issued a statement on LGBT issues in 2014. The statement "affirms marriage as a covenantal union between a man and a woman" and states "that outside of the boundaries of marriage, the Bible calls for abstinence." At the same time, the statement expresses repentance for "sinful stigmatization" of homosexual persons and encourages the expression of grace and compassion towards all who are tempted by extramarital sex.[176]

Unity Church

Unity Church issued a Statement of Diversity in 1995 which stated in part: "We strive for our ministries, publications and programs to reach out to all who seek Unity support and spiritual growth. It is imperative that our ministries and outreaches be free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability or sexual orientation. Our sincere desire is to ensure that all Unity organizations are nondiscriminatory and support diversity."[177] Unity has stated on their website that: "Unity proudly supports the LGBTQIA+ community. We believe everyone is divine and that every person shines with the light of God!"[178]

While Unity does not impose formal requirements on individual Unity churches to perform same-sex marriages, many Unity churches do perform same-sex marriages. Unity performs same-sex marriages at their world headquarters in Unity Village, Missouri.[177]

Unity allows LGBTQ people to become ministers and licensed Unity teachers.[177]

Philippine Independent Church

Officially known as the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and colloquially called the Aglipayan Church, an Independent Catholic and Anglo-Catholic[179] denomination, the church has adopted an official and binding position of inclusion and full acceptance of LGBT individuals and organizations since 2017 after the question of inclusiveness was raised in an official leadership meeting by a gay member of the church in 2014. Its youth organization wing has also repeatedly elected presidents, vice presidents, and executives who belong to the Filipino LGBT youth sector.[180] On February 24, 2023, the church ordained Wylard "Wowa" Ledama, a transwoman, to the diaconate as the church's first trans clergy.[181]

Summary of denominational positions in North America, Europe, and Asia

The following table summarizes various denominational practices concerning members who are currently in a homosexual relationship. See also: Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches.

Denomination Allows homosexuals as members Ordains practicing homosexuals Blesses unions Marries
Adventist[182] No[183] No No No
Alliance of Baptists Yes Yes Yes Yes
Anglican Church in North America[184] No No No No
American Baptist Churches USA Varies[185] No[27] No (official denominational position; local congregational practices may differ)[27][28] No (official denominational position; local congregational practices may differ)[27][28]
Assemblies of God[119][186] No No No No
National Baptist Convention[30] Varies No Varies Varies
Southern Baptist Convention[187] No[188] No No No
Catholic Church Yes[189] No (Those with transitory homosexual tendencies must have such tendencies clearly overcome three years prior to being ordained to the diaconate) No [190] No
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)[33] Yes (General Assembly has affirmed all orientations; local regions and congregations can make their own choice) Yes (General Assembly has affirmed all orientations; local regions and congregations can make their own choice)[32] Varies Varies (General Assembly does not have a stated a position on same-sex marriage; local regions and congregations may perform)[34]
Christian Reformed Church in North America[35][191] No No No No
Reformed Church in America[192] Yes Varies Varies Varies (decided within classes)
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) Yes No No No
Church of the Nazarene[193] No No No No
Church of England[citation needed] Yes No[194] Yes[195] No
Church of Scotland[196][197] Yes Yes Varies Yes
Eastern Orthodox[citation needed] No (Weaning from the sacrament for 15 years. In case of termination and repentance for 3 years.) [198] No.[199] No No
Episcopal Yes Yes (All dioceses ordain candidates regardless of orientation. A minority of bishops require celibacy; others have shown an expectation that homosexual clergy should take advantage of what legal and ecclesiastical recognition is available for their unions[200]). Yes Yes
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Yes[201][202] (Homosexual behavior is considered sinful and may be subject to church discipline short of excommunication)[203] No No No
Community of Christ Yes[204] Varies. In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, homosexuals will not be ordained into the priesthood[73][204] Varies (In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, same-sex unions of any kind will not be blessed[73] Varies (In nations where it is illegal, even punishable by death, same-sex marriages will not be performed[73][205]
Evangelical Covenant Church No[206][207] No[208] No[208] No[208]
Evangelical Free Church of America No No No No
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America[75] Yes Yes Varies (by discernment of congregation and pastor) Varies (in civil jurisdictions where allowable and by discernment of congregation and pastor)
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod[209] No No No No
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada[85] Yes Yes Yes Yes
German Lutheran and United Churches in Evangelical Church in Germany[citation needed] Yes Yes Varies Varies[210][211]
Mennonite Varies Varies[212] Varies Varies
United Methodist Church[213] Yes Varies Varies[213][214] No[213][214]
Metropolitan Community Church[112] Yes Yes Yes Yes
United Pentecostal Church International[215] No No No No
Evangelical Presbyterian Church[130] No No No No
Orthodox Presbyterian Church[132] No No No No
Presbyterian Church (USA)[216] Yes Yes[217] Varies Yes
Presbyterian Church in America No[218] No[129] No[129] No[129]
Religious Society of Friends (Quaker)[citation needed] Yes Varies Varies Varies
Union of Scranton (Old Catholic)[219] No No No No
Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches (Italy) Yes Yes Yes No
Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches[citation needed] Yes Yes Yes No
Swedenborgian[citation needed] Yes Varies Varies Varies
Church of Sweden Yes Yes Yes Yes
Church of Denmark Yes Yes Yes Yes
Church of Iceland Yes Yes Yes Yes
Church of Norway Yes Yes Yes Yes
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland Yes Yes Yes No
Unification Church[220] No No No No
Unitarian and Free Christian Churches[b] (UK) Yes Yes Yes Yes
United Church of Canada[221][222] Yes Yes Not applicable Varies
United Church of Christ[223] Yes Yes Yes Yes
Vineyard USA[176] No No No No
The Wesleyan Church No No No No
Rosicrucian Fellowship (Esoteric Christians) Undefined (homosexual activity is considered sinful; members are expected to eventually abstain from any sexual practice other than for procreation, performed as a sacramental act)[224][225] No (the Fellowship does not ordain; however, access to Discipleship requires Generative Purity)[226] No No (marriage is seen as a sacrament binding man and woman; the marriage service requires the presence of an ordained Minister of a Christian church)[227]
Unity Church[177] Yes Yes Varies Varies
Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente)[180] Yes[180] Yes[181] No No

Notes

  1. ^ Supporting bishops are archbishop Reinhard Marx from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Speyer, bishop Franz Jung, from Roman Catholic Diocese of Würzburg, archbishop Heiner Koch from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin, archbishop Stefan Heße from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg, bishop Heinrich Timmerevers from Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden–Meissen, bishop Michael Gerber from Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda, Gerhard Feige from Roman Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg, bishop Helmut Dieser from Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen, bishop Heiner Wilmer from Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim, bishop Franz-Josef Hermann Bode from Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück, bishop Felix Genn from Roman Catholic Diocese of Münster, bishop Georg Bätzing from Roman Catholic Diocese of Limburg, bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen, bishop Stephan Ackermann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier, bishop Peter Kohlgraf from Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz, bishop Gebhard Fürst from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, auxiliary bishop Josef Holtkotte from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn, auxiliary bishop Karl Borsch from Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen, auxiliary bishop Ludger Schepers from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen, auxiliary bishop Christoph Hegge from Roman Catholic Diocese of Münster, auxiliary bishop Gerhard Schneider from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, auxiliary bishop Karl Heinz Diez from Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda, auxiliary bishop Peter Birkhofer from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg, auxiliary bishop Reinhard Hauke from Roman Catholic Diocese of Erfurt, auxiliary bishop Udo Bentz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz, auxiliary bishop Christian Würtz from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg, auxiliary bishop Franz Josef Gebert from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier, auxiliary bishop Heinz Günter Bongartz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim, auxiliary bishop Herwig Gössel from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg, auxiliary bishop Horst Eberlein from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg, auxiliary bishop Johannes Wübbe from Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabrück, auxiliary bishop Matthäus Karrer from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, auxiliary bishop Matthias König from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn, auxiliary bishop Robert Brahm from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier, auxiliary bishop Thomas Maria Renz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, auxiliary bishop Ulrich Boom from Roman Catholic Diocese of Würzburg, auxiliary bishop Wilfried Theising from Roman Catholic Diocese of Münster, auxiliary bishop Wilhelm Zimmermann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen and auxiliary bishop Wolfgang Bischof from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.[146]
  2. ^ Unitarian Universalism is not a Christian religion

See also

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  223. ^ "In Support of Equal Marriage Rights for All" (PDF). Social Policy Statements on LGBT Concerns. United Church of Christ National Bodies. 25 July 2004. Retrieved 26 July 2018. For more than 30 years, the General Synod of the UCC has adopted resolutions affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, consistently calling for an end to discrimination, equal protection under the law, deploring LGBT hate crimes and violence, supporting LGBT relationships and families, celebrating the gifts of LGBT persons for ministry and encouraging all settings of the church to be open and affirming of LGBT persons, welcoming them and encouraging their participation in every aspect of the mission and ministry of the church.
  224. ^ "Homo, hetero, auto, or poly perverse expressions of human sexuality". The Rosicrucian Fellowship. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  225. ^ "Gleanings of a Mystic (1910s): The Unpardonable Sin and Lost Souls". The Rosicrucian Fellowship. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  226. ^ "Letters to Students (1910s) no.13: Generative Purity". The Rosicrucian Fellowship. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  227. ^ "Rosicrucian Fellowship Services: Solemnization of Marriage". The Rosicrucian Fellowship. Retrieved 9 April 2010.

External links

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Vocation to Chastity
  • (German group)
  • Gaychurch.org Global directory of affirming Christian churches.
  • "The Homosexual Christian," by Fr. Thomas Hopko, The Orthodox Research Institute
  • 6 Views ReligiousTolerance.org's list of the 6 major Christian views on homosexuality

