IN THEORY:

As Episcopalians and Anglicans debate the issue of homosexuality in the church, other denominations are watching to see what they can learn as they eventually wrestle with the same questions. What lessons do you think your denomination can learn from the conflict roiling Anglicans?

Episcopalians/Anglicans like me are far from alone in this hard ball on holy ground “roiling.” Yes, it is about connections between sexuality-and-spirituality, and about American arrogance; but fundamentally this is about authority: the authority of the Bible and how meanings of Holy Scripture are discerned; who has authority to make decisions affecting others in this very human institution, the Body of Christ; and the authority of those with control in differing cultural contexts.

We will end our conflict when we acknowledge that only God is in control. My hope for others is that this is where they will begin.

(The Very Rev’d Canon) Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

In the 21st century, Judaism must rethink its former views on homosexuality and be more receptive to it.

Features of experience strike at me, as departures from even various modern patterns of decision making.

First, our former views of sexuality have become extremely more liberal. No examples need be given.

Second, the Bible has been reinterpreted constantly by rabbis throughout the ages into Jewish law, with laws and customs constantly changing.

Third, because of reason of conscience and in the spirit of accepting other people’s viewpoints, older attitudes of others once thought long ago and had even less an influence over us. An example of this would be the rising divorce rate, now widely accepted and increasing examples of inter-marriages, now considered even a life-cycle event or experience for many people.

Fourth, having opened themselves to these opinions, the reader is asked to be open to the possibility for people to live as homosexuals, live together as a couple and raise children.

Postmodern religious thought has confidence that even man can disagree sometimes with Biblical Law. It is an individual choice we all have to make for ourselves.

Rabbi Marc Rubenstein

Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach

Evangelicalism is wrestling with its foundations right now. The new evangelicals are committed to issues like the environment and social justice while still holding strong to evangelical theology.

The old guard fears that subtle movements toward these issues will mimic the church at the turn of the 20th century when the social gospel and modernist movements split Protestantism into liberal and evangelical branches.

The bottom line for all of us is the necessity of a common foundation. Denominations struggle with divergent foundations. When we hold to a common foundation, it is easier to have a conversation about these issues.

Ric Olsen

Lead Pastor

The Beacon

My congregation is both a member of the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches USA. Our denominational polity is different than the Anglican model, but we must also realize that not everyone agrees on the issue of homosexuality and the church.

The United Church of Christ has been vocal about affirming all people, especially the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community, and many of our churches are open and affirming. When the United Church of Christ passed the Equal Marriage Resolution in 2005, we lost and gained members.

It’s painful knowing that affirmation of the gay community might cause members to leave; however, the Church-inflicted pain that homosexuals have suffer is so deep that sometimes it’s worth the risk, knowing that we might be able to heal them.

Being in a faith community means living in love. We all need to learn how to love one another better, even when we disagree.

Rev. Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

Costa Mesa