Susan, your comments about the 'steadfast commitment to biblical scholarship ', are pretty much without foundation. The HSR's use of Scripture is one of its weakest components. The idea that 'God created the woman so that the man (or they together) could fulfill God's command to be fruitful and multiply is one example. Here's why. The stated reason in the text of Genesis is that 'it is not good for the man to be alone. Second, the words 'be fruitful and multiply...' are not a command but a blessing. (those of us who were blessed to be taught by Dr. John Stek should all remember this). Finally, it would be really strange of God to command human procreation and expect obedience when the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Hannah and Elkanah, Jacob and Rachel, Zechariah and Elizabeth, not to mention the explicit teaching of Psalm 127 make the point that no humans, not even a married heterosexual couple can conceive a baby without the direct blessing and gift of God.
Further, with respect to the level of scholarship in the HSR, the world leading scholar on sexuality in Judaism and early Christianity Dr. William Loader, an expert the report itself refers to, calls any approach that labels sexual minority people as experiencing their particular sexuality as, 'fallen, broken, or distorted is, to quote Loader, "cruel". There are other examples, too many to cite.
Finally, I question the pastoral nature of the report. Right after it acknowledges that respect for the pronouns of choice of a trans person directly impacts the person's mental health and reduces suicidality, the HSR says that a council or congregation may choose whether or not to honor pronouns of choice.
So, Susan, I respectfully disagree with your perspective. I listen to the report of those sexual minority people I have met in the course of my work as an inner city chaplain, as well as those I know personally. And, I believe the strong and consistent teaching of the Bible, that all children are a gift of God.
Posted in: Whose Report Do You Believe?
Susan, your comments about the 'steadfast commitment to biblical scholarship ', are pretty much without foundation. The HSR's use of Scripture is one of its weakest components. The idea that 'God created the woman so that the man (or they together) could fulfill God's command to be fruitful and multiply is one example. Here's why. The stated reason in the text of Genesis is that 'it is not good for the man to be alone. Second, the words 'be fruitful and multiply...' are not a command but a blessing. (those of us who were blessed to be taught by Dr. John Stek should all remember this). Finally, it would be really strange of God to command human procreation and expect obedience when the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Hannah and Elkanah, Jacob and Rachel, Zechariah and Elizabeth, not to mention the explicit teaching of Psalm 127 make the point that no humans, not even a married heterosexual couple can conceive a baby without the direct blessing and gift of God.
Further, with respect to the level of scholarship in the HSR, the world leading scholar on sexuality in Judaism and early Christianity Dr. William Loader, an expert the report itself refers to, calls any approach that labels sexual minority people as experiencing their particular sexuality as, 'fallen, broken, or distorted is, to quote Loader, "cruel". There are other examples, too many to cite.
Finally, I question the pastoral nature of the report. Right after it acknowledges that respect for the pronouns of choice of a trans person directly impacts the person's mental health and reduces suicidality, the HSR says that a council or congregation may choose whether or not to honor pronouns of choice.
So, Susan, I respectfully disagree with your perspective. I listen to the report of those sexual minority people I have met in the course of my work as an inner city chaplain, as well as those I know personally. And, I believe the strong and consistent teaching of the Bible, that all children are a gift of God.