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Christianity developed during the1st century AD as aJewish Christian sect and, as such, many of its views were rooted inJewish teaching. As Christianity established itself as a separate religion, with its own scriptures, some views moved away from the Jewish roots while others remained firmly grounded in Jewish tradition. The mainstream view within Christianity is that theJewish scriptures within what became known as theOld Testament, as well as passages within what became known as theNew Testament, both make clear thatsame-sex sexual behaviour issinful – an interpretation supported by the wording of certaintranslations of the Bible.[1][2]
Today, most denominations teach that homosexual behavior and acts are sinful,[2] and both theEastern Orthodox Church and theCatholic Church officially condemn homosexual activity as sin. However, some mainly liberaldenominations, churches and individuals hold views that differ from traditional interpretations and some of themainline Protestant denominations in the USA, Canada and the UK now view same-sex behaviour as equally valid and allow clergy to performsame-sex marriages.
TheHebrew Bible and its traditional interpretations in Judaism and Christianity have historically affirmed and endorsed apatriarchal andheteronormative approach towardshuman sexuality,[3][4] endorsing exclusivelypenetrative vaginal intercourse between men and women within the boundaries ofmarriage over all other forms ofhuman sexual activity,[3][4] includingautoeroticism,masturbation,oral sex,non-penetrative andnon-heterosexual sexual intercourse (all of which have been labeled as "sodomy" at various times).[5][6]
They have believed and taught that such behaviors are forbidden because they are consideredsinful,[3][4] and further compared to or derived from the behavior of the alleged residents ofSodom and Gomorrah.[3][1][7][8][9] However, the status of LGBTQ people inearly Christianity is debated.[10][11][12][13]
Thehistory of Christianity and homosexuality has been much debated with these disagreements often concerning the translations of certain phrases, or the meaning and context of somebiblical passages.[1]
The extent to which the Bible mentions the subject, whether or not it is condemned, and whether the various passages apply today, have become contentious topics in the 20th and 21st centuries. Significant debate has arisen over the proper interpretation of theLevitical code; the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah; and variousPauline passages which appear to condemn same-sex sexual activities.[1]
TheCatholic Church views as sinful any sexual act not related to procreation by a couple joined in marriage.[14][15] The Church states that "homosexual tendencies" are "objectively disordered", but does not consider the tendency itself to be sinful but rather a temptation toward sin.[14][16]
TheCatechism of the Catholic Church states that "men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies [...] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity" and that "every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."[14] The Church opposes criminal penalties against homosexuality.[17] The Catholic Church requires those who are attracted to people of the same (or opposite) sex to practisechastity, because it teaches that sexuality should only be practised within marriage, which includes chaste sex as permanent,procreative, heterosexual, and monogamous. TheVatican distinguishes between "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" and the "expression of a transitory problem", in relation to ordination to thepriesthood; saying in a2005 document that homosexual tendencies "must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate."[16]
A 2011 report based on telephone surveys of self-identified American Catholics conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 56% believe that sexual relations between two people of the same sex are not sinful.[18][19] Research indicates that the Catholic Church's teachings on sexual conduct are "a major source of conflict and distress" to LGBTQ Catholics.[20]
In January 2018, German bishopFranz-Josef Bode of theDiocese of Osnabrück, and in February 2018 German Catholic cardinalReinhard Marx, chairman of theGerman Bishops' Conference, said in interviews with German journalists thatblessing of same-sex unions is possible in Catholic churches in Germany.[21][22][23] In Austria blessing of same sex unions is performed in two churches[24] located in theRoman Catholic Diocese of Linz.[25] In 2021, theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified that same-sex civil unions cannot be blessed.[26]
On 11 March 2023, theSynodal Path with support of over 80 percentage of German Roman Catholic bishops allowed liturgical blessing ceremonies for same-sex unions in all 27 German Roman Catholic diocese.[27][28][29] A similar decision had been taken a few months earlier by the Flemish bishops of theEpiscopal Conference of Belgium.[30] Both decisions received strong condemnation by theHoly See and by conservative Catholic clergy: CardinalPietro Parolin stated that the German bishops had no authority over the issue and CardinalWim Eijk urged Flemish bishops to withdraw their decision.[31][32]
On 18 December 2023, non-liturgical blessings of same-sex couples in the documentFiducia supplicans were approved byPope Francis and published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.[33][34][35][36][37] However, "it is not a formal liturgical blessing and does not give the impression that the Catholic Church is blessing the union as if it were a marriage".[38]
