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Human
Sexuality In the Company of the FaithfulThe election of Gene Robinson continues to dominate news in the international church. In an interview with the new bishop, Herb Gunn seeks to get behind the myths, to learn why Robinson stays in the church, and what he thinks of the Anglican Communion today. [posted 2/4/05] Embracing the Bastard JesusThe story of Christ's birth to an unwed mother, and the legal penalties that threatened his mother Mary, offers lessons today, writes Irene Monroe. She looks at those targeted by society: people of color and gays & lesbians, and the search for home. [posted 1/3/04] Africa and HomosexualityContrary to what some religious leaders claim, homosexuality is an integral part of African life, states Nigerian theologian Rowland ‘jide Macauley. However, gay and lesbian Africans are the subject of violent repression, and this leads to silencing and self-hatred. [posted 12/16/04]
Institution over Inspiration?In a thoughtful, critical response to the Windsor Report, Paul Marshall (Bishop of Bethlehem) expresses dismay at the church's resolute focus on saving itself. Religious movements, he notes, begin with radical disturbance of the status quo. [posted 10/19/04] Integrity Statement on the Windsor ReportIntegrity USA, the Episcopal gay and lesbian advocacy organization, issues a press release in response to the much-anticipated "Windsor Report" of the Lambeth Commission on Communion. [posted 10/18/04] What Accepting Gays & Lesbians Means for the Anglican CommunionThe shift in North American Anglicanism, with respect to the full inclusion of lesbians and gays into the church, is a form of contextual theology, argues Bill Countryman. In a submission to the Lambeth Commission, he discusses the tradition of Anglican belief & practice. [posted 10/14/04] Questioning Sexuality Through the Q'sThanks to television and other media, the word “queer” has become more common. Many people therefore believe that the “Q” at the end of “LGBTQ” stands for “queer.” Responding to readers' inquiries, Irene Monroe says sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. [posted 9/29/04]
Kicking the DogFor more than two centuries, warfare has been central to the U.S.' national identity. Now, in the midst of yet another war, the country is also tearing itself apart over same-sex marriage. William Blaine-Wallace connects the conflicts. [posted 7/26/04] Why I Decided to Solemnize Same-Sex MarriagesMassachusetts is the same-sex marriage battleground, and several local priests have taken flack for opposing their diocese's order to not get involved. Renowned justice activist Carter Heyward has led the charge, calling this a justice issue. [posted 6/11/04] No Marriage Between Black Ministers and Queer CommunityBoston has been “ground zero” in the fight over same-sex marriage. Irene Monroe analyzes why African-American ministers there, some of whom are veterans of the civil rights era, have been slow to embrace this modern liberation struggle. [posted 6/2/04] Finding Kairos in DallasThe Claiming the Blessing collaborative, a coalition of progressive Episcopalians working for an inclusive church, recently met in "hostile territory": Dallas, Texas. A statement released by the coalition reveals great hopefulness in a time of much despair in the church. [posted 6/2/04] Christian Outcasts: Dalit TheologyEarly British Christian missionaries in India were dismayed that the country's elite were uninterested in their religion. Instead, those deemed “untouchable” joined the church. Winnie Varghese outlines what this means today for a church that still prefers to avoid the powerless. [posted 5/19/04] Gay Activism in Asian and Asian-American ChurchesMedia reports have created the impression that non-Western Christians are conservative and uniformly against gay rights. But according to Kwok Pui-lan, there is a quickly growing gay movement in Asian communities, including churches. [posted 5/19/04] Homophobia's Role in Torture at Abu GhraibThe shocking images of U.S. soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners have prompted tough questions about gender and power in the military. Irene Monroe also sees evidence of entrenched homophobia, both in the Islamic culture and the Western world. [posted 5/14/04] A Bloodshed TheologyMany have criticized Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of the Christ , for its relentless images of violence. Irene Monroe directly correlates the “redemptive suffering” depicted in the film with actual present-day violence against blacks, women, and LGBT peoples. [posted 4/8/04] Faith and Dogma in a Cultural “Third