10 churches that do not pursue homosexuality
Gradually, same-sex marriage legalizes in different parts of the world. In Stockholm, Barcelona, Tel Aviv and other cities are colorful prides, and at the request of "coming out" in our tape life-affirming posts fall out. The church is also taking its steps toward accepting diversity: Pope Francis wonders "Who am I to judge gays?" and calls on Christians to apologize to homosexuals, and the Dalai Lama answers "Ok" to a question about same-sex marriage.
Of course, the church was not the first institution to catch the wave of transformations. Historically, she condemned homosexuals and considered attraction to their sex sinful. There were various reasons for this: for example, for centuries the notion was dominant in the church that only sex leading to childbirth was allowed.
Despite the fact that major religious institutions, whether it is the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) or the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), adhere to a generally conservative policy, others are opening to change. To accept LGBT people on an equal footing allows affirmative theology. It cannot be called homogeneous or singled out as an independent religious direction - the speech is rather about the adoption of the LGBT community by individual priests or churches. The degree of acceptance may be different: somewhere LGBT parishioners have the right to attend church without conditions and restrictions, somewhere same-sex couples are crowned, and homosexuals are allowed to take the rank of priest. So, the Roman Catholic Church is ready to accept homosexuals only with the condition of obligatory and peculiar celibacy: the believer homosexual is obliged to abandon same-sex relationships three years before the adoption of dignity. Of course, in this case we are not talking about full adoption.
The conservative tradition sees in the lines from Levit or in the history of Sodom and Gomorrah the affirmation of the sinfulness of homosexuality, but affirmative theologians offer an alternative. Thus, some of them believe that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality per se, but homosexual rape, temple prostitution, or certain sexual acts associated with ritual practices. US Episcopal Church priest Susan Russell argues that "using the Bible as a manual on human sexuality is meaningless to the same extent as using it as a reference book on astronomy. Those who wrote biblical texts had no idea about science that proved that the earth is round and revolves around the sun. Similarly, they had no idea about the nature of homosexuality. "
For many churches, the attitude towards LGBT is one of the most debatable. In the Russian context, the answer to it, it would seem, is unequivocal: we have very strong homophobic attitudes, and many try to find a justification for them precisely in religious precepts. The Russian Orthodox Church opposes same-sex relations, but in Russia you can also find clerics opposing homophobia and harassment. “Xenophobia, homophobic statements, all sorts of phobias are evidence primarily of non-Christians and lack of Christian love and Christian faith. This lack is also felt by the clergy,” Archpriest Georgy Mitrofanov said in an interview.
We talk about foreign examples of friendly attitude towards LGBT in the church and about Russian churches, where people, regardless of their orientation, will not be condemned.
Metropolitan Community Church
Founded in 1968, valid in 37 countries
The Metropolitan Community Church was the first to recognize the spiritual needs of the LGBT community: it always advocated marriage equality, did not reject same-sex couples and saw its mission in helping LGBT believers. Today, this Protestant church has two hundred and twenty-two communities in thirty-seven countries of the world, most of which are in America and Canada. No wonder: 59% of LGBT Americans are somehow connected with religious tradition, and 48% of them are Christians.
The church has been attacked many times because of the liberal position. Its founder, Rev. Troy Perry, conducted the first marriage ceremony of a same-sex couple in the USA in 1968 and raised the issue of legalizing such unions. These events are reflected in the movie: the church appears in the movie “Prayer for Bobby,” and the documentary “Call Me Troy” tells about the life of its founder.
United church of christ
Founded in 1957, valid in USA
In 2005, the United Church of Christ adopted a resolution allowing marriage rites for same-sex couples - it is a recommendation for parishes of the church. The United Church of Christ has long advocated the rights of the LGBT community and elevated homosexuals and transgender people; women are also allowed to serve.
In 2015, in one of the parishes of the United Church of Christ in North Carolina, the Wedgewood church, the vandals left homophobic inscriptions on the doors - clergy and parishioners painted over them, depicting a rainbow flag on the doors.
