Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 24, 1994 TAG: 9406290048
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In the fourth draft of the proposed document on sexuality, the bishops ask the church to uphold an ideal of lifelong faithful unions for both heterosexual and homosexual couples and greet gays and lesbians with hospitality rather than hostility.
``As it can be for heterosexual persons, the experience of steadfast love can be for homosexual persons an experience of God,'' the bishops' pastoral said. A copy was obtained by The Associated Press.
At the same time, the document also relates traditional church teaching that sex is reserved for heterosexual marriages and stops short of advocating changes in church law on the issues of gay ordinations or the blessing of same-sex unions.
``The document doesn't take a stand one way or the other, basically,'' said the Rev. Jane N. Garrett, a member of the drafting committee. ``It leaves everything open for a continuation of the dialogue.''
But Bishop William Frey, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, said presenting different points of view only reflects the chaos in the church on these issues.
``The nicest thing I can say is that parts of it remind me of theology by Oprah and Donahue,'' he said. ``In its present form, it would be the most embarrassing document the bishops have ever produced.''
Nearly every major religious group is grappling with the contentious issue of sexuality. The United Church of Christ is the only major Protestant denomination to allow the ordination of sexually active homosexuals.
Last fall, when an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America committee on sexuality released a draft statement urging members to challenge traditional biblical condemnations of homosexuality, a backlash erupted.
by CNB