TheEastern Orthodox churches condemn homosexual acts.[39] The Orthodox Church shares a long history of church teachings and canon law with the Catholic Church and has a similar conservative stance on homosexuality. Some Orthodox Church jurisdictions, such as theOrthodox Church in America, have taken the approach of welcoming people with "homosexual feelings and emotions", while encouraging them to work towards "overcoming its harmful effects in their lives", while not allowing thesacraments to people who seek to justify homosexual activity.[40][41] Other Orthodox Churches, such as those in Eastern Europe and Greece, view homosexuality less favourably. TheGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of America lists homosexuality along with fornication, adultery, and more because of the thinking that homosexuality breaks up the institution of marriage and family.[42] A 2017Pew Research Center poll found that the majority of Orthodox Christians in the Eastern European and former USSR states surveyed believe that homosexuality "should not be accepted by society"; 45% of Orthodox Christians in Greece and 31% in the United States answered the same way.[43]
In July 2022, ArchbishopElpidophoros of America baptized two babies adopted by clothing designers Evanggelos Bousis and Peter Dundas, making him the first Greek Orthodox bishop to baptize children adopted by gay couples.[44] According to the metropolitan in whose diocese the baptism took place (Antonios of Glyfada), Elpidophoros did not inform him in advance that the baptism in question was to be performed for a gay couple.[45] Metropolitan Antonios reported Elpidophoros to the Holy Synod of theChurch of Greece, which issued a formal protest to both Elpidophoros and theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.[46]
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Certain otherChristian denominations do not view monogamous same-sex relationships as sinful or immoral, and maybless such unions and consider them marriages. These include theUnited Church of Canada, thePresbyterian Church (USA), theUnited Church of Christ,[47] all German Lutheran, reformed and united churches inEKD,[48] allSwiss reformed churches, theProtestant Church in the Netherlands, theUnited Protestant Church in Belgium,[49] theUnited Protestant Church of France,[50] theChurch of Denmark, theChurch of Sweden, theChurch of Iceland, theChurch of Norway, and theUniting Church in Australia.[51] TheEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finland also allows prayer for same-sex couples.[52] TheMetropolitan Community Church was founded specifically to serve theChristian LGBTQ community. TheGlobal Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals (GAAAP) traces its roots back to 1980, making it the oldest LGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostal denomination in existence.[53] Another such organization is theAffirming Pentecostal Church International, currently the largest affirming Pentecostal organization, with churches in the US, UK, Central and South America, Europe and Africa.
LGBT-affirming denominations regard homosexuality as a natural occurrence. TheUnited Church of Christ celebratesgay marriage,[54] and some parts of theAnglican[55] andLutheran[56] churches allow for the blessing of gay unions. TheUnited Church of Canada also allows same-sex marriage, and viewssexual orientation as a gift from God. Within theAnglican Communion, there are openly gay clergy; for example,Gene Robinson is an openly gay Bishop in the US Episcopal Church. Within the Lutheran communion, there are openly gay clergy, too; for example, bishopEva Brunne is an openly lesbian bishop in theChurch of Sweden. Such religious groups and denominations interpret scripture and doctrine in a way that leads them to accept that homosexuality is morally acceptable, and a natural occurrence. For example, in 1988 theUnited Church of Canada, that country's largest Protestant denomination, affirmed that "a) All persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be or become full members of the Church;and b) All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry."[57] In 2000, the Church's General Assembly further affirmed that "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvelous diversity of creation."[58]
In addition, some Christian denominations such as theMoravian Church, believe that theBible speaks negatively of homosexual acts but, as research on the matter continues, the Moravian Church seeks to establish a policy on homosexuality and the ordination of homosexuals.[59] In 2014, Moravian Church in Europe allowedblessings of same-sex unions.[60]
Liberal Quakers, those in membership ofBritain Yearly Meeting andFriends General Conference in the US and someConservative Quaker Yearly Meetings approve of same-sex marriage and union. Quakers were the first Christian group in the United Kingdom to advocate for equal marriage andQuakers in Britain formally recognised same-sex relationships in 1963.[61][62][63]
TheUnited Methodist Church elected a lesbian bishop in 2016, and on 7 May 2018, the Council of Bishops proposed the One Church Plan, which would allow individual pastors and regional church bodies to decide whether to ordain LGBTQ clergy and perform same-sex weddings.[64] On 26 February 2019, a special session of the General Conference rejected the One Church Plan and voted to strengthen its official opposition to same-sex marriages and ordaining openly LGBTQ clergy.[65]At the 2024 General Conference, 93% of delegates voted to lift existing bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ people and the hosting of same-sex marriages.[66]
