SDA Kinship - Connection - March 2008

connection The Journal of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. March 2008 Vol. 32 No. 2We are delighted to announce that Christianity and Homosexuality:Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives is at the printers thismonth and will be available for distribution!! This Christianity And Homosexuality Some Seventh-day Adventist PerspectivesCHhormisotsieaxnuitaylityAndSome Seventh-day Adventist Perspectivescollaboration between Adventist Forum and SDAKinship International has been more than by David Ferguson, Fritz Guy and David Larsontwo years in the making. InJanuary 2006 many Edited thought leaders,Seventh DayAdventistInTtThhaehesyissiohtbpawoIreoianAlnksetgdtoatihrvhsroieenmmcefjnehuCwytgytdshihhiatseofSrsyetstiiworerusoPfivtnctlomfiaieeharflgrununeiWsauefnt’cspBehs,ndhgefe.p-duteslirdcrcrffftoertatooaturosrami.tdoyptrlsvhmnafiyimtehTetdanAoliiseohlnnodct!mceCdhuegdnihymvnerIhiseuiatnTegrmarfnbPrangeshinchtritransprsl.t,eahodaiostliadasTvcciosnstrdfwaacfoteipaewhduriiblttnt.rraisteooifhnoitifiislrmdLpmnnaottoIeiioia’yqbzltidegnorsakulGeuoCnietsgusanm.rsbha.Fe.ordirdoihndngefesipkdoIseeIsuadwHmsdnbarrLpIVriptlwmhDteitnosiaesHehifCfilo’ethanHtnrvutlaaesinlaingrrocevraorhtsisslisydeeuoyasediaianlstsemirmvaoseunnmcfgnogiihe,vlJKlslssgeweortodhntmueeIaGyie.otavfaaostnastiveusoasabnrhesadioeetulrsoroIh,esmnuomeoynxondetosoRxiRorenauosdmeptecchaifoCfdcwmcioelakdaolwoagfiomcoeooilChldehrsnsfutdihoifnstnosaeA’orgsetoehsrhcottseameficiynsnooisridsahewsoxllmoho:dshddcdtmwltyismrCuuhua,necohaeiilrSotdulneraaleooririapnaniutlocltecantcsslfrilumehpjticniisemsbnhnodteotatnispSweloetait.drodyrspuuhttieginrmrocmgtiyltmwhnasraayholoeFtraalinSiinosctoeoiafoidnainodigaBavieesttd.ointnnrsgdtinei.ntniAyveoaeethttaregnoohnsh.wiednoncfntawFtdeon.ttino,wondhittAoivoPtovnnhfitlPhmweevlenhrbuleherddgelerromorenrs-ednoemveeodsdmpprgetnaideswebsdlisoameoeraauIipoasntrpuaLdrnyhrsrtnmtategtSssbhmeeaeoisedoiadcnoiopslriie.’BnmreebgesamtnestsstAsTfNshdcihctoacoFoltrAooetetttsaioncuorhi,itrnmviu9rcysogreatoayiuhehtf7gteeloonhsmlaiaslhH8irwfesotedknoaosar-eweoboedftvwsnabofwo0reeedsuaPkurhol-vyusenlcieesokrl.mew9ndooregenstdwfl6msfhgphL,teaeyft7aaiaerehelsccns3nlcCaotttditbbre6asawou,deeen9mtnrh5eehdeAwos4an1perftot-sidho9rhntfgaevol2r9otorudeet-se5dhennea6iitsssticatshhogmeirrlli,e-peets.hwoefith theologians, educators 9 780967 369426 US $19.95 and administrators met in Ontario, California to hear papers presented on several facets of how the Seventh- day Adventist Church deals with sexual orientation. The goal was the creation of this tool to be shared wherever there is need and interest. Thousands of hours of writing, negotiations, editing,proofing, organizing writers, finding printers, developing cover art, shippingout contracts, researching people who might find this book helpful, building mailinglists, fundraising and many tasks too numerous to list have been spent. The result is a miracle of muchhard work and Heavenly intervention. Because most of the original papers were synopsized in theFebruary, March and April 2006 issues of the Connection we’re only including some short excerpts inthis issue to further whet your appetite. We’re also including some reactions of people whoparticipated in the conference and in the creation of the book… 1

KINSHIP BOARD Central & South America: Alexander Gomez PascoPresident: Taylor Ruhl [email protected] President: Jeremy Brown Europe: Ruud Kieboom [email protected]: Bruce HarlowTreasurer: Karen Wetherell Germany: Roy Raetzer [email protected] Editor: Catherine TaylorPublic Relations Coordinator: Jacqueline Hegarty Philippines: Jonathan Coo [email protected] Liaison: David FergusonWomen’s Coordinator: Carol Brown United Kingdom & Eire: Michael LewisKampmeeting Coordinator 2008: Naveen Jonathan [email protected] Site Development: Yolanda Elliott OTHER COORDINATORSBOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE Intersex: Carolyn Parsons [email protected] Coordinator: Floyd PoenitzMember Services: Fred Casey Transgender/Transexual: Sandra HoffeckerAsian Member Development: Pearl Pangkey [email protected] of Color: John EdwardsLatin American Members: Obed Vazquez-Ortiz Older Adult: Ren Reynolds [email protected], Family & Friends Support: Carrol GradyIMRU?: Ruben López IMRU? (Young Adults</=29): Ruben LópezTechnology Development: Josephine Elizabeth [email protected] COMMITTEE Web Master: Linda Wright [email protected] Ruhl, Samuel Pang, Catherine Taylor, BruceHarlow, Jeremy Brown, Karen Wetherell, Isis Montalvo Who we are... Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. is aREGIONAL COORDINATORS‚ USARegion 1 (New England) David Thaxton non-profit support organization. We minister to [email protected]; Catherine Taylor spiritual, emotional, social, and physical well-being [email protected] current and former Seventh-day Adventists who areRegion 2 (Mid-Atlantic) Yolanda Elliott lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and [email protected] individuals, their families and friends. KinshipRegion 3 (Southeast) [email protected] facilitates and promotes the understanding andRegion 4 (Midwest) Bruce Harlow affirmation of LGBTI Adventists among themselves [email protected] within the Seventh-day Adventist community throughRegion 5 (Lone Star South) Floyd Poenitz education, advocacy, and reconciliation. Kinship is [email protected] organization which supports the advance of humanRegion 6 (Mountain Plains) Erin Stenhouse rights for all [email protected] 7 (Northwest) [email protected] Founded in 1976, the organization was incorporatedRegion 8 (No. California, Nevada, Hawaii) Obed in 1981 and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profitVazquez-Ortiz [email protected] organization in the US. Kinship has a board of up to 15Region 9 (So. California, Arizona) Taylor Ruhl officers and 13 regional coordinators. The current list [email protected]; members and friends includes several thousand peopleBob Bouchard [email protected]; Naveen Johnathan in 43 [email protected] SDA Kinship believes the Bible does not condemn, orAFFILIATED INTERNATIONAL REGION even mention, homosexuality as a sexual orientation.COORDINATORS Ellen G. White does not parallel any of the Bible texts,Australia-New Zealand: Noel Thorpe which are often used to condemn homosexuals. [email protected] of the anguish imposed upon God’s children who growBrazil: Itamar Matos de Souza up as LGBT has its roots in a misunderstanding of [email protected] the Bible says.Canada: Jerry McKay [email protected] Support Kinship Kinship operates solely on contributions from its members and friends. Help us reach out to more LGBT Adventists by making a tax-deductible donation to SDA Kinship International. Please send your check or money order to the address below. (You can also donate, using your Visa or Master Card, by contacting Karen Wetherell at [email protected]. She will phone you so that you can give your credit card information in a safe manner.) SDA Kinship, PO Box 69, Tillamook, OR 97141, or visit SDA Kinship’s Web Site at: www.sdakinship.org.2