March 08, 2023
list, christian, denominational, positions, homosexuality, this, article, missing, information, about, oriental, orthodoxy, please, expand, article, include, this, information, further, details, exist, talk, page, 2021, this, list, christian, denominational, p. This article is missing information about Oriental Orthodoxy Please expand the article to include this information Further details may exist on the talk page May 2021 This is a list of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality The issue of homosexuality and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological debate within and between Christian denominations and this list seeks to summarize the various official positions Within denominations many members may hold somewhat differing views on and even differing definitions of homosexuality Adventism EditMain article Homosexuality and Seventh day Adventism The Seventh day Adventist Church is opposed to same sex sexual practices and relationships on the grounds that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of one man and one woman They believe the Bible consistently affirms the pattern of heterosexual monogamy and all sexual relations outside the scope of spousal intimacy are contrary to God s original plan 1 Ancient Church of the East EditThe Ancient Church of the East regards marriage as only being between one man and one woman stating We believe that faithful in Christian Marriage between a male and a female free of impediments is the only legitimate state for sexual expression between individuals 2 Anglicanism including Episcopal EditMain article Homosexuality and Anglicanism The Anglican Communion has been divided over the issue of homosexuality in several ways The Church of England the mother church of the Communion currently maintains according to the statement Issues in Human Sexuality that same sex partnerships are acceptable for laypersons and gay clergy may enter in a civil partnership as long as they are expected to give assurances of celibacy 3 4 The Lambeth Conference of 1998 called homosexuality incompatible with Scripture but this remains a purely advisory guideline as there are no communion wide legislative bodies in the Anglican Church 5 On the other hand in 2003 the Episcopal Church which is the American body province of the Anglican Communion approved Gene Robinson to the bishopric of the diocese of New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson is the first openly gay non celibate clergy to be ordained to the episcopate 6 Mary Glasspool became first open lesbian suffragan bishop to be consecrated a bishop in the Anglican Communion in the Diocese of Los Angeles of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America In 2016 Nicholas Chamberlain the Bishop of Grantham became the first bishop in the Church of England to come out as gay and in a same sex relationship 7 In the Seventeenth Session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia in 2017 the Anglican Church of Australia passed a motion recognising that the doctrine of our church in line with traditional Christian teaching is that marriage is an exclusive and lifelong union of a man and a woman and further recognises that this has been the subject of several General Synod resolutions over the past fifteen years 8 In 2018 the Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier released an ad clerum reiterating the current position that clergy cannot perform a same sex marriage 9 10 The Anglican Church of New Zealand has experienced division and some bishops decided not to allow non celibate homosexuals to become clergy 11 However the Dunedin Diocese of the Anglican Church of New Zealand ordained an openly partnered gay man as deacon and subsequently as priest in 2005 12 13 The Dioceses of Auckland and Dunedin allow blessings for same sex relationships 14 15 In 2014 the Anglican Church in New Zealand voted for a resolution that will create a pathway towards the blessing of same gender relationships while upholding the traditional doctrine of marriage 16 In response to several controversies in the Episcopal Church among which was its changed policies relating to sexual morality a number of alternative Anglican churches were founded during the 1960s and 1970s They are customarily referred to as the churches of the Continuing Anglican movement In 2008 conflict in the worldwide Anglican Communion over the issue of the acceptance of homosexuality the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church in the U S and a growing concern about the ambivalent position of the Anglican mother church in the U K led to the founding of a global network of conservative Anglican churches representing more than two thirds of Anglicans throughout the world 17 This is the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans FCA Favoring more inclusion of same sex relationships more liberal provinces that are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow for same sex unions include Brazil Canada New Zealand Scotland South India South Africa Spain the US and Wales 18 In 2015 the Church in Wales published a series of prayers which may be said with a couple following the celebration of a civil partnership or civil marriage 19 In 2016 the Anglican Church of Canada voted to allow same sex marriages but a second vote in 2019 failed to reach the two thirds majority required from the House of Bishops 20 In the Anglican Church of Southern Africa the Diocese of Saldanha Bay proposed a prayer of blessing for same sex marriages and civil unions but the proposal did not pass 21 The archbishop of the Southern African Church Thabo Makgoba is one among few church leaders in Africa to support same sex marriage 22 However in 2017 the Scottish Episcopal Church became the first major Christian church in the U K to allow same sex marriages 23 and in June 2018 the General Synod of Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil did the same 24 The Anglican Church in North America ACNA was formed in 2009 as yet another conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church It and the Continuing Anglican churches are primarily made up of people who left the Episcopal Church partially in opposition to its approval of homosexual relationships and gay clergy Assyrian Church of the East EditThe Assyrian Church of the East does not recognize same sex marriages 25 Baptists EditMain article Homosexuality and Baptist churches The Southern Baptist Convention the largest of the Baptist denominations and the single largest Protestant group in the U S believes that the Bible says practicing homosexuality is a sin stating clearly that its members affirm God s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy one man and one woman for life Homosexuality is not a valid alternative lifestyle It is not however an unforgivable sin The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals They too may become new creations in Christ 26 Independent Fundamental Baptist churches in general also view homosexuality as sinful or unnatural The American Baptist Churches USA ABCUSA officially regards homosexual conduct as incompatible with Biblical teaching 27 however there are a number of Baptist churches in the ABCUSA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that have less literal views 28 The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists a group of some 50 churches and organizations is committed to the full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons in their churches 29 The historically African American denominations of the National Baptist Convention have issued no public statements on homosexuality however the National Baptist Convention USA Inc does not allow its clergy to officiate at ceremonies for same sex unions 30 31 Canadian and American Reformed Churches EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Canadian and American Reformed Churches cite Biblical sources from Leviticus 20 13 which reads If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman both of them have done what is detestable NIVA homosexual member of one of these churches will be placed under censure or excommunicated and can only be received again into the communion of saints and be admitted to the Lord s Supper in these Reformed traditions after he or she has declared repentance from his or her homosexuality which the churches teach is a sin After repentance the person is declared forgiven by the church citation needed Christian Church Disciples of Christ EditIn July 2013 the General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ issued a Sense of the Assembly resolution GA 1327 Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All that in part acknowledges that people within society and within the church have been devalued and discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and or gender identity calls for the church to welcome to all God s children though differing in sexual orientation and or gender identity and that it affirm s the faith baptism and spiritual gifts of all Christians regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity and that neither are grounds for exclusion from fellowship or service within the church but are a part of God s good creation Through this resolution the General Assembling endorsed the ordination of LGBT clergy 32 GA 1327 also states however that local congregations have final say over matters of consciences 33 Local Disciples of Christ congregations have also performed same sex marriages such as the First Christian Church of Davenport 34 although the General Assembly has no official policy on same sex marriages Christian Reformed Church in North America EditThe Christian Reformed Church in North America has maintained the stance since the 1970s that homosexuality is the direct result of a broken sinful world but that the Church should offer a compassionate community for Christian homosexuals Homosexualism explicit homosexual behavior is considered disobedience to God s will revealed in Scripture Celibate and repentant gays and lesbians should not be denied any right granted to heterosexuals They have the right to maintain office and be an active member in a congregation as their gifts can still be used to glorify God The Church must provide support for homosexuals to find healing and wholeness in their broken sexuality 35 Although the First Christian Reformed Church of Toronto also the first CRC congregation to call a woman minister voted to allow gays and lesbians in committed partnerships as elders and deacons this decision was later rescinded in the face of pressure from Classis Toronto regional gathering of churches 36 Eastern Orthodox Church EditFurther information Eastern Orthodox view of sin Homosexuality The Eastern Orthodox Church holds the opinion that sexuality as we understand it is part of the fallen world only In Eastern Orthodox theology both monasticism and marriage are paths to salvation sotiria in Greek literally meaning becoming whole Celibacy is the ideal path of exclusive concern for the Kingdom of God exemplified in monasticism while marriage is a reflection of the Messianic covenant and blessed under the context of true unitive love Man must love his wife as Jesus loved his Church this phrase is part of the Orthodox marriage rite with openness to procreation bearing fruit This context can be interpreted by the non Orthodox as not being exclusive of homosexuality whereas it is seen as exclusive of homosexuality by all Orthodox Christians Traditionally the Christian East has maintained a comparatively non legalistic view of sin see above in which homosexuality is spiritually disordered Although some members of the Church may have assumed an active role in encouraging negative social stereotypes against unrepentant homosexuals they misrepresent the stance of the Orthodox Church which does not promote judgment of people but judgment of actions However several prominent members of the clergy who have made statements condemning homosexuality All jurisdictions such as the Orthodox Church in America have taken the approach of welcoming people with homosexual feelings and emotions while encouraging them to work towards overcoming its harmful effects in their lives while not extending the holy mysteries sacraments to people who seek to justify homosexual activity 37 The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America the highest Orthodox Christian representative body in the Americas reaffirmed in a statement in September 2013 that the Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality firmly grounded in Holy Scripture two millennia of Church Tradition and Canon Law holds that the sacrament of marriage consists in the union of a man and a woman and that authentic marriage reflects the sacred unity that exists between Christ and His Bride the Church 38 Acting upon any sexual attraction outside of sacramental marriage whether the attraction is heterosexual or homosexual alienates us from God 38 Moreover the Assembly reminded that persons with homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed on all of humanity by our Lord Jesus Christ 38 LGBT activism within Orthodox Christianity has been much less widespread than in Roman Catholicism and many Protestant denominations In 1980 the group Axios was founded in Los Angeles to affirm and advocate for sexual minorities within the Orthodox Church and has since started several other chapters in the United States Canada and Australia Jehovah s Witnesses EditJehovah s Witnesses consider same sex sexual activity to be sinful but recognize that some people may be prone to homosexuality including members of their congregation Members are required to abstain from any sexual behavior outside of marriage including homosexual behaviour which is listed as a serious sin but are told not to hate homosexual individuals Their literature has stated that Christians should not make homosexuals the target of ridicule or harassment 39 40 They believe that God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman 41 and regarding same sex marriage they have stated that it cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability and are told to avoid debates about the legality of homosexuality Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible trained conscience Jehovah s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws 42 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints EditMain article Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints An LGBT Pride flag in front of the LDS Salt Lake Temple All same sex sexual activity is forbidden by Mormonism s largest denomination the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church in its law of chastity and the church teaches that God does not approve of same sex