Association of Christian Eucharistic Communities
Founded in 2015, it is part of the Celtic Church of Germany, there are communities in St. Petersburg, Samara, Irkutsk and Tutaev
In Russia, you can find individual priests who host the LGBT community, communities or churches, following the catacomb tradition (that is, those who refuse to follow the official course of the church). The Association of Christian Eucharistic Communities (ACEC) officially supports LGBT: the church accepts all parishioners on an equal footing, women and homosexuals are allowed to become clergymen. In Russia, the association has five communities. Not so long ago, the church raised the question of the blessing of same-sex unions — each community made a decision for itself.
Priest Alexander Khmelev in the St. Petersburg community is ready to bless same-sex couples. Alexander moved to ACEC from the True Orthodox Church: despite the fact that there were many homosexuals in the church, the clergy were forced to hide their orientation. Alexander got tired of hiding, and in 2015, he came out in social networks.
The priest believes that the interpretation of the Bible must take into account the historical context. So, he believes that the text referred to ritual practices. “These rituals were performed without love for a partner. Moreover, they were performed by heterosexuals: they practiced same-sex sex as a ritual or punishment, abuse. In his Epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul wonders why heterosexuals didn’t practice their nature. go against its nature, whatever it was, "- said Alexander Khmelev.
Lutheran Church of Sweden
Formed about the tenth century
The Church of Sweden does not consider homosexuality to be a sin, and since 2009 has been conducting rituals for the marriage of same-sex couples. Moreover, the church admits women and homosexuals to the ministry, and the open-minded lesbian Eva Brunne serves as the bishop of the diocese of Stockholm. She participates in the prides, and as a motto when adopting the dignity of the bishop, she chose a quotation from James 2: 1, "Despite the faces." The liberal position is also characteristic of other Lutheran churches in the Scandinavian countries: same-sex couples are crowned in Denmark, Norway and Iceland.
"Nuntiare et Recreare"
Based in 2000, valid in St. Petersburg
Affirmative theology in Russia is promoted by the Christian community "The Light of the World" in Moscow and the LGBT ministry "Nuntiare et Recreare" in St. Petersburg. The "Light of the World" community holds meetings for LGBT believers of all denominations. The LGBT ministry in St. Petersburg organizes meetings, conducts trainings and workshops on issues of gender, sexuality and religion, publishes books - for example, the collection of articles "Homosexuality and Christianity in the 21st Century" - and provides psychological assistance to LGBT people: community The center cooperates with professional psychologists. They also work with the syndrome of religious trauma: many LGBT believers face serious condemnation from the church, which is fraught with psychological problems.
Nuntiare et Recreare LGBT ministry coordinator Tatyana Lekhatkova draws attention to the fact that male homosexual practices mentioned in the Bible could serve as a means of establishing hierarchy, as was the case in Mesopotamia. It was regarded as an act of humiliation. "In the history of Sodom we are talking about an act of violence. The city was condemned for pride and contempt for the poor, as written in the book of the prophet Ezekiel," - said Tatiana.
In addition to the story of Sodom, homosexual practices are mentioned in a number of Bible fragments: in Leviticus (20:13) and in the epistles of the Apostle Paul to the Romans (1: 26-27), the First Epistle to Titus (1:10) and the Corinthians (6: 9- 10), says the coordinator of "Nuntiare et Recreare". And it is important to take into account that these are letters addressed to specific people and communities - we do not know in what context and for what reason they were written, therefore we can not always appreciate their meaning.
The ministry reminds us that there have always been difficulties in translation: according to one of the versions, the very word “sodomy” is the result of a misunderstanding of the complex neologism of the apostle Paul. There are alternative translations of the phrase from the book of Leviticus, where there is no talk about homosexuality. In addition, any translator looks at the text through the optics of their culture.
“We don’t know the whole truth. Any metaphor can be revealed in different ways, so there’s no need to read the text literally. Many homosexuals find support in the stories about David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi. It’s important that these stories cause us to respond and allow to find new words to express love. Obviously, if two people love each other, they live together, take care, that is, they do everything that heterosexual couples do, it can’t be bad, because the Bible calls us to this: love , tenderness and care, "says Ta yana Lehatkova.
Evangelical Church in Germany
Formed in 1933, unites twenty regional churches
Recently, the German parliament approved a bill on same-sex marriage. The Evangelical Church of the country also recognizes monogamous homosexual unions - moreover, homosexuality is not an obstacle for the elevation of a priest.