On Being a Part of This Project Dave Ferguson people from the various fields represented in the book to respond to groups of authors. This provided us with What an incredible journey this has been! When the opportunity to have the book get people thinkingwe started the Kinship Advisory Board in 2000, we about more than one way to look at the various topics.knew that we needed to find allies within the church It also helped us to meet our goal of beginning awho could help us build bridges of understanding. discussion of a topic that has been treated in manyInitially, many of the members of the group were very local churches and various levels of leadership as areluctant to have us even publish a list of their names “don’t ask, don’t tell” issue. To further enhance thiswith our Board. Over the next several years, as they focus on discussion of the topic, we asked authors tostarted to take ownership of projects like the DVD that develop questions for the end of each chapter. Wefeatured interviews with well-known Adventist leaders picture groups discussing homosexuality for the firstwith gay children, they became more willing to let time with a resource from their own denomination andothers know of their support for GLBTI Adventists. with authors who are well recognized and respected inThen, the idea of developing a workshop started to the church. When this facet was complete we editorsemerge in late 2003. As plans developed over the next worked with the copy editor to review the papers fortwo years, all of us became excited about the flow of thought, grammar, documentation review andpossibility for this workshop. Initially, we thought about development of a flow for the book that did not detracthaving a weekend of information for key leaders of the from the individuality of each author. Then each authorchurch to attend and having a large group invited. As was given their manuscript to review again. Paperswe moved forward we were led to have a smaller were sent to our layout editor to begin the actualgroup attend who could provide feedback to the design of the layout of the book, the cover andauthors with the idea of eventually having these eventually the several indices that would be includedpresentations printed. The workshop was a wonderful in the book. Every stage took longer than this neophytesuccess with terrific papers and a very enthusiastic and impatient editor expected. The manuscript wasresponse from those who attended representing many reviewed by a group of three proofreaders who readlevels of church leadership and most of the colleges in the entire book and made comments to one of ourNorth America. editors who had final say over the changes that were suggested by the proofreaders. During this process, we I had no idea what I was getting myself into with also got the endorsements in place for the back of thethis book! The process has been eye opening from the book and began plans for a major press release for thetime we first asked the authors to re-write their papers book.based on the feedback they received at the Workshop.Then the editors reviewed each paper and made An invaluable suggestion for the marketing of theadditional suggestions to the authors for ways to reduce book was to provide complimentary copies of the bookthe size, avoid duplication, review how they were to church leaders. The process for leaders to receive theexpressing themselves and assess their choice of book includes having someone call them one weekdocumentation. As we moved through this process we before the shipping date and ask them to read it whenstarted to see what a valuable tool this book would be it comes. Two weeks later a follow-up call will beand realized that while many denominations had done made to be sure they received the book and again askwork in this area, our book was truly charting new them to read it. Nearly six hundred books areterritory. Once this work was completed we selected scheduled for this shipment. The next marketing step 3

with other groups is still in discussion (you don’t expect have volunteered so much of their time and efforts tous to share all our secrets ). Our focus is to help the bringing the project to completion. The integrity tobook have a major impact not only in our stand behind one’s personal beliefs, no matter the cost,denomination but in other similarly conservative is what I believe will bring about new understanding indenominations. We are on the verge of something that the church. I am happy that I could be a part of thiscould be very big. If you have not ordered a copy of process.the book for yourself, your parents, members of yourchurch, college friends and other business René Drummacquaintances, please go to sdagayperspectives.comnow. If you read the book first, you will be even more It has been an honor to write about the social/enthusiastic about encouraging others to buy the book emotional realities of gay and lesbian Adventists. Ithemselves. think their stories of isolation and pain are so often overlooked. I hope this may in some small way bring Bronwen Larson healing to hurting people through enlightenment and awareness. I helped to organize the book-building weekendworkshop in January 2006. At its end, I was exhausted David R. Larsonbut exhilarated. The exhilaration came because I felt Iwas making a difference in other people’s lives. It gave The topic of \"Christianity and Homosexuality\" hasme a purpose. As a child, teenager and early adult I felt long been of deep interest to me for at least two veryvery misunderstood. As I grew through study and different reasons. The first is that there is no issue oftherapy to understand why I felt this way I wanted to greater theoretical importance to people who studyshare my newly found freedom with others who also Christian ethics as I do. More than any topic I know,felt misunderstood, albeit for very different reasons. this one requires us to integrate Scripture, History,Seeing five people from the General Conference Science and Experience.  Things are theoretically easyadministration gradually relax and be more open to for those who attend to any one of them. They aresupporting this project was exciting. I had worked at more difficult for those who take any two of themthe GC from 1992-1997 before moving back to seriously, yet more so for those who are concernedCalifornia. There I had often felt the resistance to facing about three. But to do justice, or at least to make thecontroversial issues. Our workshop proved that attempt, to all four is an extremely challenging task! education is a vital ingredient. Why did I put myself at The editors of this project think that no one person isrisk of criticism in an area where homosexuality is up to the task.  This is why our book is a collection ofstrongly denied? For some people this issue is a matter essays by different specialists.of life and death. If I can help save a life by listening,supporting and encouraging, I have partly fulfilled my The second reason why Christianity andpurpose in life. homosexuality is of interest to me is that this is a practical matter that focuses on nothing less than life Carrol Grady and death.  Our ideas always shape how we live and die and how we live and die always shapes our As the Adventist Forum/Kinship book about ideas. Sometimes we doubt this.  We should never doChristianity and homosexuality is about to be birthed, I so, no matter how thin the line between ideas, on thefeel both hope and gratitude. I hope that this book will one hand, and life and death, on the other, appears--fuel fulfillment of a long-standing dream of mine: a and I emphasize \"appears\"--to be. What we say, write,serious, redemptive dialog in our church about teach and preach often makes all the difference in ahomosexuality. I feel gratitude to all those involved in person's will to live. Some of those I have most loved,this project who have been willing to speak out, now rest in their graves awaiting a better world inregardless of any possible harm to reputation or career. which, to paraphrase Martin Luther King, people willI am especially grateful to the editors and others who be judged not by the contours of their orientations but by the contents of their characters. 4