marriage 43 Adherents who participate in same sex sexual behavior may face church discipline Members of the church who experience homosexual attractions including those who self identify as gay lesbian or bisexual remain in good standing in the church if they abstain from same sex marriage and all sexual relations outside an opposite sex marriage 44 45 46 but all including those participating in same sex activity and relationships are allowed to attend weekly church worship services 47 However in order to receive church ordinances such as baptism 48 and to enter church temples adherents are required to abstain from same sex relations or any sexual activity outside a legal marriage between one man and one woman 49 50 Additionally in the church s plan of salvation noncelibate gay and lesbian individuals will not be allowed in the top tier of heaven to receive exaltation unless they repent and a heterosexual marriage is a requirement for exaltation 51 52 The church previously taught that homosexuality was a curable condition 53 54 and counseled members that they could and should change their attractions and provided therapy and programs with that goal 55 56 13 19 57 377 379 From 1976 until 1989 even celibate gay people were subject to excommunication 58 16 43 57 382 422 59 139 Church publications now state that individuals do not choose to have such attractions its church run therapy services no longer provides sexual orientation change efforts and the church has no official stance on the causes of homosexuality 60 61 62 These current teachings and policies leave homosexual members with the option of potentially harmful attempts to change their sexual orientation entering a mixed orientation opposite sex marriage or living a celibate lifestyle without any sexual expression including masturbation 63 64 11 65 20 21 The LDS Church has campaigned against government recognition of same sex marriage 66 and the topic of same sex marriage has been one of the church s foremost public concerns since 1993 58 1 The church s policies and treatment of LGBT people has long been a source of controversy both within and outside the church 67 68 69 They have also been a significant cause of disagreement and disaffection by members 70 71 72 Contents 1 Adventism 2 Ancient Church of the East 3 Anglicanism including Episcopal 4 Assyrian Church of the East 5 Baptists 6 Canadian and American Reformed Churches 7 Christian Church Disciples of Christ 8 Christian Reformed Church in North America 9 Eastern Orthodox Church 10 Jehovah s Witnesses 11 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints 12 Community of Christ 13 Lutheranism 13 1 United States 13 2 Canada 13 3 Europe 13 4 Australia and New Zealand 14 Mennonite Churches 15 Methodism 15 1 Timeline of changing attitudes 15 2 Methodist Church of Great Britain 15 2 1 On Inclusion 15 2 2 On Marriage 15 2 3 On Homophobia 15 2 4 Context the 1993 Resolutions on Human Sexuality 15 3 United Methodist Church 15 4 Uniting Church in Australia 16 Metropolitan Community Church 17 Moravian Church 18 New Apostolic Church 19 Pentecostalism 20 Presbyterianism 21 Quakerism 22 Roman Catholic Church 22 1 Independent Catholic Denominations 23 Swedenborgianism 24 United Church of Canada 25 United Church of Christ 26 Uniting Church in Australia 27 United Reformed Church 28 Swiss Reformed Church 29 Vineyard Churches USA 30 Unity Church 31 Philippine Independent Church 32 Summary of denominational positions in North America Europe and Asia 32 1 Notes 33 See also 34 References 35 External linksCommunity of Christ EditThe Community of Christ officially decided to extend the sacrament of marriage to same sex couples where gay marriage is legal to provide covenant commitment ceremonies where it is not legal and to allow the ordination of people in same sex relationships to the priesthood However this is only in the United States Canada and Australia The church does have a presence in countries where homosexuality is punishable by law even death so for the protection of the members in those nations full inclusion of LGBT individuals is limited to the countries where this is not the case Individual viewpoints do vary and some congregations may be more welcoming than others Furthermore the church has proponents for support of both traditional marriage and same sex marriages The First Presidency and the Council of Twelve will need to approve policy revisions recommended by the USA National Conference 73 74 Lutheranism EditMain article Homosexuality and Lutheranism United States Edit The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the largest Lutheran church body in the United States allows for LGBTQ marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy 75 76 ELCA policy states that LGBTQ individuals are welcome and encouraged to become members and to participate in the life of the congregation 75 The ELCA has provided supplemental resources for the rite of marriage in Evangelical Lutheran Worship which use inclusive language and are suitable for use in LGBTQ marriage ceremonies 77 The group ReconcilingWorks supports the full inclusion of LGBTQ members in Lutheran churches in the ELCA and provides resources to assist ELCA congregations in becoming more welcoming communities for LGBTQ persons ReconcilingWorks recognizes ELCA congregations that have committed to embracing LGBTQ persons as Reconciling in Christ congregations 78 The current policy on LGBTQ inclusion in the ELCA developed over a period of several years During the national meeting in 2005 79 delegates voted against a measure that would have allowed non celibate gay ordination and the blessing of same sex unions by 503 against to 490 in favor On 21 August 2009 the ELCA voted 559 to 451 in favor of allowing non celibate LGBTQ persons in committed monogamous relationships to become ordained ministers 80 Another motion passed at the 2009 Assembly directed its leaders to develop a rite of blessing for same sex unions In 2013 the ELCA elected Guy Erwin as their first openly gay bishop 81 The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod LCMS the second largest Lutheran church body in the United States does not permit same sex marriage and does not ordain homosexuals The LCMS Synodical President Matthew Harrison was present to register the objections of the LCMS to the ordination of homosexuals at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2009 citation needed The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod WELS the third largest Lutheran church body in the United States does not permit same sex marriage and does not ordain homosexuals citation needed Canada Edit In 2006 Lionel Ketola became the first person in a same sex marriage to be appointed vicar intern of an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada ELCIC congregation This occurred at Newmarket Ontario 82 Later that year the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC voted to allow a local option for blessing same sex unions The national church which had previously rejected such a proposal proceeded to assert that it alone had the authority to make such a decision The National Church Council agreed in a September ruling but promised to bring forward another motion authorizing the local option for approval at the 2007 National Convention In 2011 the National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada approved a motion that allows rostered ministers to preside at or bless legal marriages according to the laws of the province within which they serve 83 Since same sex marriage was legalized in Canada in 2005 through the Civil Marriage Act 84 this permitted ELCIC clergy to bless same sex marriages This same motion also permitted the ordination of openly gay pastors and blessing of clergy in same sex relationships 85 At the same convention the ELCIC issued a statement on human sexuality This statement recognizes the diversity of sexual orientations and advocates for inclusion of all people within the church 85 Europe Edit Most Lutheran and united state churches in Germany Lutheranism s country of origin are liberal viewing homosexuality as moral and allow gay and lesbian clergy Most of the Lutheran and united churches in Germany are blessing same sex unions In general some churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany in the more rural parishes are against blessing same sex unions while most other churches do allow them 86 In 2006 the Church of Sweden allowed blessings of same sex unions and in 2009 allowed same sex marriage and the ordination of gay clergy 87 KG Hammar former Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden has been very vocal in supporting gay and lesbian Lutherans In 2009 Eva Brunne became the first lesbian woman to be elected as a bishop in the Diocese of Stockholm The Church of Iceland allows same sex marriages 88 The Lutheran Church of Norway was divided with 6 of 11 bishops accepting homosexual practice as moral even though the church officially rejects it But in 2015 the Church of Norway allowed the blessing of same sex unions 89 In 1993 lesbian Norway bishop Rosemarie Kohn was ordained She was married with Susanne Sonderbo 90 Since 2012 the Church of Denmark has allowed same sex marriages 91 However some controversy has arisen over the constitutionality of this move as the Danish Constitution requires the state church to uphold the Lutheran doctrine which states that homosexual acts are sinful The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is divided on the issue and does not approve of same sex marriages though many bishops have expressed their acceptance for homosexual unions As of October 2010 the Church of Finland allows but does not oblige its clergy to pray for same sex couples 92 The United Protestant Church of France 93 and the United Protestant Church in Belgium 94 allow the blessing of same sex marriages Australia and New Zealand Edit The Lutheran Church of Australia and Lutheran Church of New Zealand which are both closely tied reject same sex unions and affirm that homosexual acts are immoral Mennonite Churches EditThe Mennonite church has multiple LGBT affirming denominations However acceptance of LGBT Christians varies widely No Mennonite Churches in North or South America have officially endorsed same sex marriage but some have taken steps towards this practice In the Netherlands same sex marriages can be both ordained and conducted by the Mennonite Church since 2001 95 96 The Church of the Brethren Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada denominations work with the Supportive Communities Network to support the small proportion of congregations that include openly gay members This is coordinated through the Brethren Mennonite Council on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Interests with over 70 participating congregations 97 In February 2014 the Mountain States Conference of the Mennonite Church USA approved the ministerial license and ordination of an openly lesbian pastor 98 In contrast some Mennonite pastors who performed same sex unions have had their credentials revoked by their conference 99 and some within the Mennonite Church USA have had their credentials reviewed without any disciplinary actions taken 100 101 A small number of Mennonite churches have been censured or disciplined for not expelling openly homosexual members 102 The Pink Menno Campaign is a parachurch organization that advocates for the inclusion of LGBT Christians for membership marriage and ordination in Mennonite churches 103 The Welcome Committee is an ad hoc group that issued an open letter to Mennonite churches defending inclusion of LBGT members and encourages conversation in churches about the issue A vast majority of conservative Mennonite churches which practice conservative values such as head coverings and modest dress completely forbid homosexual marriage In these churches and also in their conferences homosexuality is seen as sinful Homosexual marriage is seen as a sin and against the Biblical teaching of a marriage between one man and one woman Methodism EditMain article Homosexuality and Methodism Timeline of changing attitudes Edit Since 1972 the United Methodist Church as its official position on homosexuality has maintained the Book of Discipline and has declared homosexual practice to be incompatible with Christian teaching Following the 1972 incompatibility clause other restrictions have been added at subsequent General Conferences Currently the Book of Discipline prohibits the ordination of practicing self avowed homosexuals forbids clergy from blessing or presiding over same sex unions forbids the use of UMC facilities for same sex union ceremonies and prohibits the use of Church funds for gay caucuses or other groups that promote the acceptance of homosexuality Despite this language members of the Church are not of one mind on this issue Preceding the incompatibility clause the Book of Discipline clearly states that homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth Some believe that this sacred worth clause stands in contradiction to the following statement regarding the incompatibility of homosexual practice with Christian teaching The Book of Discipline affirms that all persons both heterosexual and homosexual are included in the ministry of the church and can receive the gift of God s grace While the Book of Discipline supports the civil rights of homosexual persons and rejects the abuse of homosexuals by families and churches it also calls for laws defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman Failed efforts have been made to pass resolutions to fully include gay lesbian bisexual and transgender persons in the life of the Church 104 at General Conferences since the introduction of the incompatibility clause in 1972 delegates from annual conferences in the Northeast and on the West Coast typically vote to do so but are outnumbered by those from Southeast and Africa Some of these issues have come before the Judicial Council On 31 October 2005 the Council undertook two measures on this topic Firstly the Council upheld the revocation of Irene Elizabeth Stroud s clergy status for disclosing she is openly lesbian The council also rendered a decision allowing a Virginia pastor to deny church membership to a gay man The latter decision appeared to UMC LGBT proponents to contradict both the Constitution and membership policies of the United Methodist Church which stipulate that membership shall be open to all persons without regard to race color national origin status or economic condition The Judicial Council had previously found that the word status applies to gay lesbian bisexual and transgender persons See Decision 1020 Decision 1032 created vigorous debate on the level of autonomy individual pastors and congregations