MWR : Proposal for sexuality and church

Last updated November 24.

Send letters to the editor, or suggestions for our stories or Web site, to MWR‘s editors.

July 6, 2009 issue

Proposal for sexuality and church

By Richard A. Kauffman Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Although given the opportunity to do so, I did not sign the “Open Letter to Mennonite Church USA,” which called the church to a stance of radical hospitality toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (April 6).

Nevertheless, I think it is time for MC USA to enter a new phase in dealing with this contentious issue. I propose the following:

MC USA would continue to affirm its current stance on homosexuality as the official teaching position of the church.
MC USA would formally acknowledge that we’re not in agreement about this stance and that people of good faith with high views of Scripture can have honest differences about how to interpret and apply Scripture on this issue.
For missional purposes, MC USA would allow congregations to depart in practice from this teaching of the church, with the understanding that congregations and pastors who welcome gays in covenantal, monogamous relationships would not be disciplined and that such congregations would honor and uphold the official teaching of the MC USA that marriage is for one man and one woman for life.

Without diluting the gospel, the church always has had to engage in missionary accommodation, from the early church not requiring Gentile believers to be circumcised to Mennonite mission agencies not requiring the same dress standards on the mission field or conferences allowing mission congregations to accept divorced members long before that grace was extended in “home congregations.” Context does matter: the issue of circumcision certainly looked different to the elders in Jerusalem compared to the apostles on the Gentile missionary front; and the issue of homosexuality looks different to people working in urban and university environments compared to more traditional Mennonite settings.

Comments

This is a perfect example of why me and many others are leaving the Mennonite Church. It is no wonder our membership is declining. What happened to right and wrong. Isn't anything black and white anymore. God have mercy on the Mennonite Church.

- Lloyd Yoder (jun 28 at 4:47 p.m.)
Mr. Kauffman is a member of the congregation that so recently and painfully bungled its effort to be inclusive to my partner and me. The horrendous end result lingers on dividing the remaining congregants in a wake of great pain. Having personally witnessed and participated in the debacle, I believe Mr. Kauffman's suggestions are sincere and noteworthy. They are cautious baby steps to be sure, but steps nonetheless. MC USA can continue to paralyze this movement forward, but it will not succeed. What will surely happen is more collateral damage. This issue is no different than the civil rights movement. This issue will win out because it is social justice...perhaps the last hold out, but social justice none the less. I am glad to see Richard Kauffman putting this suggestion forward. It is time we stop being silent and negative and time we started truly inviting everyone to the table as Jesus, himself did over and over again. Thank you Richard for posting this article.

- Naomi Pridjian (jul 21 at 12:59 p.m.)
While I am no longer a member of Mennonite Church USA (I was a pastor of a welcoming, but excommunicated church), I trust my comments are still welcomed. I still follow some aspects of denominational life. Richard Kauffman's suggestion at least begins a process which may open MCUSA to the recognition that the church doesn't forever have to be against social justice. The last sentence, however, needs correction - the contentious issue of what many folks like to call the "homosexuality" issue is not limited to urban and university settings. Marginalized persons are everywhere and have been given many labels. Some attend your churches; others have already left, not because things are no longer "black or white" (things never were that simple, my friend, but what has that to do with justice?)as one reader says, but because the church has lost its ability to "welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you." Kauffman's proposal would be strengthened with an appeal to Scripture, as Romans 14-15 eloquently teaches.

- Richard J Lichty (jul 21 at 2:49 p.m.)

Comment on the article Proposal for sexuality and church

The purpose of comments is to engage in dialogue. We expect commenters to treat authors and each other as each would want to be treated. Respectful criticism is welcomed; offensive comments or parts of comments will be removed by the site administrator. Name and comment will be posted; email address is for follow-up only and will not be made public.