Those of us who live in that hope are enjoined by We talked to students and parents at Sacramentoour Master to make our own lives here and now Adventist Academy and learned that gay epitaphs wereanticipations and partial incarnations of what will be spoken on a daily basis. One heterosexual student wasfull and complete only there and then. I expect that our called a “fag” throughout his entire high school, as wasbook, on which so many have lavished the kind and his closeted gay friend. Another student left the schoolamount of time, money and energy that only intense because of repeated verbal harassment. We learnedand genuine love generates, will help us do just that.  I that elementary students called dodge ball “smear theknow it is not perfect, especially my chapter!  But I queer” without any response from teachers. We weream certain that it will be helpful. This is \"as good as further horrified to see homosexual orientationit gets!\" described as “part of Satan’s effort to sabotage God’s plan for men and women” in the seventh and eighth None of us knows how people will respond to our grade science textbook. Homosexual behavior iswork.  I think it reasonable to expect a mixed described as “Satan’s substitute” and “not part of God’sreaction, however!  I have resolved no longer to debate plan.”these issues with any one who is not an \"existentialstake holder.\"  By this I mean all those who do not have We eventually met with the school principals anda firsthand experiential reason for getting involved.  We gave a faculty in-service in August 1999. We broughtare not launching a concert tour; we are offering an three parents of gay youth and a prominent Seventh-opportunity to converse about very important day Adventist attorney to join in discussing thethings with those who are fellow travelers on this part psychosocial challenges facing lesbian and gay youthof the journey we call life. My first question will be:  and the legal responsibilities of the school should\"Why are you interested in discussing this?\"  No harassment occur. Aspects of this training were thenexistential reason, no discussion!  End of sentence. Full presented to the Northern California Conferencestop. Period.  That's it!  Principal’s Council in September, 1999. Working with others in convening the conference Preparation for these trainings brought us in contactand editing the book that resulted has been an with Carrol Grady, Virginia and Walt Cason, Benextraordinarily rich experience for me, one that I am Kemena and others. Through participation in thereluctant to see end.  But it must, it will, it almost Kinship Advisory Group (KAG), we met Georgehas. And so to everyone who \"pitched in,\" but Babcock and began videotaping some of ourespecially to Bronwen Larson, Fritz Guy, David conversations. The DVD Open Heart, Open Hand,Ferguson and Peter Massey, I offer my profound respect through the sponsorship of Kinship and help ofand gratitude.  We can add their names to the list of members, was the result.the courageously faithful in Hebrews 11!  It has been a privilege to participate in KAG, the   January 2006 conference and the upcoming book. It is my hope that these efforts will help educate the Harry Wang Seventh-day community and lead to a safer and more accepting environment for LGBTI individuals. Shortly following the murder of Matthew Shepherd,my wife Janice and I visited friends in Oregon and Catherine Taylorheard heart-wrenching stories of how their gay son washarassed in two different Seventh-day Adventist high I had a plausible reason for being at the conference.schools. Having a gay brother-in-law and being a child I edit this journal. What could possibly be better copy:psychiatrist had already made me aware of the perhaps if the Seventh-day Adventist Generalprejudices and challenges faced by gay and lesbian Conference suddenly became an open and affirmingindividuals, but the stories and Shepherd’s brutal administrative body? Plausible, however, really hadmurder were devastating to us. During our drive back nothing to do with my presence there. Wild horses andto Sacramento, we decided to do something to educate bad airplane rides could not have kept me away. I wasadministrators and teachers about the destructive and drawn to Ontario, California by a Force that couldpotentially deadly results of gay-bashing. sound like it came directly from Star Wars but most 5

likely was sent from Heaven. I have spent my entire arrived through those doors. Conversation made a largeadult life learning to deal with being both a lesbian and appearance. Laughter-how often do we have a lot ofa Seventh-day Adventist Christian. As a therapist and that commodity at any church gathering? Meal timeworkshop presenter, I hear stories of the awful way gay, anecdotes. Questions. Vulnerability. Honesty. Churchlesbian, bisexual and transgender people have been leaders I had never met seemed to be willing to listen.treated by our church. I have ached for a bridge to More, they seemed to be willing to change their minds.connect these facets of my soul and my community. I Looking back, I think I was in the presence of a rollinghave prayed for a religious world much safer than the miracle. Writing a five-page response to the sociologyones all the Matthew Shepherds of our time have tried chapters was a more difficult gift. I look at it and thinkto escape. The memory of learning about a workshop “I should have written those ideas better!! What was Idesigned to fairly discuss homosexuality, the Bible and thinking?!” Proofing the completed final draft of themy church still makes my heart beat a little faster. It book was remarkable. I cannot wait for you all to readseems like a miraculous answer to a prayer of decades. these chapters. I cannot wait to hear the responses andThe three days were amazing. It wasn’t just the stories the conversations. Each ripple in the pond that thisor the academic papers. They were powerful enough. It book causes will be part of a miracle. Some miracleswas the Spirit and spirit of those present. Curiosity are very hard work.  Excerpts from the book… Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist PerspectivesFrom Sherri Babcock – From Leif Lind – “Learning to Spin the Coin of Truth” “A Pastor’s Perspective: Growing up Adventist and Gay” One day, while I was agonizing on the way toclarinet practice, I silently cried out, “God, what is Before I knew it, my high-school and college yearsWRONG with me?” I immediately got my only audible had passed. Hindsight often distorts or changes one’sresponse, as I heard a voice booming through the outlook, and it can be hard to remember exactly whathallway, “Sherri, you are a homosexual.” I spun around one was thinking at the time. I don’t believe I knew orto see who had spoken, and if anyone else had heard, fully understood who I was when I made the decisionbut the hall was empty. I started to cry and ran out of to marry. I worked at that time as a pastor in Norwaythe building screaming “No, God, anything but that! I’d while corresponding with my fiancée in Canada. Whatrather die!” After running through the woods and fields did I really expect? Perhaps I just hoped everythingaround the school for an hour, I ended up on a large would turn out all right after getting married. In anyrock in the middle of a pond. I was exhausted and still case, I was once again making the “right choices” incrying as it began to rain. life.6