have in interpreting and applying Church doctrine Methodist Church of Great Britain Edit The Methodist Church of Great Britain Within the Methodist Church of Great Britain people have many views about human relationships sexuality and the nature and purpose of marriage On Inclusion Edit In 1993 the Methodist Conference passed six resolutions on human sexuality see below including a Resolution 6 which recognized affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbian and gay people in the Methodist Church Furthermore it called on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexual orientation In passing these resolutions the Methodist Conference made its opposition to homophobia known On Marriage Edit In 2014 the Methodist Conference 2014 reaffirmed the current Methodist Standing Orders which state the belief that marriage is a gift of God and that it is God s intention that a marriage should be a life long union in body mind and spirit of one man and one woman But at the same time recognised that since 1993 British Methodists explicitly recognised affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbians and gay men and been committed to a pilgrimage of faith to combat discrimination and give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality The Conference in 2014 confirmed that there was no reason why Methodists may not enter legally formed same sex marriage e g civil marriage or marriage in another denomination or form a civil partnership At that time and to date June 2018 this did not change the definition that the Methodist Church uses to define the intention of marriage However in 2016 the Methodist Conference set up a working group to update its Statement canons of the church on Marriage and Relationships including consideration of revising the definition of marriage including consideration of same sex marriage The task group will report to the Conference in 2018 and again no later than 2020 In 2014 the Conference clarified that whilst there is no formal Methodist liturgy or Methodist resources for the blessing of civil partnerships or same sex marriage appropriate pastoral responses may be given to same sex couples who are entering civil partnership or legal same sex marriages In other words prayers of thanksgiving or celebration may be said and there may be informal services of thanksgiving or celebration On Homophobia Edit The Methodist Church of Great Britain has issued the following definition of Homophobia which is supported by supplementary guidance Homophobia is any statement policy or action which denies the image of God in another person due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation which is treating someone in a discriminatory manner because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation Homophobic attitudes words and behaviours are inconsistent with the nature of Christian conduct and a violation of the worth and dignity of all people Homophobia can be experienced in a number of ways including Physical violence or emotional or psychological abuse including the threat of or incitement to such behaviour which may also be deemed hate crimes in law Applying stereotypes and assumptions to people based on their sexual orientation Using language that is hostile hurtful or offensive in its intent Abusive or coercive spiritual practices i e demanding or requiring repentance or participation in healing or other types of service Context the 1993 Resolutions on Human Sexuality Edit At the annual Methodist Conference in 1993 in Derby following long debate at all levels of the Church s life on the basis of a detailed report the Methodist Church considered the issues of human sexuality At the end of the debate the Conference passed in the same session a series of resolutions known as The 1993 Resolutions These resolutions are as follows The Conference affirming the joy of human sexuality as God s gift and the place of every human being within the grace of God recognises the responsibility that flows from this for us all It therefore welcomes the serious prayerful and sometimes costly consideration given to this issue by The Methodist Church All practices of sexuality which are promiscuous exploitative or demeaning in any way are unacceptable forms of behaviour and contradict God s purpose for us all A person shall not be debarred from church on the grounds of sexual orientation in itself The Conference reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Church on human sexuality namely chastity not celibacy for all outside marriage and fidelity within it The Conference directs that this affirmation is made clear to all candidates for ministry office and membership and having established this affirm that the existing procedures of our church are adequate to deal with all such cases The Conference resolves that its decision in this debate shall not be used to form the basis of a disciplinary charge against any person in relation to conduct alleged to have taken place before such decisions were made Conference recognises affirms and celebrates the participation and ministry of lesbians and gay men in the church Conference calls on the Methodist people to begin a pilgrimage of faith to combat repression and discrimination to work for justice and human rights and to give dignity and worth to people whatever their sexuality United Methodist Church Edit On May 7 2018 the Bishops in the United Methodist Church a denomination long divided on questions of LGBT equality have proposed allowing individual pastors and regional church bodies to decide whether to ordain LGBT clergy and perform same sex weddings 105 However this proposal has not been formally approved yet and will be decided between February 23 26 2019 106 107 After voting February 2019 this proposal was rejected in favor of a traditional plan which rejects gay marriage 108 The United Methodist Church UMC has a General Conference every four years to make decisions and when a decision is made they add it to the Book of Discipline From the 2016 Book of Discipline the United Methodist Church Website cites multiple decisions on homosexuality On the basis of membership all persons are eligible to attend its worship services participate in its programs receive the sacraments upon baptism be admitted as baptized members and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith become professing members in any local church in the connection 109 Regarding the ministry of the ordained the practice of homosexuality is seen as incompatible with Christian teaching Thus self identifying homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates ordained as ministers or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church 109 Also ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions are not to be conducted by our ministers nor in our churches 109 On the basis of funds the UMC does not want any of their ministries funds used or allocated to LGBTQ groups or organizations Although UMC does not want the funds to be used to condemn any such organizations either On 15 July 2016 Reverend Karen Oliveto became the first openly gay United Methodist Bishop after several annual conferences passed resolutions not to conform with any LGBT discriminatory church laws UMC Bishops are elected for life Oliveto is married to Robin Ridenour who is a deaconess in UMC 110 Uniting Church in Australia Edit In July 2018 the Uniting Church in Australia voted by national Assembly to approve the creation of official marriage rites for same sex couples 111 Metropolitan Community Church EditThe Metropolitan Community Church is an international fellowship of Christian congregations It is considered by many who to be a full mainline denomination or communion citation needed There are currently 300 congregations in 22 countries citation needed and the Fellowship has a specific outreach to lesbian gay bisexual and transgender communities citation needed Acceptance of homosexuality is an important part of its theology and the church has performed same sex marriage ceremonies since 1968 112 The Metropolitan Community Church was instrumental in the first legal challenges to the heterosexual legal definition of marriage in Ontario see Same sex marriage in Ontario Two couples used an old legal procedure called reading the banns to marry without a licence When same sex marriage was legalized in Ontario their marriages were recognized 112 113 Moravian Church EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Moravian Church declared in 1974 that gays and lesbians were full members of the Christian community In 2002 the Northern Provincial Synod placed a moratorium for the time being on further decisions about homosexuality During the 2014 Northern Province Synod they voted to permit the ordination of gay and lesbian individuals and create a ritual for solemnizing gay relationships in North America 114 In 2018 the Southern Province Synod permitted same sex clergy to marry their same sex partners 115 Currently the questions of marriage and ordination are unresolved in the other provinces in the Moravian Church New Apostolic Church EditThe New Apostolic Church does not approve of homosexual acts On the grounds of Biblical tenets and Christian tradition the New Apostolic Church does not approve of practised homosexuality It is solely for God to determine whether and to what extent a person who is absolutely confirmed in his or her homosexual disposition acquires guilt before God through the practice of his or her homosexuality In this regard it should be expressly stated that sexual disposition has no relevance in the pastoral care of our brothers and sisters Brothers and sisters who are practicing homosexuals or living in a homosexual partnership cannot carry out ministerial and teaching duties in our Church 116 Pentecostalism EditMost churches in the Pentecostal Movement view homosexual behavior as a sin The second largest Pentecostal Church in the U S the Assemblies of God makes its view clear on homosexuality in a position paper stating there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual behavior found anywhere in Scripture Rather the consistent sexual ideal is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity for those inside such a marriage There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior along with illicit heterosexual behavior is immoral and comes under the judgment of God 117 The Church of God Cleveland Tennessee similarly condemns homosexuality 118 These churches therefore oppose same sex unions gay pastors and would tend to forbid congregants who persist in homosexual practices Politically they are likely to support politicians with the same viewpoints Assemblies of God churches insist that those who engage in homosexual activity should cease such behavior as with any sin 119 The Church of God In Christ has taken similar positions which condemn homosexuality and same sex marriage There are however a minority of LGBT affirming Pentecostal churches both denominations and independent churches These include the Anointed Affirming Independent Ministries The Anthem Church was birthed out of the Pentecostal Movement and merged into an Inter Denominational Fellowship with members from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Catholic Church Episcopalian APCI GAAAP Affirming Pentecostal Church International the LDS Church the Covenant Network 120 the Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals GAAAP 121 the Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International RPI 122 and Gay Apostolic Pentecostals Some Pentecostal churches that are gay affirming base their position on research done into scripture in the original languages where they believe they find no condemnation of homosexuality 123 Presbyterianism EditMain article Homosexuality and Presbyterianism The Presbyterian Church USA is currently the only Presbyterian denomination in the United States that allows same sex marriage and ordains self affirmed LGBT members in committed relationships as teaching elders clergy and ruling elders elders elected to serve on the Session On Marriage In 2014 the Presbyterian Church USA voted to change its definition of marriage allowing its pastors to officiate same sex marriages wherever gay marriage is legal In addition by a vote of 429 175 leaders of the 1 76 million member Church voted during the biennial General Assembly in Detroit to change the denomination s Book of Order to describe marriage as being between two people A vote of the individual presbyteries began immediately after the 2014 General Assembly approval and was completed in 2015 124 125 On Ordination The PC USA approved the ordination of non celibate gays on 8 July 2010 when by a vote of 373 to 323 the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries a constitutional amendment to remove the restriction against the ordination of partnered homosexuals This action required ratification by a majority of the 173 presbyteries within 12 months for the proposed amendment to take effect 126 127 On 10 May 2011 a majority of the presbyteries voted to approve the constitutional change 128 It took effect on 10 July 2011 Until this vote denominational policy prohibited non celibate same sex relations as well as non celibate heterosexual relations outside of marriage for those serving as ministers or as elders on key church boards After rancorous debate that policy was upheld in a vote of presbyteries in 2002 but overruled in 2010 The denomination commissioned a study on the peace unity and purity of the church which found that homosexuality was not in and of itself a stumbling block to ordination The report also suggested that Presbyteries and local governing bodies be the place where case by case decisions be made on the readiness of homosexual candidates for ministry In 2008 the General Assembly sent to the presbyteries a vote to remove the wording from the constitution of the denomination that is seen as barring homosexuals from ordination G 6 106b The 2008 General Assembly also removed all precedent setting cases and authoritative interpretations concerning homosexuality since 1978 which were seen by full inclusion advocates as being stumbling blocks to ordination of homosexual individuals Other smaller American Presbyterian bodies such as the Presbyterian Church in America 129 the Evangelical Presbyterian Church 130 the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 131 the Orthodox Presbyterian Church 132 and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches 133 condemn same sex sexual behavior as incompatible with Biblical morality but believe gays and lesbians can repent and abandon the lifestyle In New Zealand the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand has debated homosexuality for many years In 1985 its