World”Numerous African church leaders have recently denounced homosexuality. Sybille Ngo Nyeck contrasts their focus on “purifying” and “cultural norms” to the church's unwillingness to address sexual abuse, and argues that “tradition” is too often used to accommodate injustice. [ En Français and in English .] [posted 4/2/04] Unholy Matrimony: The Black Church & the Christian RightDuring the past month, African American ministers and conservative white Christians have proclaimed a united opposition to gay marriage. Irene Monroe analyzes this unusual alliance, and calls it the result of a lack of leadership in the Black Church. [posted 3/24/04] Destroying Marriage?The new gay marriage movement has led politicians and religious leaders to angrily denounce the practice. Peter Kreitler considers the scriptural passages being cited, and finds more cause to propose a constitutional amendment banning tattoos than one ending same-sex unions. [posted 3/11/04] Sinful Attitudes: A Response to Robert RossIn early February, conservative Paul Zahl spoke out in Alabama against the church's full inclusion of gays and lesbians. Fellow Alabaman Robert Ross authored one of several challenges to Zahl. Now Ernesto Obregon responds, and compares Ross' words to those spoken during the South's racist Jim Crow era. [posted 2/27/04] Response to President Bush's Call for a Constitutional AmendmentThe Claiming the Blessing collaborative responds to President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage: “We stand opposed to efforts to offer gay and lesbian families as sacrificial lambs on the altar of presidential politics.” [posted 2/26/04] ForgivenessIn the lectionary readings for this coming Sunday (February 22), Jesus commands us to love our enemies, and to judge not, lest we be judged. This famous passage is the subject of Carter Heyward's reflection on sin, fear, justice, and forgiveness. [posted 2/19/04] The Other Struggle in the Episcopal ChurchGreat strides forward have been made in recent months toward the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the church. But have blacks become the forgotten minority? Irene Monroe researches the plight of the last African-American Episcopal congregation on Chicago’s West Side. [posted 2/11/04] L'(Homo)érotisme chez Calixthe BeyalaA new book by Cameroonian writer Calixthe Beyala has achieved notoriety for its interplay of sexual identities and roles. Reviewer Sybille Ngo Nyeck argues that it is actually a deconstruction of sexuality, and, ultimately, a reflection of the Christian story. [In French and English.] [posted 1/29/04] A Different Kind of "Coming Out" StoryEssie Mae Washington-Williams shocked the U.S. in late 2003 by announcing that former Senator Strom Thurmond was her father. Irene Monroe writes that the story of this white segregationist/ black daughter calls us to reconsider our nation's history of sexual exploitation and sexual violence. [posted 1/21/04] The Violence Behind the Myth of Adam and EveRenowned psychologist René Girard theorizes that behind every foundational cultural myth there lies an actual incident of bloody human violence. In that context, Robert Hewitt ponders the gender wars represented by the most famous Judeo-Christian myth. [posted 1/21/04] Spiking the Punch: Jesus' Sense of HumorIn the lectionary readings for this coming Sunday (January 18), Jesus famously turns water into wine at a wedding ceremony. Louie Crew says this story shows God's sense of humor -- but also on a serious note, that this should help us reexamine modern-day beliefs about the institution of marriage. [posted 1/14/04] Homophobie et Rhétorique des Nombres: (Homophobia and the Rhetoric of Numbers)Some African Anglican leaders have harshly criticized the consecration of Gene Robinson. Sybille Ngo Nyeck from Cameroon seeks a look beneath the surface at the reasons for this harsh reaction. [In English and en Français.] [posted 12/18/03] Can We Talk . . . about Sex?Even well-meaning individuals and parishes have encountered problems when attempting to talk about sexuality in a religious context, according to Elizabeth Adams. She proposes four aspects for moving forward in the church's dialogues on human sexuality. [posted 12/17/03] The Globalisation of Anglicanism Is Rather Like the Globalisation of Many Other ThingsWriting from Britain, Peter Selby surmises that most people in the U.S. who support Gene Robinson's election as Bishop of New Hampshire also opposed their government's war on Iraq. However, he finds there to be a problematic post-colonial connection between the two concerns. [posted 12/17/03] All Flesh Shall See the Salvation of God: A Response to Doug LeBlancThe