This quest for doing right (even perfection) is, of From Ben Kemena –course, commonly held within Adventism. I believe itis also common among gays and lesbians, who may try “Homosexuality – Is it a Choice orto overcompensate for their perceived inadequacies by Innate – Biology or Sin”showing their church and families that they can besuccessful, or “make good,” in life. Concerning There is still little certainty on the subject except tomarriage, I asked myself, didn’t almost every man get say that sexual orientation is not a conscious choice.married? Despite my sense of humor, I have always The degeneracy pyramid has been discredited at greattaken life seriously. I had never engaged in premarital human cost and it has given way to scientificsex—straight or gay. I had high ideals for marriage (I investigation that has more legitimacy. Studies ofstill do), and wanted to make a happy home for my childhood suggest that sexual orientation trends can bewife and children. The option of not marrying simply identified as early as the ages of three or four years, butdid not occur to me. predictions for each child are far from 100 percent certain. Body structure and studies of twins suggest a Even Paul himself said it was better to “marry than strong genetic link with homosexuality, as does directto burn” (1 Cor. 7:9), although some of his ideas on gene analysis. Furthermore, efforts to alter sexualmarriage are hardly considered the norm. Scripture orientation—no matter how extreme the means—havealso says it is “not good that man should be failed dramatically. Some efforts are currentlyalone” (Gen. 2:18), a text I consider as relevant today underway to control libido and arousal with chemicals,as when it was written. So my fiancée and I married, and these raise many ethical issues. However, theseand I continued to deny the inevitable. My efforts do not change the basic gender type attractionconservative church upbringing did not prepare me to and desire. Furthermore, hormone levels cannot beaccept the overwhelming sense of devastation and used as predictive markers for sexual orientation. Givenloneliness I faced when I finally admitted a mental the lack of demonstrable pathology among lovingattraction to men that no amount of my praying or consensual homosexual adults, most professionalfasting would change. Yes, I believed God could do medical and scientific organizations currently viewanything, but for some reason, it seemed, he was not homosexual orientation as a human normal variant,answering my pleas. similar in nature to right- or left-handedness, and they condemn societal prejudice and bigotry againstFrom Carrol Grady – homosexual persons on the most basic humanitarian grounds. Homosexuals are born as gay individuals and, “Homosexuality and Seventh-day to date, we can neither predict nor alter this course. Adventist Families” Some people argue that the world would be a better place without homosexuals, but the consequence of All three of our boys graduated from Far Eastern eliminating them from society might be catastrophic.Academy and went on to Pacific Union College. Wereturned to the United States after Paul finished The Seventh-day Adventist Church claims to beacademy. When he was in college I noticed little signs committed to a responsible health-care message,of rebellion, such as sometimes staying home from scientific training, and charitable evangelical mission,church; and I sensed even more strongly that but its current policy in regard to homosexuals issomething was troubling him, but I still didn’t know antithetical to scientific evidence and ethical conduct.what was wrong. I thought we were talking about all There are now probably more than one million gay andthe things that were important to him but I later lesbian Adventist “refugees” who are either livingrealized he was holding a lot back as he began to dishonest, “closeted” lives or have been purged fromcome to terms with his sexual orientation. While we church society. This is a human tragedy of epicwere at the General Conference, where Bob was in the proportions. Just as one might imagine God cast asChurch Ministries Department, and while Paul was a white or black, man or woman, Jew or Gentile, it couldjunior English major at PUC, we first learned he was also be said that gay children are created in the imagegay. of an unfathomable and loving God. May we pray for 7

change in the institutional church, and may we religious) reject one’s sexual orientation as “wrong,”understand that until the Word of God is presented to “sinful” or “depraved.”gays and lesbians in a way recognizably Christ-like, thepromise of a Second Coming will remain unfulfilled. Entrance into puberty brings on an increase in sexual feelings, thoughts and behaviors. An awarenessFrom Harry Wang – of same-gender attraction has been reported by the median age of thirteen. Many homosexual youth, Psychiatry, Anti-homosexual Bias and however, engage in opposite-gender dating in denial of Challenges for Gay and Lesbian Youth same-gender feelings and/or to conform to societal expectations. Opportunities to understand and exploreAdolescent Development same-gender feelings may be limited. Normative tasks of adolescence include separation- Finally, teens need to set goals and make plans forindividuation; intensification of peer relations; identity their future. The support of friends, parents and mentorsformation, including sexual identity and formation of can be invaluable if they are available. Homosexualplans for the future. youth often struggle with uncertainty and doubt about their future knowing that they face personal and Separation-individuation is the process of attaining professional challenges because of their sexualpsychological separateness from one’s parents. This orientation.involves a realization of what is liked and dislikedabout one’s parents and what values are accepted or From Ron Lawson –rejected. The end result is an adolescent able tonegotiate the world separate from his or her parents “The Welcoming, Caring Church: Theand capable of disagreeing with them without feeling Seventh-day Adventist Church and Itsunduly distressed. Homosexual Members” Peer relationships provide a sense of belongingthrough the mutual sharing of activities, ideas and In 1983, Charles Bradford, the president of theemotions. Friendships for lesbian and gay youth are Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America,complicated by feelings of isolation with an awareness invented a new slogan, which was disseminatedof being “different” from peers, often by the age of four. widely: Adventism styled itself “The Caring Church.”Opportunities to associate with other gay and lesbian Some twenty years later, the newly reelected presidentyouth may be limited and interactions with of the world church, Jan Paulsen, preaching on the finalheterosexual youth may be awkward. When I was Sabbath of the General Conference Session in 2005,around 5 or 6 years old, I felt that I was different from laid out his vision of a “welcoming church.”others. I didn’t have a name for it at first, but around 10 “Throughout his sermon, Paulsen frequently referred toor 12 I realized what these differences meant. It was a the need to open the Church’s doors.” He “encouragedvery painful experience. It was not something I the widely diverse church to welcome everyone intowanted…I couldn’t speak to anyone about my feelings. the church, not keep them out because of theirI was convinced that if anyone knew, I would be differences.” “God has set before us an open door,” hesubject to prejudice and hatred. I didn’t know how said, “which is not our privilege to close and keepcommon homosexuality was. I thought I was probably others out.…I have a word of caution to anyone who isthe only one in the world. So I lived in an atmosphere looking for bad grapes in the church: only God canin which I always had to hide. (Ron, a pseudonym) safely grade people. God loves all people globally…I want the Adventist family around the world to be Identity formation is the end result of answering the known as a compassionate family.”question “Who am I?” One’s beliefs and values are alarge part of this, but identity formation also This paper tests the truth of both slogan and visionencompasses ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, and by exploring the evolution of the relations between thesexual orientation. This process can be compromised if Adventist Church and its homosexual members. It asksimportant parts of one’s identity (for example, ethnic or to what extent the Church welcomes and cares for a group of members who are stigmatized by society.8

