This year at Synod, Classis Zeeland wants us to “Appoint a study committee to expand on the 1973 report and conclusions on homosexuality.” And Classis Pacific Northwest wants us to “provide pastoral advice on the issue of gay marriage.”
Now, people of God,
I know you think I’ve just invited you to write paragraph upon paragraph outlining your theological rejection of “the gay agenda.” I have not.
I know you think I’ve just invited you to write heart-wrenching stories about people you love who want to love and be committed to people of the same gender. I have not.
There is place for both of those things. In advance of our Synodical discussion, there’s only one question I want to ask you. You can answer with “yes” or “no.” You certainly won’t need more than a paragraph to justify your response. A simple question in two parts. Are you ready? (wait, that wasn’t it.)
Okay, here goes:
Has our denomination fully equipped you to live in right relationship with the gay, lesbian, transgendered and bi-sexual people in your life/family/congregation?
Has our denomination fully equipped you with a robust theology of embodiment and sexuality that calls all people – starting with ourselves – to live lives of integrity, wholeness and holiness?
That’s all I want to know. If the overwhelming answer is “Yup. We’re good. Got it covered,” then we can advise Synod to vote one way. If the overwhelming answer is “The questions today are different and more immediate than they were 40 years ago and I’m not always sure what I’m supposed to say or do or how I’m supposed to live as a result,” then we can advise Synod to vote another way.