Claiming the Blessing Collaborative responds to evangelical journalist Doug LeBlanc's open letter published in the December issue of Episcopal Life. [posted 12/11/03] Alienating Anglican ModeratesAnglican bishops Drexel Gomez and Maurice Sinclair have been two of the loudest critics of the U.S. church for its recent decisions concerning women's ordination and the inclusion of gays and lesbians. John Sorensen reviews their recent book To Mend the Net. [posted 12/4/03] Fuel for the Homosexuality DebateWas one of the 12 apostles gay, asks Michael Hare Duke? The modern debates over sexuality demand that we look back at the Early Church too, and should cause us to read more closely the gospel stories and the people who wrote them. [posted 11/25/03] We Don't Understand What "Tradition and Reason" MeanAnglicans are taught at an early age that their church's practices are based on a "three-legged stool" of scripture, tradition, and reason. Carter Heyward says that the latter two aspects have always been ambiguous -- and when they are truly understood, the church will move past its current harsh Biblicism. [posted 11/16/03] "Create a Heterosexual Family" Was Not Jesus' MessageBiblical literalists like to point out the passages that oppose same-sex relationships, but Ray Gaston wonders why they don't also address those that support same-sex love. He notes that Christ himself was "no family man," and sought to create a radical community of love. [posted 11/16/03] An Incarnational Theology for the 21st CenturyAlthough it appears that the Anglican Communion is tearing apart, progressives should be wary of distancing themselves from international church leaders who are criticizing the U.S. church, Ethan Flad maintains. Now is the time to rediscover the "other." [posted 11/13/03] Black Clerics Hold Myopic View on Marriage and FamilyMany African-American pastors have stated opposition to same-sex unions. Irene Monroe calls this short-sighted, especially considering the U.S.' long and sad history of excluding blacks from civil marriage. Let's Be Precise about Using the Word "Homophobia"Phobias are a common aspect of life, notes Bill Fleener. In the church, however, he sees two current problems. One is that folks simply dislike change. The second is "heterosexism," and especially how it affects people in leadership. [posted 11/12/03] From Amistad to New HampshireIn 1839, the slave ship La Amistad sailed from Cuba to the U.S. An insurrection on board was overthrown, and a slave named Cinque was put on trial. His haunting testimony frames for Elizabeth Kaeton the incarnational power of Gene Robinson's consecration as bishop of New Hampshire. [posted 11/12/03] The Wideness in God's Mercy30 years ago, Louie Crew phoned a leading liberal Episcopal church and asked about its gay/lesbian ministry. He was laughed at. Three decades later, U.S. conservatives and some international Anglicans shun him -- yet he continues to be convinced in the transformational power of God's boundless love. [posted 11/12/03] Gene Robinson: A Debate Based on Misplaced TheologyThe debate over Gene Robinson becoming a bishop is beside the point, contends Fletcher Lowe, for it focuses on his right to ordination rather than his right to baptism. The real focus, he says, should be this first of the two great sacraments. [posted 11/12/03] The Church in the ClosetJesus Christ was "out of the closet," argues Brazilian theologian Mario Ribas -- that is, he stood outside dominant systems and challenged them. Ribas says now is time for the church to engage an "outing theology," standing up to the oppression of lesbians and gays. [posted 11/12/03] Living in a Space of ThankfulnessChrist's ministry was on society's "margins," according to Doug Theuner, the preacher at Gene Robinson's controversial consecration in New Hampshire. Irene Monroe concurs, and hopefully perceives this as an ecclesiastical paradigm shift in the church. [posted 11/12/03] Être ou Ne Pas Être Lesbienne: (To Be or Not to Be a Lesbian)West Africans love soccer — but women players find themselves victims of sexual abuse. Sybille Ngo Nyeck interviews a leading female footballer in her native Cameroon, and finds that lesbian athletes must hide their sexual identities for fear of oppression. [In English and en Français.] [posted 10/27/03] Homosexuality Does Exist in NigeriaSome African religious leaders argue that homosexuality is not native to their culture, and blame Western culture for this "export." Rowland Jide Macaulay, a Nigerian Pentecostal Christian, says that gays and lesbians do make up a significant part of his nation's population, despite these claims. [posted 10/24/04] Dealing with Conflict