From Rene Drumm – an Adventist professor, the second from an Adventist university administrator. It was an Adventist professor “Interaction and Angst: The Social who helped me accept who I was. This professor cameExperiences of Gay and Lesbian Seventh-day and spent an afternoon with me going over the Scriptures and helped me to understand what those Adventists” Scriptures were really saying and what they were not saying. The turning point for me was when this personExperiences in Adventist Schools - asked me, “Did you ask God to change you?” I told her yes, many times. She replied, “Do you think God is big Gay and lesbian students in Adventist schools and powerful enough to answer those prayers?” I,experienced a wide variety of interactions and again, answered in the affirmative. She then said to mereactions with teachers, administrators and fellow some profound words, “Did it ever occur to you thatstudents in terms of gay acceptance. Some of the most God doesn’t want you to change or he would havedifficult circumstances existed when students exposed answered your prayer? Maybe you are asking for theanother student’s sexual orientation. I was a sophomore wrong thing. Maybe, God wants you to be the best gayat [a Seventh-day Adventist] university. I was confused man that you can be under the direction of an almightyabout the feelings I was experiencing. I knew God.” Those words stuck with me and for the first timesomething was different but was so afraid because I in my life the war inside of me was over, that war that Ithought I was the only one experiencing these feelings. carried for years, decades now were over!!! WhatI was attracted to someone in the dorm. One evening, peace I enjoyed. (Gregory)we were talking on the phone and he said he wantedto take our relationship to the next step with me that I went to see him [the administrator] and I told him,night. His roommates were going to be gone for a few “This is who I am [lesbian],” and I asked him “Whathours that evening and wanted me to come down to does this mean spiritually?” He pulled out books thathis room. I was so excited. In my mind I was going on explained Bible texts with the real Hebrew meaning. Imy first date. I was nervous. I walked down to his room took it from there. It was like the whirlwind inside meat eight o’clock that evening. I entered into his room. stopped and I was able to meld my spiritual and sexualHe had the room all romanced out with black lights identities. (Irene)and everything. We talked for a moment then I placedmy hand on his upper leg. At that point he stood up From John Jones –and said, “What the [explicative]?” He turned on themain lights and the few friends I had and his “‘In Christ there is neither…’ Toward theroommates jumped out of the closet or from under the Unity of the Body of Christ”bed. My world came to a crashing halt. I was sodistraught and at that point I was ready to kill myself. The Gospel According to Paul(Tom) For Paul, the fact that the core of the gospel is the Administrators were also known to discover and divine initiative toward humankind, centering in Jesus’expel gay students. When I was a resident advisor in death and resurrection, provides the lodestone fromthe dorm, I was pulled into the witch hunts and the which he constantly takes his theological and ethicaladministration wanted me to tell on friends and bearings. His construction of Christian theology aroundconfirm that they were gay. The purpose was to dismiss the cross of Christ provides the decisive standard forthem because they were a bad influence. With about Christian life; nothing must be allowed to impinge onthirty to forty people that I knew on campus at various the believer’s freedom, purchased at highest cost. It isstages of coming out/selfacceptance, telling on one or for the sake of freedom that Christ has liberated us. Thistwo was not going to change the scene. I did not is no trivial matter; we are summoned to stand firm incomply with any of their requests and somehow that freedom, refusing to compromise the efficacy ofsurvived them myself. (Hector) Christ’s cross by reintroducing superstitions of either pagan or Judaic origin into our walk by faith. In contrast, some faculty members at Adventistinstitutions helped gay and lesbian students deal withtheir struggles. The first quote below notes the help of 9

At the same time, this is no license for irresponsible traditional markers must now be shown to carry otheror profligate behavior. “For you were called to freedom, water, or go the way of that central symbol of tribalbrothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as identity, circumcision. Paul’s principle becomes morean opportunity for self-indulgence” (Gal. 5:13; interesting as he pushes further: Just how far does thiscompare v. 16). For Paul, flesh and spirit represent two erasure of difference, in Christ, extend?opposite principles at work in human life. Even with allof his instinctive holism, he juxtaposes the works of Clearly it goes far enough that when Paul wants toone and the fruits of the other as setting the terms of differentiate between life in the Spirit and the life ofour reach toward wholeness and freedom in Christ. fleshly indulgence, he can readily reach beyond the Judaic pale to gentile norms for support. His frequent The implications are many and far reaching. But use of catalogs of vices (as well as of virtues) appears towhen it comes to how we shall live as Christians in this be shaped not so much by one-to-one correspondencesworld, Paul is nowhere more pointed than in his with specific behaviors in a given situation as byfamous summation at the close of Galatians 3: “As conventional listings in popular Greco-Romanmany of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed literature of the day. Whether appropriated directlyyourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, from commonplace moralizing in the larger world orthere is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male mediated through Hellenistic Jewish tradition, theseand female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if concatenations provide Paul with ready-made markersyou belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, for the bounds of conduct for those who belong to theheirs according to the promise.” This single visionary Kingdom.statement demonstrates what the cross of Jesus meansfor Paul. It provides a focal lens through which to view Sexual references make limited appearances inall of his pronouncements on human relations, and these lists. Unsurprisingly, the general term pornos,points the trajectory for our own ongoing hermeneutic designating a fornicator, adulterer or otherwise sexuallyas we take up the task of appropriating his principles immoral person, is the most common sexual term infor our own time. such New Testament catalogs, occurring at 1 Corinthians 5:9, 10 and 11; 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; and In light of Paul’s first pairing above, our first Revelation 21:8 and 22:15. Same-sex considerationsquestion, “What biblical implications can we find for do, however, arise at two points, in 1 Corinthians 6:9the ethics and boundaries of sexual expression in the and 1 Timothy 1:10, with the terms arsenokoitēs andcontext of loving same-sex relationships?” gets pulled malakos.directly into the second, “How does scriptural fidelityrelate to a religious heritage that vests its sexual norms From Fritz Guy –in precisely those distinctions that are overcome inChrist?” “Same-sex Love: Theological Considerations” We have observed the Levitical conviction that sex Sexual intimacy symbolizes a profound personalbetween Israelite males breaches the ethnic identity of and moral relationship.the Hebrew people, who defined their chosenness andceremonial purity in terms of their descent from Human sexual intimacy is a symbol that both pointsAbraham. Now when these cultural and national to a reality beyond itself and participates in that reality,bounds are transcended in Christ, the ground is cut out thus opening up levels of reality that human beingsfrom under the proscriptions in Leviticus 18 and 20. would not otherwise be able to experience. The realityWhen Paul affirms the equality of Jew and gentile to which sexual intimacy points and in which itbefore God, he is dismantling the framework on which participates is a relationship of permanent, preeminentthese proscriptions stand. concern for and commitment to the total well-being of one’s sexual partner. Sexual intimacy expresses this To be sure, the distinction remains between God’s reality and also enriches it. Conversely, the experienceholy people (“saints,” as Paul regularly addresses them) of sexual intimacy is enhanced by an awareness of thisand an unholy world. But if the distinction is now to be symbolic meaning in the same way that the enjoymentmarked along nontribal lines, then any of the of a meal is enhanced by the presence and participation of a cherished friend. The food itself does10