Since 1998, theAnglican Church has reassured people with same sex attraction they are loved by God and are welcomed as full members of theBody of Christ. The Church leadership has a variety of views in regard to homosexual expression and ordination. Some expressions of sexuality are considered sinful including "promiscuity, prostitution, incest, pornography, paedophilia, predatory sexual behaviour, and sadomasochism (all of which may be heterosexual and homosexual)". The Church is concerned with pressures on young people to engage sexually and encourages abstinence.[67][68]
At the 13thLambeth Conference in 1998, homosexuality was the most hotly debated issue. It was finally decided, by a vote of 526–70, to pass a resolution (1.10) calling for a "listening process" but stating (in an amendment passed by a vote of 389–190)[69] that "homosexual practice" (not necessarily orientation) is "incompatible with Scripture".[70] Reflecting on resolution 1.10 in the lead up to Lambeth 2022,Angela Tilby recalled the intervention of BishopMichael Bourke, who successfully proposed an amendment which said: "We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons".[71] Tilby considered that while the amendment had appeared inconsequential at the time, it had indeed been significant: she said that the idea of "patient listening" underpinned the Church of England's process "Living in Love and Faith".[71]
Churches withinLutheranism hold stances on the issue ranging from labeling homosexual acts as sinful, to acceptance of homosexual relationships. For example, theEthiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, the Lutheran denomination inEthiopia, and second largest non-united Lutheran denomination in the world, has taken a stand that marriage is inherently between a man and a woman, and has formally broken fellowship with the ELCA.[72][73] TheLutheran Church–Missouri Synod, theLutheran Church of Australia, and theWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod recognize homosexual behavior as intrinsically sinful and seek to minister to those who are struggling with homosexual inclinations.[56][74] However, theChurch of Sweden, theChurch of Denmark, theChurch of Norway, or Lutheran churches of theEvangelical Church in Germany conductssame-sex marriages, while theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America andEvangelical Lutheran Church in Canada opens the ministry of the church to gay pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.[75]
Somemainline Protestant denominations, such as the AfricanMethodist churches,[76][77][78][79] theReformed Church in America,[80] and thePresbyterian Church in America,[81]Christian Reformed Church in North America[82] also oppose LGBTQ relationships.
Quakers within theFriends United Meeting and theEvangelical Friends International believe that sexual relations are condoned only in marriage, which they define to be between a man and a woman.[63]
Confessional Lutheran churches teach that it is sinful to have homosexual desires, even if they do not lead to homosexual activity.[83] The Doctrinal statement issued by theWisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod states that making a distinction between homosexual orientation and the act of homosexuality is confusing:
We cannot limit the sin of homosexuality to deeds but not desires, any more than we can limit heterosexual sin to deeds but not desires. Scripture clearly includes desires and inclinations toward sinful actions in the category of sin (Mt 5:27–28). This is true of both homosexual and heterosexual sin.[84]
However, confessional Lutherans also warn againstselective morality which harshly condemns homosexuality while treating other sins more lightly.[84]
The positions of theevangelical churches are varied, according to denominations.[85][86] Some evangelical denominations have adopted neutral positions, leaving the choice to local churches to decide forsame-sex marriage.[87][88] Others strongly oppose same-sex marriage, same-sex sexual activity, and expression of gay/lesbian/bisexual identity generally.[89][90]
Some Evangelical Christians regard homosexual acts as sinful[89] and think they should not be accepted by society.[91] They tend to interpretbiblical verses on homosexual acts to mean that the heterosexual family was created by God[92] to be thebedrock of civilization and that same-sex relationships contradict God's design for marriage and is not his will.[90][93][94][95][96] Christians who oppose homosexual relationships sometimes argue that same-gender sexual activity is a sin.[97]
In opposing interpretations of the Bible that are supportive of homosexual relationships, conservative Christians have argued for the reliability of the Bible,[98][99] and the meaning of texts related to homosexual acts,[94][100] while often seeing what they call the diminishing of the authority of the Bible by many homosexual authors as being ideologically driven.[101]
As an alternative to a school-sponsoredDay of Silence opposing bullying of LGBTQ students, conservative Christians organized a Golden Rule Initiative, where they passed out cards saying "As a follower of Christ, I believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore deserve love and respect."[102] Others created aDay of Dialogue to oppose what they believe is the silencing of Christian students who make public their opposition to homosexuality.