as AnglicansWith deepening divisions in the worldwide Anglican Communion, theologian L. William Countryman offers a historical review of "classic Anglican tradition." To those who are now threatening to leave the church, he states, "We will not sacrifice that [tradition] to satisfy you." [Originally published in July 2003 for the 74 th General Convention; Re-published online 10/9/03] An Open Letter regarding the Meeting of the Primates called by the Archbishop of Canterbury"The power of the Holy Spirit cannot be assumed." Members of the Episcopal Church Publishing Company's board of directors send a message to the Anglican Communion in advance of the controversial mid-October 2003 Primates' meeting. [posted 10/9/03] Statement of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, Integrity and concerned observers of the American Anglican Council's Convention" The AAC has made it clear that it is bent on destroying the Episcopal Church unless is can remake it in its own image," report observers to the October 7-9 meeting of conservative Episcopalians in Dallas. [posted 10/9/03] A Dissent from PittsburghThe Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh recently voted in a special convention to disassociate from the Episcopal Church's 2003 General Convention's resolutions on human sexuality. Christopher Wilkins speaks on behalf of many progressives in that diocese unhappy with its actions. [posted 10/8/03] An Open Letter to the Church from the Claiming the Blessing CollaborativeWith conservative Anglicans gathering forces to opposie the Episcopal Church's recent statements on human sexuality, the progressive Claiming the Blessing Collaborative addresses how "social issues" have been cast against "the plain truth of scripture." [posted 10/6/03] Racism Haunts Queer and Christian CommunitiesRacism is the continuing moral dilemma facing the U.S. According to Irene Monroe, it is a tragedy of biblical proportion, and the LGBT community - especially in Christian churches - will have to face it head on. [posted 10/1/03] Severing the Gordian KnotAlexander the Great allegedly severed a "Gordian knot" with one swift stroke of his sword. Elizabeth Kaeton argues that the election of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire will help the Episcopal Church to slice through its own knotty recent history. [posted 9/19/03] Recovering a Context for Debate in the ChurchThe withdrawal of Jeffrey John from his appointment as the Anglican suffragan bishop of Suffolk was international news. Chris Chivers at Westminster Abbey decries the lack of theological dialogue that led to this decision, and argues that the church must reclaim a "doctrine of the human person." [posted 8/29/03] Let the Church Say AmenEpiscopalian conservatives denounced Gene Robinson’s election as bishop of New Hampshire as a "cancer on the body of Christ." Irene Monroe opines that this cancer was having allowed homophobia to metastasize. [posted 8/29/03]
Virtual
Trickery Backfires Christian
Fundamentalism Is the Real Western Invention An
Open Letter to the Bishops of Texas Justice
Begins in the Bedroom A
Novel but Implausible Story The
Apostle Paul on Sexuality ECPC
Board Statement on the Election of Gene Robinson No
Coverage of the Violence against LGBT People of Color Chasing
the Raven and the Wren I
Am the Vine, You Are the Branches The
GOP's Problem with Christianity Reconciliation
Sought & Denied? The
Vision of Audre Lorde The
Real War America Needs to Fight A
New Hero for Black History Month President
as Pastor Is No Way to Run a Nation The
Strains of Christmas AIDS’
Troubling Gender Factor Les
Ami(e)s de la Paix Défient les Frontières Le
Tabernacle du Silence This
Is Your Wake-up Call The
Dangerous Life of the "Other" For
Black Gays, Writing is Power One
Year Later, What Have We Learned? Cardinal
Sends Kids Message of Hate Child
Sexual Abuse Is Not a Gay Issue The
Transgendered Church We,
Too, Are Patriots I
Won’t March, Don’t Ask Me Mon
Frère Gai Avait Eté Condamné a Trois Ans D’emprisonnement Silence,
Conspiracy and Lies: A Case of Arrested Development It’s
a Sin, but It’s Also a Crime Joseph,
une Courageuse Lesbienne Camerounaise The
Catholic Church Needs Its Gay Priests Let
Us Cross Over into 2002 Call
Her Jordan! Risking
Spiritual Rigor Mortis ‘Through
Prayer and Action’: The Seeds of a New Anglicanism? A
Statement of Integrity Regarding Safe and/or Welcoming Congregations Not
Exactly the Brady Bunch: A Book Review The
Opposite of Love Word
as Idol Whither
Anglo-Catholicism? General
Convention MM — the Middle Has Moved
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April
2000 Issue of The Witness
Queer
Take by Irene Monroe