General Assembly declared Homosexual acts are sinful The most recent decision of the Assembly in 2004 declared this church may not accept anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of faithful marriage between a man and a woman but added the lemma In relation to homosexuality this ruling shall not prejudice anyone who as at the date of this meeting has been accepted for training licensed ordained or inducted citation needed Many Presbyterians in New Zealand are active in the Association for Reconciling Christians and Congregations 134 an ecumenical group that supports the full inclusion and participation of all people in the Church including gay and lesbian persons In America More Light Presbyterians a coalition of gay inclusive congregations was founded in 1980 Today the organization has 194 member churches while many more informally endorse its mission to more fully welcome people of all sexualities into the life of the church 135 Quakerism EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Main article Homosexuality and Quakerism Quakers in many countries such as Australia Canada New Zealand and the United Kingdom are supportive of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people seeing this as necessary aspect of the Equality Testimony and part of historical Quaker activism against injustice and oppression Quakers in these countries have become active in the fight for equality of marriage for same sex couples and perform same sex commitment or marriage ceremonies as part of Quaker business In the United States of America the Religious Society of Friends Quakers is deeply divided on the issue The Evangelical Friends Church International and the more conservative members of Friends United Meeting consider homosexuality to be sinful but other Friends such as those in the Friends General Conference and the more progressive individuals and Monthly Meetings or Churches within Friends United Meeting strongly support equal ecclesiastical rights for gay and lesbian persons and welcome their full participation as members citation needed Hartford Connecticut Quakers as far back as 1986 issued a statement recognizing both same sex and heterosexual celebrations of marriage and in 1988 the Beacon Hill Quaker Meeting in Massachusetts also issued a statement in support of recognizing same sex marriage ceremonies In 2009 several Quaker meetings including the Twin Cities Friends Meeting St Paul and Minneapolis announced they would stop signing certificates for opposite sex marriages until same sex marriages were fully legalized Conservative Friends have differing theological stances on homosexuality Ohio Yearly Meeting of Conservative Friends defines marriage as between one man and one woman it does not sanction same sex unions or accept sexual relationships outside of marriage 136 The other two Conservative yearly meetings do accept same sex marriage 137 138 The majority 52 of Quakers live in Africa 139 They do not usually accept homosexuality for example Friends Church in Kenya condemns homosexuality 140 Kenya has more Quakers than any other country citation needed Roman Catholic Church EditMain article Homosexuality and Roman Catholicism Homosexuality is considered in the Roman Catholic Church teaching under two distinct aspects homosexuality as an orientation and homosexual sexual activity Homosexuality as an orientation is not considered sinful though is referred to in highly technical language as an objective disorder as it is seen as ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil The term disorder is used several times throughout The Catechism of the Catholic Church to reference sin in general e g venial sin sin within marriage the disorder of divorce etc All sin creates a disordering of the direction and proper ordering of nature The Church therefore recognizes that homosexuality is an innate condition in most cases not a choice and cannot be considered a sin Homosexual sexual activity however is seen as a moral disorder and homosexual acts as contrary to the natural law The same acts would be considered equally contrary to the natural law if performed by heterosexual couples They close the sexual act to the gift of life They do not proceed from a genuine effective and sexual complementary The Roman Catholic Church believes that marriage is only between one man and one woman and opposes same sex marriage at both the religious and civil levels The Church also holds that same sex unions are an unfavorable environment for children and that the legalization of such unions damages society From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation fornication pornography and homosexual practices In the film Francesco from 2020 Pope Francis supported in an interview some legal framework for homosexuals to guarantee rights such as hospital visitation and inheritance stating that that way they are legally covered I stood up for that 141 He further stated that families should not expel teenage children from home if they display a homosexual orientation saying they still have a right to a family On 9 September 2022 over 80 of German bishops at the Synodal Path supported a document calling for a re evaluation of homosexuality and for making changes to the Catechism 142 143 144 145 a Independent Catholic Denominations Edit There are a number of catholic denominations that claim an apostolic succession but have split from the historic Roman Catholic Church Acceptance of homosexuality varies between these groups but there are a few that fully support LGBT inclusion Some of these groups are the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church 147 American Catholic Church in the United States 148 American National Catholic Church 149 Catholic Apostolic Church in North America 150 Christ Communion 151 Ecumenical Catholic Communion 152 Ecumenical Catholic Church 153 Evangelical Catholic Church 154 Independent Catholic Christian Church 155 Liberal Catholic Church 154 Orthodox Catholic Church of America 156 Reformed Catholic Church 157 The National Catholic Church of America 154 and United Catholic Church 158 Swedenborgianism EditThe largest Swedenborgian denomination in North America the General Church of the New Jerusalem does not ordain gay and lesbian ministers but the oldest denomination the Swedenborgian Church of North America does Ministers in Swedenborgian Church of North America may determine individually whether or not they will marry same sex couples Ministers of the General Church of the New Jerusalem are not permitted to marry or bless any same sex couples citation needed The Lord s New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma has no official doctrine on the debate of homosexuality Personal opinions vary but respecting others and not condemning anyone is an important facet of the Lord s New Church Human freedom is necessary if men are to be led in freedom according to reason by the Lord into the life in the Lord which is freedom itself So the Church values the expression of the thoughts and feelings of all in the Church provided they are not in opposition to the Essentials and the Principles of Doctrine of the Church 159 United Church of Canada EditThe United Church of Canada the largest Protestant denomination in Canada affirms that gay and lesbian persons are welcome in the church and the ministry The resolution A That all persons regardless of their sexual orientation who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him are welcome to be or become full member of the Church B All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry was passed in 1988 This was not done however without intense debate over what was termed the issue some congregations chose to leave the church rather than support the resolution In August 2012 the governing body of the church General Council which gathers trianually to determine the leadership and direction of the church selected Rev Gary Paterson to be its moderator He is believed to be the first openly gay leader of any mainline Christian denomination anywhere in the world The church campaigned starting in 1977 to have the federal government add sexual orientation to federal non discrimination laws which was accomplished in 1996 160 The church has also engaged in activism in favour of the legalization of same sex marriage in Canada and on 20 July 2005 Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas and the first country outside Europe to legalize same sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act In 2012 Gary Paterson became first open gay moderator of United Church of Canada United Church of Christ EditThe United Church of Christ UCC was formed by the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church Its polity is such that the views of one setting of the church cannot be unwillingly forced on another church setting whether between congregations of local churches or between the upper levels of the church and individual congregations Each individual church is independent and autonomous in effect ecclesiastically sovereign 161 Thus views on many controversial matters can and do vary among congregations David Roozen director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research who has studied the United Church of Christ said surveys show the national church s pronouncements are often more liberal than the views in the pews but that its governing structure is set up to allow such disagreements 162 The United Church of Christ General Synod in 1985 passed a resolution entitled Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming 163 saying that the Fifteenth General Synod of the United Church of Christ encourages a policy of non discrimination in employment volunteer service and membership policies with regard to sexual orientation encourages associations Conferences and all related organizations to adopt a similar policy and encourages the congregations of the United Church of Christ to adopt a non discrimination policy and a Covenant of Openness and Affirmation of persons of lesbian gay and bisexual orientation within the community of faith General Synod XIV in 2003 officially added transgender persons to this declaration of full inclusion in the life and leadership of the Church In July 2005 the 25th General Synod 164 encouraged congregations to affirm equal marriage rights for all and to consider wedding policies that do not discriminate based on the gender of the couple The resolution also encouraged congregations to support legislation permitting civil same sex marriage rights By the nature of United Church of Christ polity General Synod resolutions officially speak to but not for the other settings of the denomination local congregations associations conferences and the national offices This Synod also expressed respect for those bodies within the church that disagree and called for all members to engage in serious respectful and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender Some associations permit ordination of non celibate gay clergy and some clergy and congregations are willing to perform or allow same sex marriages or union services Approximately 10 of UCC congregations have adopted an official open and affirming statement welcoming gay and lesbian persons in all aspects of church life A few congregations explicitly oppose the General Synod Equal Marriage Rights resolution an independent movement called Faithful and Welcoming Churches FWC that partly defines faithful as Faithful to the preservation of the family and to the practice and proclamation of human sexuality as God s gift for marriage between a man and a woman 165 Many congregations have no official stance these congregations de facto stances vary widely in their degree of welcome toward gay and lesbian persons The United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Archived 8 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine is one of the officially recognized Historically Underrepresented Groups in the United Church of Christ and as such has a dedicated seat on the United Church of Christ Executive Council and a number of other boards The Biblical Witness Fellowship a notable conservative renewal organization within the UCC formed in the 1970s in response to general synods opinions on the sexuality issue and has argued that there has been a deliberate and forceful attempt within the mainline church to overthrow Biblical revelation about what it means to be human particularly in the Biblical revelation of a humanity reflective of God and sexually created for heterosexual marriage and family 166 Uniting Church in Australia EditMain article Uniting Church in Australia Homosexuality The Uniting Church in Australia allows for the membership and ordination of gay and lesbian people and permits local presbyteries to ordain gay and lesbian ministers 167 and extends the local option to marriage a minister may bless a same sex marriage In July 2018 the Uniting Church in Australia voted by national Assembly to approve the creation of official marriage rites for same sex couples 111 The role of gay and lesbian people in the church their possibility of being ordained and the blessing of same sex unions have been issues debated throughout the Uniting Church s history The fairly broad consensus has been that a person s sexual orientation should not be a bar to attendance membership or participation in the church More controversial has been the issue of sexual activity by gay and lesbian people and the sexual behaviour of ordination candidates In 2003 the church voted to allow local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian people as ministers 168 Ministers were permitted to bless same sex couples entering civil unions even before same sex marriage was legalized in Australia in late 2017 169 In July 2018 the national assembly approved the creation of marriage rites for same sex couples 111 Since 1997 some ministers living in same sex relationships have come out without their ordination or ministry being challenged In 2011 the church approved the blessing of same sex unions 170 Seven years later it allowed local congregations and ministers to decide whether to perform same sex marriages and ministers may now do so 171 United Reformed Church EditA detailed report was submitted to the 2007 General Assembly of the United Reformed Church exploring its position on homosexuality 172 In 2011 The United Reformed Church in United Kingdom allowed the blessing of same sex unions 173 On 9 July 2016 the church formally voted by 240 votes to 21 in favour of allowing any local church to offer same sex marriages if it chooses to obtain a licence 174 Swiss Reformed Church EditIn August 2019 the blessing of same sex marriages is allowed in Swiss Reformed Church 175 Vineyard Churches USA EditThe United States branch