On 29 August 2017, theCouncil on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released a manifesto on human sexuality known as the "Nashville Statement". The statement was signed by 150 evangelical leaders, and includes 14 points of belief.[103]
It is in somefundamentalist conservative positions, that there areanti-LGBT activists on TV or radio who accuse homosexual people of agay agenda and of being responsible for social problems, such as terrorism.[104][105][106][107] Fundamentalists also regularly accuse homosexuals of being responsible fornatural disasters.[108][109] Some evangelical churches inUganda,Ghana, andNigeria strongly oppose homosexuality and homosexuals as well as the LGTBQ community at large. They have campaigned for laws criminalizing homosexuality.[110][111][112]
Some churches have amoderateConservative position. They only support sexuality inmarriage between a man and a woman, but show sympathy and respect towards homosexual people.[113] Churches thus see themselves as "welcoming, but not affirming".[114][115] This expression has its origin in the bookWelcoming but Not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality published in 1998 by the AmericanBaptist theologianStanley Grenz.[116]
The French Evangelical Alliance, a member of the European Evangelical Alliance and theWorld Evangelical Alliance, adopted on 12 October 2002, through its National Council, a document entitledFoi, espérance et homosexualité ("Faith, Hope and Homosexuality"), in which homophobia, hatred and rejection of homosexuals are condemned, but which denies homosexual practices and full church membership of unrepentant homosexuals and those who approve of these practices.[117] In 2015, the Conseil national des évangéliques de France (French National Council of Evangelicals) reaffirmed its position on the issue by opposing marriage of same-sex couples, while not rejecting homosexuals, but wanting to offer them more than a blessing; an accompaniment and a welcome.[118]
The French evangelical pastor Philippe Auzenet, a chaplain of the association Oser en parler, regularly intervenes on the subject in the media. It promotes dialogue and respect, as well as sensitization in order to better understand homosexuals.[119] He also said in 2012 that Jesus would go to a gay bar, because he was going to all people with love.[120]
There are some international evangelical associations that aregay-friendly, such as theAssociation of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists andAffirming Pentecostal Church International.[121][122]
A 2014 survey reported that 43% of white evangelical American Christians between the ages of 18 and 33 supported same-sex marriage.[123] Some evangelical churches accept homosexuality and celebrate gay weddings.[124][125] The change in beliefs in favor of gay marriage in evangelical churches has certain consequences for them.[126] Various churches thus received anexcommunication from theirChristian denomination for not respecting theconfession of faith.[127] Other churches have faced significant departures of members from their congregations, seeing their financial resources diminish.[128]
Some evangelical associations have adopted neutral positions, leaving the choice to local churches to decide forsame-sex marriage.[87][88]
Most Mennonite associations hold a conservative position on homosexuality.[129]
The Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests was founded in 1976 in the US and has member churches of different associations in the US and Canada.[129]
TheMennonite Church Canada leaves the choice to each church forsame-sex marriage.[130]
TheMennonite Church in the Netherlands and theMennonite Church USA permit same-sex marriage.[131][132]
MostBaptist associations around the world hold a conservative view on homosexuality.[133]
Some Baptist associations in the United States do not have official beliefs about marriage in aconfession of faith and invokecongregationalism to leave the choice to each church to decide.[134][135] This is the case ofAmerican Baptist Churches USA,Progressive National Baptist Convention (USA),Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (USA),National Baptist Convention, USA and theBaptist Union of Great Britain.
