LGBTQ WITHIN THE ORDER
The Australian Church of Antioch’s position on, Lesbian Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender
This article is intended to set out the philosophy and beliefs of the Australian Church of Antioch regarding sexual preferences. I will be talking about the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBTQ+). It seems rather ironic that so many so-called Christians have a hang up about same-sex relationships. Many fail to see beyond their bigoted reactions against (LGBTQ+). Is it to cover up their own insecurities within their sexuality or just plain ignorant and bigoted? We are not aware of any time that the Scriptures, (or any other teachings for that matter), have informed us that our Master Jesus asked anyone if they were honest, of what religion, creed, sex, race, or morals, before giving them blessings. If the Lord Jesus did not do this, then who has this right of judgment when our Master Jesus felt he had not that right? What hypocrites we would show ourselves to be if we pursue our thinking and actions in this direction, yet we read of this quite often, much to the shame of leaders within the mainstream Church. St Paul’s comments in Romans 1: 26-29, is frequently quoted but those with influence do not acknowledge that he was speaking to a people who were expecting the return of the Christed One in their own time. The time of St Paul was an age of unabashed vice and anti-social sin, a period of unspeakable moral decadence. He was writing the letter to the Romans of AD 56-57, and we need to remember he was sent to destroy the church until his conversion, so his knowledge of the Old Testament was very much ground into his teaching, not only as a Jew but in his conversion. It should also be remembered that his world was different in many ways. Many LGBTQ+ Christians in same-sex relationships are more stable and long-lasting than many heterosexual couples. They do not dethrone God or abandon him as many of the churches have abandoned the LGBTQ+. They are more committed to the life of the Christed One who has called them and give more time and become more involved in the ministry of the church. Unfortunately, there are those bigoted Christians who think they have been called by God and given the right to condemn, degrade, dehumanise and admonish LGBTQ+ Christians as if God Himself has made them His Judge on Earth. In his book [1]“The Marriage of Likeness – Same-sex Unions in pre-modern Europe” (a very scholarly work), John Boswell points out that at the Council of Trent (which the Roman Catholic church state that all decisions made were infallible) shows there were marriage rituals in the churches for homosexual males, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgender. These were offered by ALL the traditions as genuine services for their churches. The Popes have also stated that the decisions made at the Council of Trent were infallible and were all ratified by all denominations present as correct. So why do they deny same-sex relationships and cut them from the sacraments? We are constantly reminded in the Gospels that unless we are totally sinless and pure as Jesus and Mary were, then we should be ready for the time Jesus shall judge us – he tells us in Matthew Chapter 7 Verse 1: “Judge not, that you should be judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”. It is interesting to note also, that none of the Gospel writers mention Jesus condemning same-sex relationships – so if the Christed One doesn’t condemn then why does Paul? Paul, a leading Jewish scholar and teacher, knows the Old Testament law and one would expect him (as a late follower and not being privy to Jesus’ teaching with the Apostles) to have the same bigoted feeling towards the LGBTQ+ of his day; and today there is still that same concept that being LGBTQ+ is such a sin deserving death, annihilation in some religions. Some members of the traditional church even deny the scientific fact that they have been able to identify the “Gay Gene” found in their DNA – so they deny that LGBTQ+ are gay from birth and it is not a choice but a fact of life. Too often we hear the statement “These people choose to live this lifestyle.” This is nothing but complete and utter rubbish. These people are not like this by choice. There is a reason for this because, according to the Australian Church of Antioch, it is a Karmic one and NOT by choice as some people seem to think, and we are not qualified to comment on these situations because it is between the Lord of Karma and the individuals concerned. However, the human race has moved on since St Paul’s Day, our ideas are of love and faithfulness to one’s partner. It is time for all churches and governments to make changes and rid religious organisations once and for all from discriminating against those who are LGBTQ+. In his book [2]“God has a dream – A vision of hope for our time”; the Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes: - ‘God just wants us to love each other. Many, however, say that some kinds of love are better than others, condemning the love of gays and lesbians. But whether a man loves a woman or a man, or a woman loves a man or another woman, to God it is all love, and God smiles whenever we recognise our need for one another.” (page 47-48). We laud Archbishop Tutu’s thinking and lament that not all Christian church leaders share his thoughts. However, within the Australian Church of Antioch, we hold the same view as Archbishop Tutu. We see all of God’s children as worthy of love, regardless of sexuality; and we welcome all of God’s children to receive the sacraments of the church. Our request to congregants is simple: come forward for communion from our Holy Altars with the appropriate reverence for the sacraments. We also welcome all God’s children to full membership of our church, and if they are called to Holy Orders, to ordination within the church, and to consecration to bishop, and to Archbishop if elected by the Synod of Bishops. Our Clergy are not authorised to turn away any member of the congregation on discriminatory grounds, and may even be defrocked for discrimination. It is difficult to think that a loving God would create people, give them faith, and then turn them away from the faith because of their sexuality. There are many views today about variations in sexuality. We believe that all come into this world to learn, and the karmic lessons we are presented in life may be based on any number of human characteristics, including sexuality. So to anyone critical of the lessons another human being is working on, we simply recall what Jesus tells us in Matthew's Gospel, “Judge not, lest you be judged.”. By the Most Revd. Glenn W Clark. (D.D; LCMD; FCMD; L dip A (Aust); Hon SCSM;ANZM; ANZT. Archbishop of Tasmania and Dean of St Michaels Divinity School. And The Most Revd. Frank Buggé (D.D). Presiding Archprime of the Australian Church of Antioch. Further Information. “God has a dream – A vision of hope for our time” by Desmond Tutu; ISBN 0-385 -48371-6 Copyright 2004.published by Doubleday a division of Random House Inc. Printed in USA. Desmond Tutu has long been admired throughout the world for the heroism and grace he exhibited while encouraging countless South Africans in their struggle for Human Rights. In God has a dream, his most soul-searching book, he shares the spiritual message that guided him through those troubled times. Drawing on personal and historical examples, Archbishop Tutu reaches our to readers of all religious backgrounds, showing how individual and global suffering can be transformed into joy and redemption. “The Marriage of Likeness – Same-sex Unions in pre-modern Europe” by John Boswell: ISBN 0-00-255508-5. Printed in Great Britain by Harper Collins Manufacturing- Glasgow. John Boswell is a historian who has shown a gift for moving into controversial territory and lighting up dark corners of prejudice. He is careful throughout this book to stress that his responsibility is to the record of the past, not the agenda of the present, but his concern with same-sex unions’ rings with contemporary special pleading in a time of emergency. He offers a historical precedent – nothing less than the blessing of the church – for male coupling.” (Marina Warner – New York Times). [1] “The Marriage of Likeness – Same-sex Unions in pre-modern Europe” by John Boswell: ISBN 0-00-255508-5. Printed in Great Britain by Harper Collins Manufacturing- Glasgow. [2] “God has a dream – A vision of hope for our time” by Desmond Tutu; ISBN 0-385 -48371-6 Copyright 2004.published by Doubleday a division of Random House Inc. Printed in USA |
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