Baptists and Same Sex Relationships

A more sustained conversation has been initiated with regards same sex relationships following the session at Baptist Assembly. For some this will be long overdue. The discussion at Baptist Assembly set the tone for a generous and open conversation and the prayer must be that we will continue in that spirit.

Churches are being encouraged to take up the offer of the Union's human sexuality training - a one day workshop run by a trained facilitator which engages with scripture, theology, science and pastoral care. 

It is excellent to see that the Baptist Minister's Fellowship is organising a conversation day in July for Baptist ministers to take part in.

The best starting point, I have found, in this conversation is a sermon by Sam Wells preached back in 2004 and subsequently published in Speaking The Truth (Abingdon, 2008). Sam Wells has given me permission to make it available here as a .pdf download.

In this sermon, Wells helpfully outlines (the) four approaches taken to same sex relationships, what he terms holiness, kingdom, pastoral and liberation. He attempts to describe each approach and highlight its strengths and weaknesses. He argues that all four have a biblical basis. 

Most often the debate is between the holiness and liberation approaches, but increasingly it is the pastoral approaches that is shaping the conversation, that certainly seemed to be what emerged in the language from the feedback given at the Assembly's discussion.

Wells wants to make space for all four approaches, each with something important to offer and the important challenge is we keep talking, with an openess to listen to others.

I suggest that Well's sermon is an excellent starting point for both ministers and churches.

I've highlighted other reading material here. See also the website of Affirming Baptists.

Comments

[John Rackley]

Good to remind us of the resource from the Union which helps a church consider its approach to the issues of human sexuality. Sad to relate that it has been around for a while and has not been well-taken up by churches.
Good to know that we are 'struggling' and 'wrestling' with 'graciousness'; hope this is not just a series of words that are like 'being on a journey' which in the end become empty of meaning because nothing actually changes! And just a question: I can see that there are pastoral and missional matters here to consider but can we also talk of simply being with people who are in Christ as we all are?

[Ted Last]

As a gay person I wholly mistrust the Church. I resent being treated as though I'm a freak and that somehow you need "four approaches" to deal with the problem. We are human beings like the rest of you , the only difference is that our sexual orientation is different. Deal with us in the same way as you would other people and ignore the fact that we are gay. We have the same feelings, hopes, problems as everyone else.