not actually taste better, but the total experience is favorable treatment. It is truly mutual and egalitarian. The desire to experience pleasure does not in the longcertainly better. As humans, we are not only homo run exceed the desire to give pleasure, or in the shortsapiens but also homo symbolicus. run overwhelm it. It respects the vulnerabilities it engenders. It includes concern for each other’s safety, Because humanness is by its very nature security, and comfort in the broadest and deepestmultidimensional, physical intimacy is intrinsically sense. It presupposes and expresses trust, and it evokesrelational. This is why there is no such thing as “casual” and sustains trust.intimacy, although many people want to be casual Taken seriously, these moral criteria carry importantabout it. Even if it is not a celebration of an intimate practical implications. They call for a rigorous self- discipline and an “ethic of tenderness.” They excluderelationship, every occasion of sexual intimacy “does sexual seduction. They also explain why a genuinelyconstitute some kind of bond with the partner.” Besides loving relationship intended to be permanent providesits expressive dimension as a “natural symbol,” it has a uniquely valuable context in which mutually vulnerable, intimate knowing is facilitated and thealso a biopsychological dimension, and both intrinsic goal of love can be given fuller expression.contribute to personal bonding. These criteria, furthermore, are theologically Thus sexual intimacy carries inevitable and often significant insofar as sexual intimacy at its bestprofound consequences for whatever relationship symbolizes the desire of Divine Reality to give pleasureexists, whether or not the partners intend them. What to, and (in some sense beyond our comprehension) receive pleasure from, human reality. Thus, in spite ofboth partners need—and at some level really want—is its motivation by a negative view of human physicality,the intimacy of two persons blended into one the traditional allegorization of the Song of Songs as a metaphor for the relation between God and humanityemotionally and spiritually. When this occurs, the is not entirely misguided. The mistake is denying theresult can be an ecstatic, self-transcending experience obvious meaning of the Song’s sexual content insteadof love in which two persons let go of themselves and of seeing in just that content a symbol of God’s own desire to give to and receive pleasure from humanconcentrate their attention on enhancing the physical reality.pleasure and emotional fulfillment of the other. From David Larson –Although for many men sexual intercourse “does notmean in the first instance loving intimacy, sensuous “Christian Sexual Norms Today, Someplayfulness, babies or the eros that draws us into Proposals”communion with all else” but may be merely “a Love as Intense Loyaltyhappening, a sexual event involving our genitals,” there Although the First Testament of Scripture usesis no good reason to suppose that profoundly several words for love, its richest and most distinctive ismeaningful sexual experience is unavailable to men, chesed. Variously translated as \"graciousness,\" \"mercy,\"including men in relationships of same-sex love. \"kindness,\" loving kindness,\" \"love,\" \"steadfast love,\" “unrelenting love” and \"covenant love,\" its significance Since human fulfillment and flourishing entails in Hebrew is so basic and powerful that in English nomorality, the moral dimension is essential to sexuality’s one word or combination of words fully captures its meaning. Nevertheless, if we must choose only onedistinctively human quality. The depth and power of expression, \"intense loyalty\" is probably it.sexual desire and the exquisite pleasure of sexualintimacy make the moral considerations especially Chesed occurs 270 times in Scripture. The 70 or so times it appears in the Psalms are especially tellingsignificant—even though, as in other human activities, because they almost always refer to God's passionatemuch sexual intimacy is morally ambiguous. In the light of biblical materials such as the SeventhCommandment (Exod. 20:14) and the Golden Rule(Matt. 7:12), specific moral criteria for optimal sexualintimacy are immediately evident. It does not competewith any other relationship or violate any priorcommitment. It is not coercive, exploitive, ormanipulative. It is not instrumental or strategic, anexchange for some other desired good—financialconsideration, professional advancement or other 11

and persistent affection for the people of Israel and, were emotionally exuberant promises to be faithful inthrough them, all others. One Psalm, for example, ways that went far beyond that which was minimallycelebrates God's unrelenting love in lines that leaders required. In these cases, a covenant was a solemn andof worship and their congregations still read emotional promise to be loyal; it was a vow to honorresponsively. Each recital of one of God's activities is not only the one to whom one makes a vow but alsofollowed by, \"for his steadfast love endures forever\" (Ps. the promises one makes.136). This love is \"fixed, determined, almost stubborn Josiah Royce, California's first and foremost native-steadfastness.\" It is \"sure love, love unswerving.\" It born philosopher, probably explored the moralencompasses \"fidelity, firmness, truth, firm adherence meaning and importance of loyalty more thoroughlyand determined faithfulness to the covenant.\" It is \"the than any other modern thinker. He depicted it as astrength, the firmness and the persistence of God's sure supreme moral good, the one from which all otherslove.\" No theme is more central to Hebrew life and derive and find their significance. \"In loyalty, whenthought. loyalty is properly defined,\" he wrote, \"is the fulfillment Three famous relationships in Scripture illustrate this of the whole moral law.\"kind of love at work. The story of Ruth and Naomi is At the outset of his study, Royce defined loyalty asthe account of a widow who left her homeland and \"the willing and thoroughgoing devotion of a person tosettled in a different culture out of loyalty to hermother-in-law. \"Do not press me to leave you,\" she a cause.\" Such complete devotion is admirable even when the cause to which it is directed isn't, he held.pled, \"or to turn back from following you! Where yougo, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your For example, thieves who are loyal rightly receive morepeople shall be my people, and your God my ethical admiration from us than do those who betray each other. Nevertheless, Royce went on to contend inGod\" (Ruth 1:15–17). The story of David and Jonathanis about two men who might have fought each other to language that echoes Scripture's praise of covenant faithfulness without actually quoting it, loyalty is truestthe death because one was a son of the king and theother a challenger. But David, the shepherd, and when it is devoted to commendable causes, and theJonathan, the prince, formed an intense friendship that best of these is loyalty itself. We should be loyal to loyalty, he held. \"In choosing and in serving the causeendured despite all odds. After David had become kingand Jonathan, the throne's rightful heir, had died in to which you are to be loyal, be, in any case, loyal to loyalty.\"battle, David arranged for Jonathan's son, crippledMephibosheth, to live in the royal household. \"I will \"Loyalty to loyalty\" may sound overly abstract,show you kindness for the sake of your father perhaps even similar to Diotima's teaching, except that Royce put \"loyalty\" where she spoke of \"beauty.\"Jonathan\" (2 Sam. 9:7), he declared. The story of Hoseaand Gomer is the portrait of a man who persists in Although this may be so, his point seems importantly different. Royce held that in selecting the causes toloving and caring for his wife despite her flagrantunfaithfulness. Scripture says that Hosea's painful but which we will be loyal we ought to select those thatconstant love was like that of the Lord, who \"loves the will also aid and further the practice of loyalty in ourselves and others. Anything we do that enhancespeople of Israel, though they turn to other gods andlove raisin cakes\" (Hos. 3:1). our own loyalty and makes possible and encourages more loyalty in others is ethically right; everything that Covenant is a word Scripture often uses inconnection with these relationships. When described doesn't is wrong.as \"an agreement enacted between two parties in Much like Scripture's praise of covenantwhich one or both make promises under oath to faithfulness, Royce held that loyalty is more than theperform or refrain from certain actions stipulated in thoroughgoing devotion people can have for eachadvance,\" it sounds much like a modern business other. It is something of its own, it is an additionalcontract that specifies minimum requirements legalsystems will enforce. Sometimes ancient covenants factor that includes and sustains those who are loyal to each other. \"Loyal lovers,\" Royce wrote, \"are not loyalwere this formal and coldly legalistic. More often they merely to one another as separate individuals, but to their love, to their union, which is something more12

