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The Nation Is Bleeding… and We’re Still Arguing About Homosexuality |
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(The following is a speech that I plan to give on the floor of a meeting of Providence Presbytery on March 12 in Lancaster, SC. A Presbytery is a regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and each one is voting this year, as they have several times over the past 15 years, on the issue of the ordination of homosexuals.)
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so few people my age at these Presbytery meetings, and if you’ve ever wondered why it’s so difficult to attract and keep young adults in the pews of our congregations, it’s partly because of this. If you talk to young adults who don’t go to church - which is most of them - they will tell you that the church is out of touch and has its priorities mixed up.
To put it bluntly, they’re put off by all the in-fighting over issues of sexuality. It’s just not what’s most important to them. Right now, young adults in particular are struggling in this economic crisis. There are very few good jobs available for them. As a result, record numbers are moving back in with their parents, and there is a growing sense of anger and frustration that they might never get the opportunities at starting real careers that people in older generations took for granted. Many feel that they have done everything they were told they needed to do in order to be successful, but are finding that jobs in fast food and retail are their only viable options.
It’s a huge problem that is out there that will have many unforeseen repercussions, but in large part we’re missing it - because we’ve lost this generation of Americans who have come to believe that the church is outdated and irrelevant. To many young adults, all the church cares about is who is sleeping with whom, and even though we all know that the church is about a lot more than that, that’s largely the perception that is out there.
And of course, it’s not just young adults who are interested in hearing more than that from the church. The whole nation is struggling. The whole nation is worried. The whole nation is scared. In the coming months and years, we are going to see physical and spiritual needs that outstrip every program, ministry, and institution that we have worked so hard to build. In many ways, people are going to be looking not just for assistance, but for a new vision of what life in America could and should be like. The church is in a prime position to help provide that vision.
But right now, what does the world see when it looks at the church? A few weeks ago, I was watching the local news. There were a number of stories about the economic crisis - layoffs, foreclosures, rising costs - story after story about good, hard-working people having their lives devastated. And then, just before the commercial break, came the teaser for the next segment. It was about Charlotte Presbytery’s vote on the same issue. It said, “Presbyterians vote on gay pastors.” The nation is bleeding. And we’re still arguing about homosexuality.
So far at today’s meeting, we have seen vigorous debate from both sides of the gay ordination fight. But we’ve heard little or no mention of the economic crisis. Shouldn’t it be the main thing, if not the only thing, that we’re talking about? Especially since we’re one of the most affluent denominations?
Therefore, I’m abstaining from this vote as the only way I know how to protest what I and most of my generation feels is a denomination that has lost touch. And after the vote is done, I will make a motion that we as a Presbytery agree not to debate the matter of gay ordination for at least four years, and that we make the economic crisis a top priority on each agenda during the years 2009 and 2010. Thank you.”
This is a brilliant piece. I am not at all religious, but it is true that in these very difficult times, spirituality and the search for answers from things outside ourselves is comforting and necessary. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing how your speech is received.
Why can’t religion preach love and tolerance? I think that all our youth are more educated in schools and able to research the world via the Internet that they are evaluating what is true and false more accurately.
Hey Jim, Young adults don’t expect us to change the economy, they DO expect us to help them make sense of their world. I’m a PCUSA pastor at a small rural church who will be voting at a Presbytery meeting too. For me, this IS an issue of justice that young adults are increasingly scrutinizing us about. To 20/30somethings, gay people are simply part of their fabric: in schools, work, in our families– and our church. Young adults are put off not so much by controversy as by the church’s hypocrisy @ equality of all folks before God. We continually preach the liberation of men/women, black/white, rich/poor… but then the church goes ape when gay and lesbian folks have the ‘audacity’ to feel spiritually gifted by God and respond to that call of the Holy Spirit.
And while we’re talking about youth and young adults, it makes me really angry that the PCUSA talks about the GIFT of sexuality yet has completely derogated her responsibility to give gay and lesbian young adults any guidance for their lives other than screaming “Don’t touch down there!!!!” and slamming the church door in their faces. Yeah, like that’s going to help GenX/Y/Z and their friends to learn that that God loves them and the PCUSA cares for them and has a place for them. Is it any freakin’ wonder that these young people and all their friends completely eschew the church?
No, Jim. To abstain from voting on 08-B on ‘high moral principles’ is simply avoidance with a watery smile. I know that you’ve known wonderful gay and lesbian seminarians, professors and staff (We went to the same seminary). Chances are that your congregation may not be as far along as you are in understanding GLBTs are God’s people too, but that’s why you’re their leader. So lead them, Moses! Dare to help them move across the sea of their fear and I guarantee that you’ll open gifts among them that you never dreamt were there.
I respect your position, but I don’t feel called at this time to lead my congregation into a church-splitting war over the gay ordination issue, which is what would happen if I tried to do what you want me to do. That time might well come in the future, but right now I feel called to help them respond to the deepening economic and spiritual needs relating to this looming depression. My calling is not your calling, a lesson in ministry that I am still trying to learn.
You’re SO right our nation is bleeding and all we seem to care about is this precieved ‘right’ to sleep with whom ever we want. The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a SIN. So why are we even arguing about this. The nation IS bleeding, there have been over 51 million abortions in the US alone, the divorce rate is through the roof and as high if not higher in the church. And while a magority of Americans would call themselves Christians so few can clearly articulate the Gospel and even fewer share it.
But who cares about those things… we should have our eyes on the prize. What really matters is our jobs, our wallets and our sexual pleasure. Its just like what the Bible says, “What should it profit a man to gain the whole world but loose his soul.” (Mark 8:36, Matt 16:26)No… wait… thats kindda the opposite of what your saying. Well fine we should be focus on that spiritual stuff but we’re not supposed to go forcing that on other people. We should just mind our own business just like Jesus said in the great commission, “…teach them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) No… guess I was wrong again.
Feed the poor, improve the economy, find jobs for everyone and you just make the world a much nicer place from which to go to hell. But if you share the law with them… like that one that homosexuality is a sin, someone might just get saved. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” (Gal 2:24)
Think that by ordaining homosexuals that you will fill your empty pews?
Go ask the Episcopal Church…