Theology by the Glass - Homosexuality and the Campolo's

As I continue on my journey at St. Benedict’s Table God continually challenges notions I have on various topics. During the summer St. Bens has ‘Theology by the Glass’ a meeting of people who discuss an article sent out a couple weeks earlier. In late July, Trisha and I attended a conversation where the topic was Homosexuality took centre stage. This is particularly timely with the recent discussion by the Anglican Church of Canada’s Synod in Winnipeg. The article is a conversation between Tony and Peggy Campolo discussing their differences on this matter. To briefly summarize the article- Tony takes the view that it is unbiblical for people to engage in homosexual activity. Thus, to abstain from sexual activity is a biblical mandate. Peggy takes the opposing view of the Bible never talks about homosexuality referring to a committed, monogamous couple.

I tend to agree with Peggy. Homosexuality is something that needs to be further discussed in Christian community. Not simply quoting the few verses that name homosexuality in an attempt to end the conversation. I think the matter is complex and Christian do a poor job knowing the dynamic of this complicated topic. Peggy’s view needs to be clarified—it is a monogamous relationship, not simply any relationship. I tend to think this would also be my view on any relationship and that sex should be reserved till a couple is willing commit to fidelity in front of people who will hold them accountable.

Some interesting points of the conversation:

- That most people in our group would not leave a community if they blessed homosexual unions
- That our actions need to be taken from the ‘Red Letter Christian’ perspective. Does our words/deeds reflect what we believe are central actions of Jesus.
- That we would prefer to err in the side of grace.
- That Christians need to have open conversation about sexuality, which I believe is part of the problem. Christianity has a awful history of engaging (or not engaging) matters of sexuality.
- That it is a hard to implement Old Testament imperatives to our time. The Old Testament talks about life in a drastically different way than Jesus. One of the group members mentioned that this could be due to the Old Testament dealing with matters of forming a distinct community. That possible the language of the Old Testament needs to be better understood for its implications for the 21st century so it does not look like a mere picking and choosing of the law we deem as important.
- Once we encounter people who identify themselves as gay or lesbian, they invariably do not meet the churches depiction of them (warning: paradigm shift needs to occur).