than either of them, or even of both of them viewed as From Mitch Henson –distinct individuals.\" “Ministering to Gays within the Church This \"something more\" is what too many of our Community: A Pastoral Perspective”sexual relationships lack today, as they have in all Some time in the early 1980s, we began to notice ingenerations. Voyeurism and exhibitionism are such our staff meetings discussions about certain young mencases because by definition each depends upon there who were beginning to attend our church. During this time, AIDS was becoming an epidemic in America. Webeing no intense loyalty in the relationship between the would get calls asking if we would be willing toparties. The same can be said about coprophila, minister to or visit or at times to bury young men who had died of AIDS.necrophilia, pyromania, fetishism, bestiality, frottage,troilism, klismaphilia, coporlalia, pornography and As Senior Pastor Rudy Torres tells the story, one dayprostitution. None of the relationships in which these a young man, Carlos Martinez, came to our church and “came out” to a Bible study group. He indicated thatoccur embodies anything analogous to God's steadfast he had contracted AIDS, but he believed that Godlove. continued to love and care for him. Soon Carlos was in the hospital. Torres and I visited him, and, in the course Fornication occurs when we intentionally exclude of those visits, we had numerous conversations withintense loyalty from our sexual relationships. Such nurses and other attendants. We found there wererelationships alienate one's sexual powers from the rest many young men in the hospital who, when it was discovered they had AIDS, lost all church affiliation. Asof one's total self. They alienate one's whole self from we continued to minister to Carlos and others, wethe total self of one's partner. These liaisons alienate us became known as pastors willing to reach out to young men facing an illness that, at that time, was consideredfrom God as well because they are so unlike the inevitable death.steadfast love that God bestows upon each of us.“Adultery is unfaithfulness or infidelity. It is worse than It was during this time that I began to work through the prejudice that I held in my heart toward gays andfornication because it more seriously offends what it homosexuality in general. I knew that, according to mymeans to be loyal: The worst epithets are reserved for understanding of Scripture, no homosexual would be in the Kingdom of God; yet here were young menthe sin of betrayal. Worse than murder, worse than reaching out to us in their time of need. Theincest, betrayal of country invites universal scorn. gratefulness that they and their families showed usBetrayal of a lover is regarded by many as an moved my heart and forced me to reevaluate my beliefs. I began to understand God’s grace, forgivenessirremediable breach. For the religious, betrayal of God and acceptance at a deeper level. After burying eight oris the supreme vice. The specific forms of betrayal— ten of these young men, I realized that, for me, ministry would never be the same again.adultery, treason, and idolatry—all reek with evil”.(George P. Fletcher, Loyalty: An Essay on the Morality of Let me be very specific as to why Glendale CityRelationships (New York: Oxford University Press, Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to minister to all who come. I believe the attitude that existed toward1993), 41.) Fornication is the refusal of intense loyalty; blacks in the Church when I was a young man existsadultery is its destruction. This is why in Scripture today toward homosexuals. It’s not that we don’t allow them to attend (as long as we “don’t know who theyadultery is often a metaphor for human perversity in are”). It’s not that we might not even encourage them togeneral. become members (as long as they declare celibacy). But we certainly would not want their considerable Some recent modifications of Royce's proposals talents to be used or put them into positions ofabout loyalty helpfully distinguish between its minimaland maximal expressions. At the very least, those whoare loyal do not betray each other. Many intensely loyalpersons go beyond this and fuse their lives into newsocial entities that become cells in the body of societywithout eliminating each person's individuality. This iswhat we mean when we say that sexual relationshipsshould be characterized by love, and when we specifythat, among other things, we Christians understand thislove to be intense loyalty. 13

leadership knowing they are gay. We might find celibacy, celibacy in marriage and a wide range of sexual behaviors and mores that continue to beourselves in embarrassing situations, trying to explain practiced in our culture.to conservative activists and those who seek to “protect From Mitch Tyner –the reputation of the church” how we can maintainhigh standards while accepting and allowing “Public Policy Issues Involvinghomosexuals to be actively involved. Homosexuality: An Adventist Response” I believe many younger members of our churches To be faithful to Scripture, our positions on publicare waiting to see how we handle this important issue. policy issues should work to maximize human freedom to the highest appropriate level. Arguably, the mostAre we going to develop a better understanding of the revealing Scripture passage that involves freedom is notHoly Spirit’s ministry? Are we going to leave it in His the little horn or Revelation 13, but Luke 15, thehands to comfort and guide people into a better passage we refer to as the story of the Prodigal Son, although it might better be called the story of theunderstanding of God’s will for their lives? Are we Waiting Father.going to actualize the words of Christ, “whosoever A young man, raised on an affluent but remote farmwill, may come unto me”? At times, our determined went to his father and said “Dad, I’m bored. I’m tiredefforts to change people socially betrays a weak belief of living way out here. I want to experience the worldin the wooing, changing power of the Holy Spirit, who for myself; I want to go to the big city; I want to do my own thing. And Dad, I want you to give me an advancecontinues to work in the lives of individuals long after on my inheritance to finance the trip.”they have become church members and leaders. Nothing in either Jewish or Roman law gave the The black hole of Christian theology is the subject father any obligation to grant that request, but he did.of sexuality. Old Testament Scripture is abundantly The son left, wealth in hand, and headed for the brightclear that sex is for procreation. In the New Testament, lights. As long as the money lasted, so did his social status. But soon he found himself in a descendingPaul warns that it would be better to “marry than to socioeconomic spiral. His money gone, he was forcedburn” (meaning “burn with passion”), because time is to earn his livelihood by doing something most hateful to a young Jew: feeding hogs. He awoke one morningshort. In recent years, as we have incorporated the in the pigpen, looked around him, and said, “What aunderstandings of psychology (including the need for miserable state of affairs! What a genuine wreck I haveintimacy and personal contact) into our teaching about made of my life.”sexuality, and since technology has provided us with To put this story in Seventh-day Adventist terms,easy and noninvasive ways of interrupting the natural imagine a young man from a farm in the eastern Montana who, having gone to New York, awakens in aprocreation process, I think we can safely say that, in drug-induced stupor in one of those neighborhoodsthe Western world at least, 99 percent of all sexual you don’t want to enter at night. He has been makingactivity, both marital and extramarital, is for other than his living dealing drugs. He awakens and thinks, “This is Sabbath morning. Mom and Dad are in church, andprocreative purposes. Yet many Christians continue to look at me. Look how far I’ve come.”interpret Scripture referring to sex, intimacy, and The Bible simply says, “He came to himself.” Hemarriage in traditional ways. realized his position. He looked around and said, “I As heterosexuals, we have expanded the biblical have ruined my life, I have nothing: nowhere to sleep, no means of support, nothing to eat, and I can’t gomeaning to include sex for pleasure and intimacy, but home. I’ve had my share of the family wealth and I’ve squandered that. It’s gone. Even my dad’s hired handswe have stopped short of understanding sexuality in abroader sense—not just genital stimulation orprocreation, pleasure and intimacy, but sexuality as astatement of who I am as a human and how I relate tolife as a sexual being. Perhaps we have avoided thisbecause of the loaded connotation of the word sex; orperhaps we have simply not studied it carefullybecause “time is short,” and we have more pressingmatters. Nonetheless, as time continues, we findourselves increasingly challenged to revisit and definemore clearly our views on sexuality, singleness,14