of the Association of Vineyard Churches issued a statement on LGBT issues in 2014 The statement affirms marriage as a covenantal union between a man and a woman and states that outside of the boundaries of marriage the Bible calls for abstinence At the same time the statement expresses repentance for sinful stigmatization of homosexual persons and encourages the expression of grace and compassion towards all who are tempted by extramarital sex 176 Unity Church EditUnity Church issued a Statement of Diversity in 1995 which stated in part We strive for our ministries publications and programs to reach out to all who seek Unity support and spiritual growth It is imperative that our ministries and outreaches be free of discrimination on the basis of race color gender age creed religion national origin ethnicity physical disability or sexual orientation Our sincere desire is to ensure that all Unity organizations are nondiscriminatory and support diversity 177 Unity has stated on their website that Unity proudly supports the LGBTQIA community We believe everyone is divine and that every person shines with the light of God 178 While Unity does not impose formal requirements on individual Unity churches to perform same sex marriages many Unity churches do perform same sex marriages Unity performs same sex marriages at their world headquarters in Unity Village Missouri 177 Unity allows LGBTQ people to become ministers and licensed Unity teachers 177 Philippine Independent Church EditOfficially known as the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and colloquially called the Aglipayan Church an Independent Catholic and Anglo Catholic 179 denomination the church has adopted an official and binding position of inclusion and full acceptance of LGBT individuals and organizations since 2017 after the question of inclusiveness was raised in an official leadership meeting by a gay member of the church in 2014 Its youth organization wing has also repeatedly elected presidents vice presidents and executives who belong to the Filipino LGBT youth sector 180 On February 24 2023 the church ordained Wylard Wowa Ledama a transwoman to the diaconate as the church s first trans clergy 181 Summary of denominational positions in North America Europe and Asia EditThe following table summarizes various denominational practices concerning members who are currently in a homosexual relationship See also Blessing of same sex unions in Christian churches Denomination Allows homosexuals as members Ordains practicing homosexuals Blesses unions MarriesAdventist 182 No 183 No No NoAlliance of Baptists Yes Yes Yes YesAnglican Church in North America 184 No No No NoAmerican Baptist Churches USA Varies 185 No 27 No official denominational position local congregational practices may differ 27 28 No official denominational position local congregational practices may differ 27 28 Assemblies of God 119 186 No No No NoNational Baptist Convention 30 Varies No Varies VariesSouthern Baptist Convention 187 No 188 No No NoCatholic Church Yes 189 No Those with transitory homosexual tendencies must have such tendencies clearly overcome three years prior to being ordained to the diaconate No 190 NoChristian Church Disciples of Christ 33 Yes General Assembly has affirmed all orientations local regions and congregations can make their own choice Yes General Assembly has affirmed all orientations local regions and congregations can make their own choice 32 Varies Varies General Assembly does not have a stated a position on same sex marriage local regions and congregations may perform 34 Christian Reformed Church in North America 35 191 No No No NoReformed Church in America 192 Yes Varies Varies Varies decided within classes Church of God Anderson Indiana Yes No No NoChurch of the Nazarene 193 No No No NoChurch of England citation needed Yes No 194 Yes 195 NoChurch of Scotland 196 197 Yes Yes Varies YesEastern Orthodox citation needed No Weaning from the sacrament for 15 years In case of termination and repentance for 3 years 198 No 199 No NoEpiscopal Yes Yes All dioceses ordain candidates regardless of orientation A minority of bishops require celibacy others have shown an expectation that homosexual clergy should take advantage of what legal and ecclesiastical recognition is available for their unions 200 Yes YesThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints Mormons Yes 201 202 Homosexual behavior is considered sinful and may be subject to church discipline short of excommunication 203 No No NoCommunity of Christ Yes 204 Varies In nations where it is illegal even punishable by death homosexuals will not be ordained into the priesthood 73 204 Varies In nations where it is illegal even punishable by death same sex unions of any kind will not be blessed 73 Varies In nations where it is illegal even punishable by death same sex marriages will not be performed 73 205 Evangelical Covenant Church No 206 207 No 208 No 208 No 208 Evangelical Free Church of America No No No NoEvangelical Lutheran Church in America 75 Yes Yes Varies by discernment of congregation and pastor Varies in civil jurisdictions where allowable and by discernment of congregation and pastor Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 209 No No No NoEvangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 85 Yes Yes Yes YesGerman Lutheran and United Churches in Evangelical Church in Germany citation needed Yes Yes Varies Varies 210 211 Mennonite Varies Varies 212 Varies VariesUnited Methodist Church 213 Yes Varies Varies 213 214 No 213 214 Metropolitan Community Church 112 Yes Yes Yes YesUnited Pentecostal Church International 215 No No No NoEvangelical Presbyterian Church 130 No No No NoOrthodox Presbyterian Church 132 No No No NoPresbyterian Church USA 216 Yes Yes 217 Varies YesPresbyterian Church in America No 218 No 129 No 129 No 129 Religious Society of Friends Quaker citation needed Yes Varies Varies VariesUnion of Scranton Old Catholic 219 No No No NoUnion of Methodist and Waldensian Churches Italy Yes Yes Yes NoUnion of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches citation needed Yes Yes Yes NoSwedenborgian citation needed Yes Varies Varies VariesChurch of Sweden Yes Yes Yes YesChurch of Denmark Yes Yes Yes YesChurch of Iceland Yes Yes Yes YesChurch of Norway Yes Yes Yes YesEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finland Yes Yes Yes NoUnification Church 220 No No No NoUnitarian and Free Christian Churches b UK Yes Yes Yes YesUnited Church of Canada 221 222 Yes Yes Not applicable VariesUnited Church of Christ 223 Yes Yes Yes YesVineyard USA 176 No No No NoThe Wesleyan Church No No No NoRosicrucian Fellowship Esoteric Christians Undefined homosexual activity is considered sinful members are expected to eventually abstain from any sexual practice other than for procreation performed as a sacramental act 224 225 No the Fellowship does not ordain however access to Discipleship requires Generative Purity 226 No No marriage is seen as a sacrament binding man and woman the marriage service requires the presence of an ordained Minister of a Christian church 227 Unity Church 177 Yes Yes Varies VariesPhilippine Independent Church Iglesia Filipina Independiente 180 Yes 180 Yes 181 No NoNotes Edit Supporting bishops are archbishop Reinhard Marx from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising bishop Karl Heinz Wiesemann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Speyer bishop Franz Jung from Roman Catholic Diocese of Wurzburg archbishop Heiner Koch from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin archbishop Stefan Hesse from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg bishop Heinrich Timmerevers from Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden Meissen bishop Michael Gerber from Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda Gerhard Feige from Roman Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg bishop Helmut Dieser from Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen bishop Heiner Wilmer from Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim bishop Franz Josef Hermann Bode from Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabruck bishop Felix Genn from Roman Catholic Diocese of Munster bishop Georg Batzing from Roman Catholic Diocese of Limburg bishop Franz Josef Overbeck from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen bishop Stephan Ackermann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier bishop Peter Kohlgraf from Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz bishop Gebhard Furst from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg Stuttgart auxiliary bishop Josef Holtkotte from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn auxiliary bishop Karl Borsch from Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen auxiliary bishop Ludger Schepers from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen auxiliary bishop Christoph Hegge from Roman Catholic Diocese of Munster auxiliary bishop Gerhard Schneider from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg Stuttgart auxiliary bishop Karl Heinz Diez from Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda auxiliary bishop Peter Birkhofer from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg auxiliary bishop Reinhard Hauke from Roman Catholic Diocese of Erfurt auxiliary bishop Udo Bentz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz auxiliary bishop Christian Wurtz from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg auxiliary bishop Franz Josef Gebert from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier auxiliary bishop Heinz Gunter Bongartz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Hildesheim auxiliary bishop Herwig Gossel from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamberg auxiliary bishop Horst Eberlein from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg auxiliary bishop Johannes Wubbe from Roman Catholic Diocese of Osnabruck auxiliary bishop Matthaus Karrer from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg Stuttgart auxiliary bishop Matthias Konig from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn auxiliary bishop Robert Brahm from Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier auxiliary bishop Thomas Maria Renz from Roman Catholic Diocese of Rottenburg Stuttgart auxiliary bishop Ulrich Boom from Roman Catholic Diocese of Wurzburg auxiliary bishop Wilfried Theising from Roman Catholic Diocese of Munster auxiliary bishop Wilhelm Zimmermann from Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen and auxiliary bishop Wolfgang Bischof from Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Munich and Freising 146 Unitarian Universalism is not a Christian religionSee also Edit Christianity portal LGBT portalBlessing of same sex unions in Christian churches Gay bishops Homosexuality and Christianity Homosexuality and religion LGBT affirming religious groups Marriage privatization Ordination of LGBT Christian clergy Status of same sex marriageReferences Edit Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee 3 October 1999 Position Statement on Homosexuality Seventh day Adventist Church Statements Archived from the original on 23 August 2011 Retrieved 6 April 2012 About Us Ancient Church of the East Retrieved 2 February 2023 Human Sexuality Church of England Archived from the original on 23 March 2010 Retrieved 26 August 2010 BBC NEWS UK England Beds Bucks Herts Gay cleric s wedding to partner news bbc co uk August 2006 Retrieved 2 May 2017 Resolution I 10 Lambeth Conference Archives 1998 The Lambeth Conference Archived from the original on 13 July 2010 Retrieved 26 August 2010 RICHARD VARA 11 January 2008 Carey says Anglican Communion is in crisis Houston Chronicle Retrieved 26 August 2010 CofE Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain reveals he is in gay relationship BBC News 3 September 2016 Retrieved 2 May 2017 MINUTES OF THE FOURTH DAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH GENERAL SYNOD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA HELD IN SYNOD HALL WANDINY ROOM NOVOTEL TWIN WATERS RESORT MAROOCHYDORE ON THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2017 PDF Anglican Church of Australia Retrieved 16 January 2018 No sanctions against Melbourne gay marriage priests Anglican Ink 2018 c 1 June 2018 Retrieved 4 June 2018 AD Clerum Changes to the Marriage Law Scribd Retrieved 4 June 2018 Anglican Bishop s refusal to consider gay man for ordination upheld by New Zealand Human Rights Review Tribunal lawandreligionuk com Retrieved 24 July 2015 Anglican church to ordain gay deacon www gaynz com Archived from the original on 4 June 2016 Retrieved 2 May 2017 Gay priest predicts a new conservatism Otago Daily Times Online News 26 October 2009 Retrieved 2 May 2017 Saint Columba Church Services www saintcolumbas org nz Retrieved 2 May 2017 CalledSouth Liturgical Resources calledsouth org nz Retrieved 2 May 2017 Quiqcorp Anglican Taonga New Zealand s Anglican News Leader anglicantaonga org nz Retrieved 2 May 2017 Anglican Church around the world BBC News 15 July 2008 Wyatt Caroline 11 January 2016 Anglican communion s bitter divide over gay rights BBC News Retrieved 2 May 2017 Anna Morrell 6 April 2016 Same sex marriage statement The Church in Wales Archived from the original on 10 April 2016 Retrieved 2 May 2017 Canadian Anglicans to Continue Same Sex Ceremonies Even After Failed Vote Christianity Today 19 July 2019 Retrieved 29 December 2019 Southern African synod to consider blessing same sex civil unions www anglicannews org Retrieved 2 May 2017 Why This Archbishop Wept When His Church Rejected Same Sex Blessings Christian News on Christian Today www christiantoday com Retrieved 2 May 2017 Scottish Episcopal Church approves gay marriage BBC News 8 June 2017 Retrieved 29 December 2019 IEAB synod adopts same sex marriage canon Anglican Ink 2018 c 1 June 2018 Archived from the original on 5 June 2018 Retrieved 2 June 2018 HIERARCHICAL STATEMENT OF THE DIOCESAN BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESES OF THE ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST IN THE UNITED STATES Assyrian Church of the East 1 July 2015 Retrieved 1 February 2023 Southern Baptist Convention sbc net Archived from the original on 3 October 2013 Retrieved 24 July 2015 a b c d We Are American Baptists American Baptist Churches USA Archived from the original on 2 September 2009 Retrieved 21 November 2009 a b c Allen Bob 30 March 2010 Legal gay marriage pushes sexuality to forefront for churches Associated Baptist Press Archived from the original on 2 March 2012 Retrieved 26 August 2010 AWAB Mission The Association of Welcoming amp Affirming Baptists 2006 Archived from the original on 10 March 2012 Retrieved 27 August 2010 a b Salmon Jacqueline 19 