The Evangelical Church is an association of twenty regional churches. The church does not have a single decision on the LGBT agenda, there are only recommendations for ministers who allow any form of family relations: in some lands priests can marry a same-sex couple, in other regions we are talking only about blessing, but not about a full-fledged marriage ceremony. If the priest is not ready to conduct the ceremony, he should be offered an alternative to the couple, that is, advise the pastor who will be able to marry the partners.
Apostolic Orthodox Church
Formed in 2000, there are communities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
The Apostolic Orthodox Church (OOC) follows the catacomb tradition. Bishop of the Orthodox Church, Grigory Mikhnov-Vaytenko, says that the church should accept all parishioners, without exception, regardless of skin color, political affiliation or sexual orientation. "At different times, the agenda formally included other questions: can slaves be accepted without the consent of their masters? Can a woman be accepted if the husband is against? Gradually the society and the church managed to cope with these issues. Now the LGBT agenda seems to be the most urgent. But over time, in fifty years, and this question will be solved by natural development. To exclude and repel people is always wrong. Humanity needs to get used to the idea that there is no single norm for all, "the bishop explains his position.
On the issue of same-sex marriages, the COC has not yet formed a common position, but the bishop believes that this should be done. Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko proposes to resolve this issue within the community and without government intervention.
Direct evidence of homosexuality as a crime in the Bible, he does not see. "Obviously, such a variation in human relationships has always existed, but could not be accepted by society: it was impossible to fulfill the original biblical command“ be fruitful and multiply ”in a same-sex alliance until modern reproductive technologies appeared. But I don't think the Bible should be attracted as final and irrevocable source: humanity is evolving, new technologies are emerging, and now it’s far more dangerous for me to take frivolous attitudes toward other people than sincere loyalty and strong alliance if people define their preferences as homosexual, "- believes the bishop.
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church
Was proclaimed in Ukraine in 1920, there are diocesesthroughout Ukraine, as well as the Western European Exarchate
The priest of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Jacob Krotov, speaks publicly in support of the LGBT community and condemns homophobia. Father Jacob wrote that “an example of LGBT people brilliantly reveals the inability of most Christians to understand the Holy Scriptures,” and attempts to “cure” a homosexual or prohibit “propaganda” are a fallacy. The priest points out that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality — at that time there was not even the concept itself — and argues that natural behavior cannot be sinful.
Al-Fatih Foundation and the Organization of Muslims for progressive values
Foundation established in 1998 in the USA valid in many countries of the world
Organization founded in 2007 in the USA, valid in many countries of the world
Liberal Islam believes that the basis of religion lies in tolerance and equality. The Al-Fatiha Foundation, an international Muslim LGBT organization founded by Faisal Alam, stands for the rights of homosexual Muslims and is against binary ideas about gender identity. Liberal views are shared by the Organization of Muslims for progressive values. Gradually, inclusive mosques appear in Europe: they are open to everyone, including Muslims from the LGBT community. Women are allowed to pray with men and lead prayers themselves.
The founder of a similar mosque in Berlin, Seyran Atesh, sees the goal of renewing Islam and opens the doors of the mosque to everyone without restrictions. In France, a mosque open to LGBT Muslims was founded by the homosexual imam Louis-Mohammed Zahed. True, in some countries it is risky for Muslims to support LGBT people: the Iranian mullah, who secretly held same-sex marriages, had to flee the country due to deadly threats.
Reform Judaism
Originated in Germany in the twenties of the XIX century, after which it spread to Europe and the USA
Reform Judaism is considered the most liberal and generally tolerant of homosexuality: the central conference of American rabbis recognized the marriage of a same-sex Jewish couple as possible. However, the issue of same-sex marriage and allowing a homosexual to serve as a rabbi remains at the discretion of each community. The reformist direction is also redefining the role of women: Rabare Elena Rubinstein heads the community of progressive Judaism Shaarey Shalom in St. Petersburg.
Nevertheless, the issue of same-sex marriage in Russia is still controversial. In 2006, ex-rabbi Nelly Schulman held a marriage ceremony for a lesbian couple, which caused a scandal in the Jewish environment. Even Zinovy Kogan, who was the head of the reformists at that time, did not approve of Shulman’s action.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (1, 2, 3), Sveriges Kristna Råd, Stiftung Orgelklang