Some Baptist associations support same-sex marriage. This is the case of theAlliance of Baptists (USA),[136] theCanadian Association for Baptist Freedoms,[137] theAliança de Batistas do Brasil,[138] theFraternidad de Iglesias Bautistas de Cuba,[139] and theAssociation of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (international).[140]
Most Pentecostal associations take a conservative stance on homosexuality.[141]
The Covenant Network was formed in 2000 inAtlanta, Georgia, United States, and allowsame-sex marriage.[142][143] According to a denomination census released in 2023, it has 18 churches in 3 countries.[144]
Restorationist churches, such asSeventh-Day Adventists, generally teach that homosexuals are 'broken' and can be 'fixed'.Jehovah's Witnesses believe that "The Bible condemns sexual activity that is not between a husband and wife, whether it is homosexual or heterosexual conduct. (1 Corinthians 6:18) [...] While the Bible disapproves of homosexual acts, it does not condone hatred of homosexuals or homophobia. Instead, Christians are directed to "respect everyone."—1 Peter 2:17,Good News Translation."[145]The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in 2015 that it officially welcomes its gay and lesbian members, if they choose sexual abstinence.[146] TheCommunity of Christ, a branch of Mormonism, fully accepts LGBTQ persons, performs weddings for gay and lesbian couples, and ordains LGBTQ members. Within the Stone-Campbell aligned restorationist churches the views are divergent. Thechurches of Christ (A Capella) and theIndependent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ mostly adhere to a conservative position on LGBTQ members and will not perform weddings for gay and lesbian couples. TheDisciples of Christ, is fully accepting of LGBTQ persons, often performs weddings for gay and lesbian couples, and ordains LGBTQ members. TheUnited Church of Christ is an officially "open and affirming" church. Other Restorationist churches such asMillerite churches, have taken mixed positions but are increasingly accepting with some of their congregations fully accepting LGBTQ persons in all aspects of religious and political life. TheSeventh-day Adventist Church maintains that homosexual sex itself is forbidden in the Bible.[147]
In the 20th century, theologians likeJürgen Moltmann,Hans Küng,John Robinson,Bishop David Jenkins,Don Cupitt, andBishop Jack Spong challenged traditional theological positions and understandings of the Bible; following these developments some have suggested that passages have been mistranslated or that they do not refer to what is in the modern day understood as "homosexuality."[citation needed] Clay Witt, a minister in theMetropolitan Community Church, explains how theologians and commentators likeJohn Shelby Spong, George Edwards and Michael England interpret injunctions against certain sexual acts as being originally intended as a means of distinguishing religious worship between Abrahamic and the surroundingpagan faiths, within which homosexual acts featured as part of idolatrous religious practices: "England argues that these prohibitions should be seen as being directed against sexual practices of fertility cult worship. As with the earlier reference from Strong's, he notes that the word 'abomination' used here is directly related to idolatry and idolatrous practices throughout the Hebrew Testament. Edwards makes a similar suggestion, observing that 'the context of the two prohibitions in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 suggest that what is opposed is not same-sex activity outside the cult, as in the modern secular sense, but within the cult identified as Canaanite'".[148]
In 1986, theEvangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus (EEWC), then known as the Evangelical Women's Caucus International, passed a resolution stating: "Whereas homosexual people are children of God, and because of the biblical mandate of Jesus Christ that we are all created equal in God's sight, and in recognition of the presence of the lesbian minority in EWCI, EWCI takes a firm stand in favor of civil rights protection for homosexual persons."[149]
Some Christians believe that Biblical passages have been mistranslated or that these passages do not refer to LGBTQ orientation as currently understood.[150] Liberal Christian scholars, like conservative Christian scholars, accept earlier versions of the texts that make up the Bible inHebrew orGreek. However, within these early texts there are many terms that modern scholars have interpreted differently from previous generations of scholars.[151][152][153] There are concerns with copying errors, forgery, and biases among the translators of later Bibles.[151][152][153] They consider some verses such as those they say supportslavery[151] or the inferior treatment of women[152] as not being valid today, and against the will of God present in the context of the Bible. They cite these issues when arguing for a change in theological views on sexual relationships to what they say is an earlier view. They differentiate among various sexual practices, treating rape, prostitution, or temple sex rituals as immoral and those within committed relationships as positive regardless ofsexual orientation. They view certain verses, which they believe refer only to homosexual rape, as not relevant to consensual homosexual relationships.[153]
Yale professorJohn Boswell has argued that a number ofEarly Christians entered into homosexual relationships,[154] and that certain Biblical figures had homosexual relationships, such asRuth and her mother-in-lawNaomi,Daniel and the court official Ashpenaz, andDavid and KingSaul's sonJonathan. Boswell has also argued thatadelphopoiesis, a rite bonding two men, was akin to a religiously sanctioned same-sex union. Having partaken in such a rite, a person was prohibited from entering into marriage or taking monastic vows, and the choreography of the service itself closely parallelled that of the marriage rite.[154][155][156] His views have not found wide acceptance, and opponents have argued that this rite sanctified aplatonic brotherly bond, not a homosexual union.[156] He also argued that condemnation of homosexuality began only in the 12th century.[157] Boswell's critics[158] point out that many earlier doctrinal sources condemn homosexuality as a sin even if they do not prescribe a specific punishment, and that Boswell's arguments are based on sources which reflected a general trend towards harsher penalties, rather than a change in doctrine, from the 12th century onwards.