August 2007 Rift Over Gay Unions Reflects Battle New to Black Churches The Washington Post Retrieved 27 August 2010 Stances of Faiths on LGBT Issues National Baptist Convention USA Inc Human Rights Campaign Retrieved 26 August 2010 a b Potts Andrew 25 July 2013 Disciples of Christ church moves to allow LGBT clergy Gay Star News Retrieved 22 January 2015 a b General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ July 2013 GA 1327 Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All PDF Christian Church Disciples of Christ Archived from the original PDF on 29 September 2013 Retrieved 22 January 2015 a b Kilen Mike 16 September 2014 Iowa women in love for 72 years finally wed The Des Moines Register Retrieved 22 January 2015 a b Homosexuality Christian Reformed Church in North America Archived from the original on 21 October 2012 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Homosexuality Reformed church in Toronto welcomes active gay l Christianity Today 9 December 2002 Retrieved 6 June 2014 Holy Synod Encyclicals Synodal Affirmations on Marriage Family Sexuality and the Sanctity of Life oca org Retrieved 24 July 2015 a b c 2013 Assembly Statement on Marriage and Sexuality assemblyofbishops org Retrieved 24 July 2015 Should Christians Hate Homosexuals Awake 13 15 8 December 1997 Homosexuality How Can I Avoid It Awake 28 30 7 July 2007 Does the Bible Comment on Same Sex Marriages The Watchtower Does God Approve of Same Sex Marriage Awake 27 8 April 2005 Same Sex Marriage LDS Church Frequently Asked Questions Mormon and Gay LDS Church October 2016 If you experience same sex attraction you may choose to use a sexual orientation label to describe yourself If you decide to openly identify as gay you should be supported Oaks Dallin H Wickman Lance B September 2006 Same Gender Attraction Newsroom Interview Transcript Interviewed by LDS Church Public Affairs staffers Salt Lake City Utah LDS Church See also the Salt Lake Tribune archived transcript here Hinckley Gordon B November 1998 What Are People Asking about Us Ensign LDS Church Worship with Us What to Expect mormon org LDS Church Archived from the original on 15 February 2019 Retrieved 2 July 2014 Gedicks Frederick Mark 31 July 2008 Church Discipline and the Regulation of Membership in the Mormon Church Ecclesiastical Law Journal Cambridge University Press 7 32 43 doi 10 1017 S0956618X00004920 S2CID 143228475 Gospel Topics Temples churchofjesuschrist org LDS Church retrieved 2 July 2014 Gospel Topics Church Disciplinary Councils churchofjesuschrist org LDS Church retrieved 2 July 2014 Beaver Michelle 11 March 2011 Mormon church has a fractured history with gays The Mercury News San Jose CA MediaNews Group Inc Bay Area News Group There are three levels to the heaven in which Mormons believe and to make it to the highest level one must be married Perhaps the most sacred church ordinance is the temple marriage a sealing between a man and a woman that is believed to be eternal according to Richley Crapo a Utah State University professor There is no place for homosexuality in Mormon marriages and no place for noncelibate homosexuals in the top level of Mormon heaven unless that person has repented accordingly in the afterlife Petrey Taylor G 4 February 2015 My Husband s Not Gay Homosexuality and the LDS Church Religion amp Politics Washington University in St Louis John C Danforth Center on Religion and Politics In the Mormon cosmos as presently understood there is simply no room for same sex relationships For Mormons the afterlife consists of heterosexual pairs of divinized men and women Often church leaders have counseled Mormons who experience same sex attraction that their unwelcome feelings will disappear in the afterlife T he very structure of heaven can only accommodate opposite sex marriages Kimball Spencer W 1969 The Miracle of Forgiveness Bookcraft ISBN 978 0 88494 192 7 Homosexuality is curable and forgivable Certainly it can be overcome T o those who say that this practice is incurable I respond How can you say the door cannot be opened until your knuckles are bloody It can be done Quoted on page 31 of Conservative Christian Identity amp Same Sex Orientation The Case of Gay Mormons Kimball Spencer W 10 July 1964 A Counselling Problem in the Church Provo Utah Brigham Young University pp 13 14 We know such a disease homosexuality is curable Understanding and Helping Those Who Have Homosexual Problems LDS Church 1992 pp 3 4 Retrieved 3 November 2016 S uch thoughts and feelings regardless of their causes can and should be overcome and sinful behavior should be eliminated Change is possible Prince Gregory A 27 September 2017 Science vs Dogma Biology Challenges the LDS Paradigm of Homosexuality PDF thc utah edu University of Utah Tanner Humanities Center Archived from the original PDF on 28 March 2019 Retrieved 21 October 2017 Video of the presentation a b Quinn D Michael 1996 Same Sex Dynamics among Nineteenth Century Americans A Mormon Example University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0252022050 a b Prince Gregory A 2019 Gay Rights and the Mormon Church Intended Actions Unintended Consequences Salt Lake City The University of Utah Press ISBN 9781607816638 Schow Ron Fall 2005 Homosexual Attractions and LDS Marriage Decisions PDF Dialogue A Journal of Mormon Thought 38 3 133 143 doi 10 2307 45227379 JSTOR 45227379 S2CID 254393745 Retrieved 18 June 2017 Love One Another A Discussion on Same Sex Attraction mormonsandgays org LDS Church 6 December 2012 Archived from the original on 6 December 2012 Jones Morgan 7 February 2018 The Weeds story is one of many stories of LGBT Latter day Saints that continue to be written Deseret News LDS Church Today LDS Family Services says it offers the following We assist individuals and families as they respond to same sex attraction Our therapists do not provide what is commonly referred to as reparative therapy or sexual orientation change efforts Interview With Elder Dallin H Oaks and Elder Lance B Wickman Same Gender Attraction Mormon Newsroom LDS Church September 2006 The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of same gender attraction Those are scientific questions Fish Jessica N Russell Stephen T August 2020 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts are Unethical and Harmful American Journal of Public Health 110 8 1113 1114 doi 10 2105 AJPH 2020 305765 PMC 7349462 PMID 32639919 With substantial evidence of serious harms associated with exposure to sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts SOGICE particularly for minors 21 states and multiple cities and counties have passed bipartisan laws or regulations prohibiting SOGICE Furthermore compared with LGBTQ youths with no exposure those exposed to SOGICE showed 1 76 times greater odds of seriously considering suicide 2 23 times greater odds of having attempted suicide and 2 54 times greater odds of multiple suicide attempts in the previous year Phillips Rick 2005 Conservative Christian Identity amp Same Sex Orientation The Case of Gay Mormons PDF Frankfurt Germany Peter Lang Publishing ISBN 978 0820474809 Archived from the original PDF on April 18 2017 Retrieved May 31 2017 Cook Bryce Summer 2017 What Do We Know of God s Will for His LGBT Children An Examination of the LDS Church s Current Position on Homosexuality Dialogue A Journal of Mormon Thought 50 2 doi 10 5406 dialjmormthou 50 2 0001 S2CID 190443414 First Presidency Statement on Same Gender Marriage LDS Church 20 October 2004 Retrieved 23 January 2015 Browning Bill 21 December 2021 Utah billionaire leaves Mormon church with blistering accusation it is actively harming the world LGBTQ Nation San Francisco Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 Retrieved 25 December 2021 Winters Rosemary 19 October 2010 Mormon apostle s words about gays spark protest The Salt Lake Tribune Retrieved 16 November 2016 Bailey Sarah Pulliam 11 November 2016 Mormon Church to exclude children of same sex couples from getting blessed and baptized until they are 18 The Washington Post Retrieved 12 November 2016 Murphy Caryle Most U S Christian groups grow more accepting of homosexuality pewresearch org Pew Research Center Retrieved 12 March 2017 Levin Sam 15 August 2016 I m not a Mormon fresh mass resignation over anti LGBT beliefs The Guardian Retrieved 11 December 2016 Hatch Heidi 13 April 2016 Millennial Mormons leaving faith at higher rate than previous generations CBS Television Sinclair Broadcast Group KUTV a b c d USA National Conference Cofchrist org 31 March 2014 Archived from the original on 1 July 2011 Retrieved 6 June 2014 USA National Conference Recommends Policy Changes PDF Community of Christ 21 April 2013 Archived from the original PDF on 12 May 2013 The 2013 USA National Conference recommends the sacrament of marriage be extended where legal in the USA to persons of the same sex gender The 2013 USA National Conference recommends allowing a 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June 2014 Jeremy Heinze Welcome holycrosslutheran ca Retrieved 24 July 2015 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 2011 July 16 The Thirteenth Biennial Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Saskatoon SK https elcic ca In Convention 2011 Saskatoon documents 2011ConventionMinutes pdf Civil Marriage Act S C 2005 c 33 https laws lois justice gc ca eng acts c 31 5 page 1 html a b c Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 17 July 2011 Delegates To 2011 ELCIC National Convention Approve Motions On Unity Same Sex Blessings And Qualifications For Ordination Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Wiedemann Dennis HuK e V Okumenische Arbeitsgruppe Homosexuelle und Kirche Retrieved 26 April 2017 Church of Sweden Service of blessing for registered partnerships PDF Archived from the original PDF on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 26 April 2017 Island Parlament einstimmig fur Ehe Offnung Retrieved 26 April 2017 Norwegens Bischofe freunden sich mit Ehe Offnung an queer de Kirken no Biskopen som vant folks hjerter October 30 2022 m b H STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft Kirchliche Trauung fur danische Lesben und Schwule Retrieved 26 April 2017 Finnish Church OKs Prayers for Gay Couples 12 November 2010 Retrieved 26 April 2017 French Protestant church authorises gay marriages RFI Archived from the original on 24 July 2015 Retrieved 24 July 2015 Verenigde Protestantse Kerk staat inzegening homohuwelijk toe holebi info holebi info Archived from the original on 30 March 2019 Retrieved 24 July 2015 Gay sticker not for all churches RNW Media Retrieved 24 July 2015 Loren L Johns Homosexuality and the Mennonite Church ljohns ambs edu Department of Theological Studies Loyola Marymount University Retrieved 24 July 2015 Supportive Communities Network List of Current Members Retrieved 12 July 2014 Clark Heather 2 January 2014 Mennonite Church USA Ordains First Openly Homosexual Pastor Christian News Network Retrieved 12 July 2014 Southeast Conference removes ministerial credential Archived from the original on 29 May 2014 Central District takes 2 part action on pastor s credentials Archived from the original on 29 July 2013 Decision not to discipline pastor stands at WDC Archived from the original on 18 June 2014 Homosexuality and bisexuality in the Mennonite churches censuring of congregations Religious Tolerance Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Retrieved 12 July 2014 MennoCon 2019 Schedule Pink Menno Campaign HOMOSEXUALITY SCHISM AND UNITY TRANSLATORS NEEDED Archived from the original on 10 October 2007 Ring Trudy 5 May 2018 Methodist Bishops Back Choice on LGBT Clergy Same Sex Marriage The Advocate Retrieved 11 June 2021 Hahn Heather 31 July 2018 LGBTQ advocates conflicted on way forward UM News Retrieved 11 June 2021 Gilbert Kathy L 30 July 2018 Plans Prayerfully Pondered by United Methodists UM News Retrieved 11 June 2021 Steele Jeremy 26 February 2019 United Methodists to Keep Traditional Marriage Stance Christianity Today Retrieved 11 June 2021 a b c What is the denomination s position on homosexuality The United Methodist Church Retrieved 11 November 2017 Communications United Methodist Western Jurisdiction elects openly gay United Methodist bishop The United Methodist Church Archived from the original on 18 July 2016 Retrieved 26 April 2017 a b c Sandeman John 13 July 2018 Uniting Church to hold same sex marriages Eternity Australia Retrieved 13 July 2018 a b c James N Birkitt Jr MCC and Marriage Equality Metropolitan Community Church Retrieved 18 August 2014 Equal Marriage Case Timeline Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto Retrieved 18 August 2014 Moravian Church Northern Province Synod approves ordination of gay and lesbian pastors Moravian org Bethlehem Pa Moravian Church 22 June 2014 Archived from the original on 3 June 2018 Retrieved 24 June 2014 Journal John Hinton Winston Salem Moravian synod will let gay clergy marry Winston Salem Journal Retrieved 21 July 2020 Position of the New Apostolic Church on Certain Issues of Sexual conduct PDF New Apostolic Church International 10 September 2014 Archived from the original PDF on 5 February 2015 Retrieved 11 June 2021 Homosexuality PDF Assemblies of God USA Archived from the original PDF on 26 June 2006 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Moral Purity Church of God International Offices Archived from the original on 11 August 2010 Retrieved 27 August 2010 a b Sexuality Homosexual Conduct Assemblies of God USA Archived from the original on 4 October 2013 Retrieved 26 August 2010 New Covenant Church of Atlanta A Covenant Network Church New Covenant Church of Atlanta Best dating worldwide lt 3 Archived from the original on 3 September 2011 Leadership Fellowship of Reconciling Pentecostals International Hope Remains Homosexuality and the Bible Hope Remains Homosexuality and the Bible Kaleem Jaweed 19 June 2014 Presbyterian Church Votes To Allow Gay Marriages Huffington Post Ford Dana 25 June 2014 Presbyterians vote to allow same sex marriage CNN CNN Retrieved 5 August 2014 PCUSA Assembly OKs Lifting Gay Ordination Ban Christianpost com 9 July 2010 Retrieved 6 June 2014 Presbyterians Approve Gay Clergy Advocate com 10 May 2011 Retrieved 24 July 2015 Goodstein Laurie 10 May 2011 Presbyterians Approve Ordination of Gay People New York Times Retrieved 24 July 2015 a b c d PCA Position Papers Assembly Actions on the Matter of Homosexuality 1996 Presbyterian Church in America Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 Retrieved 26 August 2010 a b Position Paper on Homosexuality Evangelical Presbyterian Church Archived from the original on 21 September 2010 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Stein Letita 27 February 2015 South Carolina college scrutinized for