out there on the farm are better his best cloak, put a ring on his connectionoff. I ought to go home and just finger, and led him to the house, The Journal of Seventh-day Adventist Kinshipask Dad to hire me.” where the celebration began. The International, Inc. He sat there in the mud and older son heard the sound of the Editor: Catherine Taylorcomposed the speech he would celebration and asked one of the Circulation: Fred Caseyoffer his father. He would say, hired hands what was happening. European Editor: Ruud Kieboom Photography: Karen Wetherell“Father, I have sinned before you He was told, “Your brother’s back Production: Ted Comptonand before God. I am no longer and your father’s throwing a Printing: Doolittle's PrintServeworthy to be called your son— party.” But the older brother The Connection is published by Seventh-just hire me and let me live out in refused to join the celebration. day Adventist Kinship International, Inc.the bunkhouse with the hired Eventually, the father came to Principal office: Box 69, Tillamook, OR 97141. Submissions are welcome andhands.” With that, he started him and said, “We’re celebrating may be directed to the editor athome. your brother’s return—come in [email protected] or mailed to the principle office address Imagine the father, sitting on and join us!” The elder brother above. Include your name as you want itthe veranda of one of those old said, “Look, Dad, I’ve been with published, address and telephone number.farm houses—the kind with the you all these years. I have obeyed If an item is to be acknowledged or returned please include a self-addressedlong porch that ran the width of your every command. I have stamped envelope. Some Connectionthe house. The family sat there in done everything you have asked contributors have chosen to remain anonymous or use pseudonyms.the evening catching the cool but you never threw a party forbreeze, talking about the weather, me. Now this son of yours comes The Connection reserves the right to editthe crops and family news. The home after wasting your money manuscripts for length, syntax, grammar, and clarity.father has been sitting there every and his life and you expect me toafternoon since his son left. He’s celebrate? Why should I?” The mention or appearance of any names, organizations, or photographs innever given up on his son’s Notice that the elder brother this publication is not meant to imply areturn. Then one day, far off down was factually correct, which fact or statement about sexual orientationthe road, he sees a pathetic figure merely shows that one may be or activity.limping along. He’s lame, he’s ill- quite correct but very wrong as to Subscription requests or address changeskept and he’s dirty. But the father the correct interpretation and may be sent to: Subscriptions, P.O. Box 69, Tillamook, OR 97141, or emailimmediately recognizes him as application of those facts. Notice offi[email protected]. The Kinship mailinghis son. The father doesn’t wait also that the elder brother list is confidential and used only byfor the son to come to him. referred to “your son”, not, “my Kinship officers. The mailing list is not sold, rented, or exchanged for anyInstead, the father hurries off the brother.” The father replied, “Your purpose.porch, down the path, through brother was lost, and has been © 2008 Connection. All rights reserved.the gate and down the road to found; he was dead and he is Reproduction in whole or in part withoutmeet his son. As they meet, the alive to us again. It is proper that permission is prohibited. OPINIONSson begins his prepared speech of we celebrate!” EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF SDA KINSHIPcontrition: “Dad, I’ve blown it, Who was right in that story, INTERNATIONAL.I’m not worthy to be called your the father or the son? The father, Member of the Gay and Lesbian Pressson....” and he never gets to finish of course. The father represents Association.the speech. God, our Father. The son represents us, for each of us has It’s as though the father said, at one time or another wandered“Son, I know, I understand. We’ll away from our spiritual home.talk about that another time. For Why did the father let thatnow, all that matters is that you’re happen? The father could havehome. Come inside, we’ll prevented it. He didn’t have tocelebrate your return!” With that, Continued on back cover…he covered this filthy figure with 15

give his son the money, but he did. It can even be around us and says, “Come inside. The party is ready toalleged that by funding the journey of the prodigal, the start—in your honor.”father aided and abetted prodigality. Why? Because the Here is a parable that illustrates an important facetfather was more interested in his son than in his money. of the great controversy between good and evil, a keyBecause ultimately he was interested in his relationship historic Adventist teaching. God could have created uswith his son. Because he wanted a relationship with his in such a manner that we could not have sinned. Heson that was possible only when the son was ready to didn’t, because he wanted a relationship with us basedenter into it voluntarily. The father would not force his on our choice to establish it. He refused to coerce us.son to stay at home. He would not be satisfied with But doing that cost him dearly. It cost him the life of hiscoerced obedience. son at Calvary, paid so that we could relate to him freely. Every man, woman, boy and girl is free to relate Isn’t that a marvelous parable of our heavenly to God freely, according to his or her conscience, notFather! Our Father put such a high value on his someone else’s.relationship with us that he paid the price of Calvary to What are we to learn from this story? First, that Godavoid coercing us. He could have forced us to stay at put a tremendous value on freedom. He could havehome with him, and no one could have faulted him for prevented Calvary, but didn’t, because he would notdoing so. But he will not be satisfied with coerced coerce our obedience. Second, we have no business,obedience. Yes, he’s interested in our conduct. But like the older brother, being more judgmental withwhen we come back to him, he doesn’t say, “All right, each other than our Father is with us. Third, we havebefore you come in the house let’s talk about that time been given an example that speaks to our own attitudesin the pigpen. Let’s talk about what you did, let’s talk and actions: If God went to that length to not coerceabout the money you wasted, let’s get all of this us, then how dare we, his children, coerce each other?straightened out.” No, he puts his robe of righteousness  In the sharing of their life’s story our fellow pilgrims give us a wondrous gift. Christianity And Homosexuality Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives Christianity They open the way for understanding, caring and fellowship on our journey. HoAmndosexuality This book is just such a gift. The impact for me was not so much information as it was the gift of life. Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives Pastor Louis Venden Edited by David Ferguson, Fritz Guy and David Larson I learned so much from Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives! It is wonderful to have a resource to recommend to my Seventh-day Adventist friends this is so closely tied to Adventism’s rich heritage, traditions and unique witness. It has challenged and deepened my own understandings of the Gospel and homosexuality and will do so for Christians from other traditions. Harry Knox Director, Religion and Faith Program Human Rights Campaign Foundation Welcoming a reviled and beleaguered community is never automatic or easy. But the church at it’s best has learned from the widening embrace of Hebrew prophecy and from the Lord Jesus Christ, in who that embrace came to fullest fulfillment. This book may lead readers to still another possibility of welcome and embrace. It is past time to consider it. Charles Scriven, President Association of Adventist Forums This is a significant book and it is long overdue. As one who has been a hospital Chaplain, I am confident that it will dispel the shadows of fear, hatred and murderous violence toward those who are more like us than we often realize. I have gained so much insight from the stories and reflections in this book. I invite you to do the same. Bronwen Larson For Christians of all denominations who struggle to understand those chil- dren of God who happen not to be straight, this book will be of great help. It’s survey of the history and theologies that have impacted Adventism, the insights of medical practitioners and social workers, and the true stories of real families will broaden the perspectives of even those who disagree with some of it’s conclusions. Tony and Peggy Campolo Authors and Lecturers ISBN 978-0-9673694-2-6 51995 9 780967 369426 US $19.9516