Desmond Tutu, the formerAnglican Archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace Prize winner, described homophobia as a "crime against humanity" and "every bit as unjust" as apartheid:[159] "We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about; our very skins. It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. [...] We treat them [gays and lesbians] as pariahs and push them outside our communities. We make them doubt that they too are children of God – and this must be nearly the ultimate blasphemy. We blame them for what they are."[160]
Modern gay Christian leaderJustin R. Cannon promotes what he calls "Inclusive Orthodoxy" ('orthodoxy' in this sense is not to be confused with the Eastern Orthodox Church). He explains on his ministry website: "Inclusive Orthodoxy is the belief that the Church can and must be inclusive of LGBTQ individuals without sacrificing the Gospel and the Apostolic teachings of the Christian faith."[161] Cannon's ministry takes a unique and distinct approach from modern liberal Christians while still supporting homosexual relations. His ministry affirms the divine inspiration of the Bible, the authority of Tradition, and says "...that there is a place within the full life and ministry of the Christian Church for lesbian, gay,bisexual, andtransgender Christians, both those who are called to lifelong celibacy and those who are partnered."[162]
Today, many religious people are becoming more affirming of same-sex relationships, even in denominations with official stances against homosexuality. In the United States, people in denominations who are against same-sex relationships are liberalizing quickly, though not as quickly as those in more affirming groups.[163] This social change is creating tension within many denominations, and even schisms and mass walk-outs among Mormons and other conservative groups.[164]
Pope Francis voiced support for same-sex civil unions during an interview in a documentary film,Francesco, which was premiered at theRome Film Festival on 21 October 2020.[165]
Studies in the US show more LGBTQ individuals identify as Protestant than Catholic.[166][167][168]George Barna, a conservative Christian author and researcher, conducted a survey in the United States in 2009 that found gay and lesbian people having a Christian affiliation were more numerous than had been presumed. He characterized some of his leading conclusions from the data as follows:[169] "People who portray gay adults asgodless,hedonistic, Christian bashers are not working with the facts. A substantial majority of gays cite theirfaith as a central facet of their life, consider themselves to be Christian, and claim to have some type of meaningful personal commitment toJesus Christ active in their life today." Barna also found that LGBTQ people were more likely to interpret faith as an individual rather than a collective experience.[170]
Candace Chellew-Hodge, liberal Christian lesbian founder of the online magazineWhosoever, responded to the findings: "All in all, I'm grateful for Barna even wandering into the subject of gay and lesbianreligious belief. I think his study is important and can go a long way to dispelling the old "gays vs. God"dichotomy that too often gets played out in the media. However, his overall message is still harmful: Gays and lesbians are Christians – they're just not as good as straight ones."[169] She argued that Barna had formulated his report with undue irony and skepticism, and that he had failed to take into account the reasons for the data which enkindled his "arrière pensée." The reason why far fewer homosexuals attend church, she argued, is that there are far fewer churches who will accept them. Equally, gays and lesbians do not see the Bible as unequivocally true because they are forced by its use against them to read it more closely and with less credulity, leading them to note its myriadcontradictions.[169]
Organizations for homosexual Christians exist across a wide range of beliefs and traditions. The interdenominationalQ Christian Fellowship (formerly Gay Christian Network) has some members who affirm same-sex relationships and others who commit themselves to celibacy, groups it refers to as "Side A" and "Side B", respectively.[171][172] According to founderJustin Lee:
We're just trying to get people together who experience attraction to the same sex, however they have handled that, and who love Jesus and say, OK, you are welcome here, and then let's pray together and figure out where God wants us to take it.[173]
Some organizations cater exclusively to homosexual Christians who do not want to have gay sex, or attraction; the goals of these organizations vary. Some Christian groups focus on simply refraining from gay sex, such asCourage International andNorth Star.[174][175] Other groups additionally encourage gay members to reduce or eliminatesame-sex attractions.Love Won Out and the now-defunctExodus International are examples of such ministries. These groups are sometimes referred to asex-gay organizations, though many no longer use the term.Alan Chambers, the president of Exodus, says the term incorrectly implies a complete change in sexual orientation,[176] though the groupParents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays continues to use the term. In addition, individual Christians identifying as gay who want to subscribe to the conservative ethic are becoming more vocal themselves.[177]