biblical stance on homosexuality Reuters Retrieved 24 July 2015 a b Orthodox Presbyterian Church opc org Retrieved 24 July 2015 A CREC Statement on Sexuality Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches 15 July 2018 Retrieved 11 June 2021 Auckland Refugee Community Coalition arcc org nz Retrieved 24 July 2015 mlp org 25 January 2012 Directory of More Light Churches amp Chapters Retrieved 11 May 2015 Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative The Book of Discipline 2018 Retrieved 6 March 2019 Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative Faith and Practice 2011 Retrieved 6 March 2019 North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative The Interim Discipline 2018 Retrieved 6 March 2019 Finding Quakers Around the World PDF Friends World Committee for Consultation Retrieved 12 June 2017 Quakers amp Homosexuality Press Statement from Friends Church Kenya Retrieved 12 June 2017 Pope Francis calls for civil union law for same sex couples in shift from Vatican stance Catholic News Agency 21 October 2020 Retrieved 21 October 2020 Coppen Luke 12 September 2022 German synodal way members back permanent synodal council The Pillar Retrieved 16 September 2022 Synodaler Weg Dokumente Schlussabstimmung Bischofe German 15 September 2022 Frankfurter Neue Presse Deutsche Katholiken wollen Neubewertung von Homosexualitat 9 September 2022 German Zeit de Deutsche Katholiken wollen Neubwertung von Homosexualitat 9 September 2022 german Synodaler Weg Namentliches Abstimmverhalten Schlussabstimmung German pdf document September 15 2022 German What We Believe The American Apostolic Old Catholic Church Retrieved 7 June 2021 The American Catholic Church in the United States Overview of the ACCUS Retrieved 7 June 2021 Beliefs American National Catholic Church Retrieved 7 June 2021 A Church Where All Are Welcome www cacina org Retrieved 7 June 2021 Our Beliefs Christ Communion Retrieved 12 October 2021 Welcome Ecumenical Catholic Communion Retrieved 11 June 2021 Iglesia Catolica Ecumenica Ecumenical Catholic Church a b c Affirming Denominations GayChurch org Retrieved 7 June 2021 Who We Are and What We Believe Independent Catholic Christian Church Retrieved 7 June 2021 Contact The Orthodox Catholic Church of America www orthodoxcatholicchurch org Retrieved 7 June 2021 Our History The Reformed Catholic Church Retrieved 7 June 2021 Articles of Association United Catholic Church Retrieved 7 June 2021 Freedom in the Church The Lord s New Church Which is Nova Hierosolyma thelordsnewchurch com Retrieved 24 July 2015 UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA AND HOMOSEXUALITY religioustolerance org Retrieved 24 July 2015 Jenkins Daniel T 9 April 2021 Congregationalism Protestant movements Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 12 March 2022 Local News The Courier Journal courier journal com The Courier Journal Retrieved 24 July 2015 United Church of Christ Archived from the original on 17 May 2008 Retrieved 22 February 2006 United Church of Christ PDF Archived from the original PDF on 10 October 2006 Retrieved 26 April 2017 United Church of Christ Retrieved 26 April 2017 Biblical Witness Fellowship Biblicalwitness org Retrieved 6 June 2014 Global Trend World s oldest Protestant churches now ordain gays and lesbians ucc org United Church of Christ Retrieved 21 April 2016 O brien Kerry Nile quits church over gay ordination decision abc net au ABC Retrieved 21 April 2016 Hiatt Bethany Uniting Church may overhaul rules of marriage au news yahoo com AU News Retrieved 21 April 2016 UnitingNetworkAustralia Archived 2011 02 18 at the Wayback Machine Uniting Church to allow same sex marriages SBS News Retrieved 13 July 2018 Moratorium on Policy Decisions on Homosexuality Document 2 PDF The United Reformed Church Archived from the original PDF on 10 October 2008 Retrieved 21 November 2007 United Reformed Church votes to host same sex civil partnerships Ekklesia ekklesia co uk 8 July 2012 Retrieved 24 July 2015 URC votes to allow the marriage of same sex couples in its churches Retrieved 26 April 2017 Kirchenbund de Rat des Kirchenbundes befurwortet die Offnung der Ehe fur gleichgeschlechtliche Paare german Archived 30 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine August 29 2018 a b Vineyard USA Executive Team August 2014 Position Paper Pastoring LGBT Persons PDF Vineyard USA pp 60 61 archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2016 a b c d Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues Unity Human Rights Campaign Retrieved 13 October 2022 LGBTQIA Communities Unity org Unity Archived from the original on 12 July 2022 Retrieved 12 July 2022 Women are called Photo of female church leaders breaks religious stereotypes Yahoo News Philippines Coconuts Manila 20 December 2022 Retrieved 21 December 2022 a b c Iglesia Filipina Independiente asks forgiveness from LGBT community extends hand with pro equality statement Outrage Magazine Outragemag com Retrieved 28 November 2018 a b Dagle Robbin M 24 February 2023 Historic revolutionary Iglesia Filipina Independiente ordains first trans woman clergy in PH Rappler Retrieved 24 February 2023 Homosexuality Adventist org 17 October 2012 Retrieved 25 July 2018 The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden Seventh Day Adventist Church Manual 17th ed Secretariat General Conference of Seventh day Adventists 2005 p 195 ISBN 0 8280 1947 9 Archived from the original on 15 October 2007 Retrieved 29 December 2007 To Be a Christian An Anglican Catechism PDF Anglican Church in North America p 60 Retrieved 26 July 2017 How else is the Seventh Commandment broken Fornication same gender sexual acts rape incest pedophilia bestiality pornography lust or any other form of self centered sexual desire and behavior all violate this law Tomlin Gregory 18 May 2006 Split among American Baptists over homosexuality is final Baptist Press Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Carl Lentz on how Hillsong Church is becoming gay welcoming without compromising their convictions 10 August 2015 Resolution On Homosexuality Southern Baptist Convention Retrieved 24 December 2007 Wright John 29 June 2009 Southern Baptist Convention severs ties with Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth Dallas Voice Archived from the original on 28 June 2009 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church The Holy See Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2005 Retrieved 9 July 2019 492 What are the principal sins against chastity Grave sins against chastity differ according to their object adultery masturbation fornication pornography prostitution rape and homosexual acts These sins are expressions of the vice of lust These kinds of acts committed against the physical and moral integrity of minors become even more grave Responsum della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede ad un dubium circa la benedizione delle unioni di persone dello stesso sesso in Italian 15 March 2021 Retrieved 11 June 2021 Alons R Bouma M De Boer C J Engelhard D H Hugen M D Oh C Y Zandstra G L 11 June 2002 Pastoral Care for Homosexual Members PDF Grand Rapids Michigan Christian Reformed Church in North America p 23 Homosexualism as explicit homosexual practice must be condemned as incompatible with obedience to the will of God as revealed in Holy Scripture a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link GENERAL SYNOD STATEMENTS HOMOSEXUALITY Reformed Reformed Church in America Retrieved 5 May 2015 Blevins Dean G Rodes Stanley J Sowden Terry S Spear James W Wilson David P eds 2017 The Covenant of Christian Conduct Human Sexuality and Marriage Kansas City Nazarene Publishing House Retrieved 26 July 2018 Because we believe that it is God s intention for our sexuality to be lived out in the covenantal union between one woman and one man we believe the practice of same sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God s will for human sexuality Roberts Rachel 30 April 2017 First married gay vicar quits as minister in institutionally homophobic Church of England The Independent London Retrieved 26 July 2018 Officially the Church forbids same sex marriage for its clergy https www churchofengland org media and news press releases prayers gods blessing same sex couples take step forward after synod fbclid IwAR0G0uKbmaI0rZJ1z9 gVoN xNLR95va40YAyy0OzNO9izpFaZxtgmWZZUY General Assembly allows ministers and deacons in same sex marriages The Church of Scotland 21 May 2016 Retrieved 26 July 2018 Same sex marriage The Church of Scotland Retrieved 13 December 2020 GOMOSEKSUALIZM www pravenc ru The Stand of the Orthodox Church on Controversial Issues goarch org 2015 Churches struggle with New York s same sex marriage law Oneidadispatch com 14 July 2011 Retrieved 6 June 2014 LDS Church dumps its controversial LGBTQ policy cites continuing revelation from God The Salt Lake Tribune Retrieved 4 April 2019 First Presidency Shares Messages From General Conference Leadership Session Mormon Newsroom 4 April 2019 Retrieved 4 April 2019 Handbook 2 Administering the Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2019 21 4 5 6 Retrieved 9 July 2019 Sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife Adultery fornication homosexual or lesbian relations and every other unholy unnatural or impure practice are sinful Members who violate the Lord s law of chastity or who influence others to do so are subject to Church discipline a b Church Administrator s Handbook PDF Independence Missouri Herald Publishing House 2005 p 84 ISBN 978 0 8309 1119 6 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Church Administrator s Handbook PDF Independence Missouri Herald Publishing House 2005 p 59 ISBN 978 0 8309 1119 6 Retrieved 26 August 2010 1996 Human Sexuality The Evangelical Covenant Church In the local church we encourage ministries to address these needs to care for persons involved in sexual sins such as adultery homosexual behavior and promiscuity compassionately recognizing the potential of these sins to take the form of addiction Shimron Yonat 28 June 2019 Evangelical denomination expels entire congregation over LGBT policy Religion News Service Retrieved 9 July 2019 The ECC s position on human sexuality states that heterosexual marriage faithfulness within marriage and abstinence outside of marriage constitute the Christian standard a b c King Tim July 2012 Retelling the Story Sojourners LCMS Views Marriage Human Sexuality The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Retrieved 8 November 2011 Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland will Homosexuelle trauen Der Spiegel 15 January 2016 via www spiegel de gleichgeschlechtliche ehe homsexuelle evangelische kirche www zeit de Archived from the original on 29 March 2019 Retrieved 9 April 2019 Clark Heather 2 January 2014 Mennonite Church USA Ordains First Openly Homosexual Pastor Christian News a b c What is the denomination s position on homosexuality The United Methodist Church Retrieved 24 June 2007 a b British Methodists reject blessing of same sex relationships The United Methodist Church Archived from the original on 23 October 2007 Retrieved 8 September 2007 Homosexuality United Pentecostal Church International Archived from the original on 16 October 2011 Retrieved 26 August 2010 Presbyterian Church U S A News amp Announcements Presbyterian Church U S A approves marriage amendment www pcusa org 17 March 2015 Retrieved 9 August 2015 Julie Bolcer Presbyterians Gay Clergy Yes Gay Marriage No Advocate com Retrieved 24 July 2015 PCA Position Papers Homosexuality 1977 Presbyterian Church in America Archived from the original on 22 January 2014 Retrieved 26 August 2010 The Declaration of Scranton Official Commentary PDF Union of Scranton 2010 Retrieved 26 July 2018 Given the clear teachings of Scripture and Tradition the Church cannot in any way approve of or condone homosexual conduct What is the Unificationist view on homosexuality and same sex marriage Family Federation for a Heavenly USA Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA Retrieved 26 July 2018 We affirm that those with same sex attraction are children of God who offer much to the world and we strive to love and understand everyone Nonetheless we consider that homosexuality is not part of God s design for us Gender and Orientation The United Church of Canada Retrieved 26 July 2018 We welcome into full membership and ministry people of all sexual orientations and gender identities lesbian gay bisexual two spirit trans queer Marriage The United Church of Canada Retrieved 26 July 2018 Congregations of the United Church are free to make their own marriage policies This reflects the wisdom which our denomination has followed since its founding in 1925 that some decisions are best made as a denomination by General Council the church s governing body and others are best made locally Marriages and worship services in general are performed under the responsibility of the local congregation s church council This means that while General Council welcomes same sex marriage same sex marriage is not offered in every United Church In Support of Equal Marriage Rights for All PDF Social Policy Statements on LGBT Concerns United Church of Christ National Bodies 25 July 2004 Retrieved 26 July 2018 For more than 30 years the General Synod of the UCC has adopted resolutions affirming lesbian gay bisexual and transgender LGBT persons consistently calling for an end to discrimination equal protection under the law deploring LGBT hate crimes and violence supporting LGBT relationships and families celebrating the gifts of LGBT persons for ministry and encouraging all settings of the church to be open and affirming of LGBT persons welcoming them and encouraging their participation in every aspect of the mission and ministry of the church Homo hetero auto or poly perverse expressions of human sexuality The Rosicrucian Fellowship Retrieved 19 March 2010 Gleanings of a Mystic 1910s The Unpardonable Sin and Lost Souls The Rosicrucian Fellowship Retrieved 19 March 2010 Letters to Students 1910s no 13 Generative Purity The Rosicrucian Fellowship Retrieved 19 March 2010 Rosicrucian Fellowship Services Solemnization of Marriage The Rosicrucian Fellowship Retrieved 9 April 2010 External links EditCatechism of the Catholic Church The Vocation to Chastity Ecumenical Group Homosexuals and Church German group Gaychurch org Global directory of affirming Christian churches The Homosexual Christian by Fr Thomas Hopko The Orthodox Research Institute 6 Views ReligiousTolerance org s list of the 6 major Christian views on homosexuality Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality amp oldid 1142966388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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