Gay Christian writer and actorPeterson Toscano argues that organizations promoting orientation change are a "ruse".[178] An organization he co-founded, Beyond Ex-Gay, supports people who feel they have been wounded by such organizations.[179]
Other groups support or advocate for gay Christians and their relationships. For example, in the United States,IntegrityUSA represents the interests of lesbian and gay Christians in theEpiscopal Church,[180] whileUnited Methodists have theReconciling Ministries Network andevangelical Christians haveEvangelicals Concerned.[181]GracePointe Church became one of the first evangelicalmegachurches in the US to support full equality for LGBTQ people in 2015.[182][183] In 2014 theUnited Church of Christ filed a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which is America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans; theAlliance of Baptists joined the lawsuit later that year.[184][185]
In Europe, working within the worldwide Anglican Communion on a range of discrimination issues, including those of LGBTQ clergy and people in the church, isInclusive Church.[186] The longest standing groups for lesbian and gay Christians in the UK, were Quest (for LGBTQ Catholics) and Metropolitan Community Church (UK) both founded in 1973; followed in 1976 by the non-denominationalLesbian and Gay Christian Movement;[187] specifically aimed to meet the needs of lesbian and gay evangelicals, there is theEvangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians;[188] specifically working within the Church of England isChanging Attitude,[189] which also takes an international focus in working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender affirmation within the Anglican Communion.[190]
Sociologist Richard N. Pitt argues that these organizations are only available to LGBTQ members of liberal denominations, as opposed to those in conservative denominations. His review of the literature on gay Christians suggests that these organizations not only represent the interests of Christians who attend their churches, but (like gay-friendly and gay-affirming churches) also give these members useful responses to homophobic and heterosexist rhetoric. His research shows that those LGBTQ Christians who stay at homophobic churches "kill the messenger"[191] by attacking the minister's knowledge about homosexuality, personal morality, focus on sin instead of forgiveness, and motivations for preaching against homosexuality.
There is a movement of people who call themselves "gay Christians", but choose to practicecelibacy.[192][193] The movement is often positioned against both liberals and conservatives. Recognizing themselves as gay or bisexual, these people believe that their attraction to same-sex people, while present, does not allow them to have homosexual relationships. They often say that their Christian conversion did not instantly change their sexual desires. They insist that the church should always reject homosexual practices, but that it should welcome gay people.
Various Christian organizations have been involved in theex-gay movement.[194] Love in Action, founded in 1973, was the first in the US.[194] In 1976, its members foundedExodus International, a Christian organization (more specificallyProtestant andEvangelical) in theUnited States and in various countries of the world.[195] TheCatholic organizationCourage International was founded in 1980.[196]
Conversion therapies for people wishing to change sexual orientation have been associated with the movement.[197] Conversion therapy has been widely criticized and denounced by many major medical associations as pseudoscientific and harmful.[198] Studies have found that LGBTQ individuals who experienced conversion therapy reported significantly higher rates ofdepression,suicide attempts, andsubstance abuse than their peers who did not.[199][200][201]
In 2005,Baptist PastorAl Sharpton criticizedmegachurches for focusing on "bedroom morals", statements againstsame-sex marriage andabortion, by ignoring issues ofsocial justice, such as the immorality of war and the erosion ofaffirmative action.[202]
In 2015, American theologianL. Gregory Jones has criticized some Christian churches for their lack of effort to interest young people in the Christian faith in a relevant way, while putting a lot of energy into talking negatively about homosexuality, which is even more boring for young people who want to work with the whole world.[203]
[I]n later years some church fathers, such as Origen, St. Ambrose, and John Cassian, commented upon the sin of Sodom as crass inhospitality to strangers (Boswell: 98, 346). Not until the 4th century ce do church fathers consistently begin to clearly make the equation with homosexuality (Michaelson: 67).
The earliest interpretations of [the story of Sodom and Gomorrah] focused on the Sodomites' arrogance and rudeness to strangers; God killed them for incivility to his angels. The theme of sexuality [being the sin of Sodom] emerged full force in the first century BC writings of Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish historian. Rabbinical writings about Sodom generally did not mention homosexuality.
[B]y the later middle ages both the terms sodomy and 'the sin against nature' had expanded to include anything which was not heterosexual intercourse in the missionary position.
