At the time I testified before the Minnesota Legislature concerning the sexual orientation amendment to the state’s Human Rights Act, one of the legislators felt she was giving me an irrefutible challenge: "Come on now, how many Austin churches do you think would accept a gay or lesbian?".

Monday, October 18, 1999

At the time I testified before the Minnesota Legislature concerning the sexual orientation amendment to the state’s Human Rights Act, one of the legislators felt she was giving me an irrefutible challenge: "Come on now, how many Austin churches do you think would accept a gay or lesbian?"

I would like to believe all or almost all churches would, but not in the way or on the terms she seems to expect. Certainly not in the manner demanded by gay and lesbian political activists.

A normal, wholesome church will welcome gays and lesbians for worship, fellowship, and to receive ministry on exactly the same basis they do anyone else – from the understandings of which the church is convinced.

I, though a Baptist for an example, am sincerely and earnestly welcomed into Roman Catholic churches and made to feel welcomed. They conduct their official liturgy, and I am welcomed to participate or observe as ever I feel appropriate. The priests invite me to Eucharist, asking only that I affirm "the real presence" in the elements.

Not being able to do so honestly, I abstain, with both their understanding and blessing. I would not say to the priests: "Don’t you dare discriminate against me by withholding Eucharist because I have a right to my own doctrine of communion. I demand that you change your bigoted dogma because I am offended by it." The Catholic churches have their beliefs and enjoy the right to practice them without my interference.

So, too, I and my Baptist church have our beliefs. Catholics are welcome to worship with us but, like them in their churches, we set the terms. They are welcome to take communion in our church if they concur with our understanding of it. None has ever accused us of discriminating against him because of being Catholic nor has any ever demanded we change our doctrine in the name of tolerance.

Comity includes personal morals as well as official doctrine. If a man comes to a church and proclaims he is engaged in an extra-marital affair, the church says: Welcome, Friend. Please join us in worship and accept our ministry. If you hear a sermon or lesson on sexual propriety or marital faithfulness, don’t be surprised. Argue with us privately about them, if you find that helpful. But don’t complain we are making you uncomfortable, and certainly don’t try to persuade other husbands here to be as unfaithful to their wives as you are to yours. This is our belief and it is part of who we are. We would surrender our integrity and become impotent if we accommodated to your peculiar beliefs. You join us and we’ll accept you. Please don’t try to change us into you.

There seems always to be some churches who do not recognize homosexuality as a moral issue and some who delight in actual affirmation. While such churches are understandably more attractive, a gay or lesbian is wise to consider a church’s ability to meet total spiritual and moral needs. A gay or lesbian may be enamored with an excited welcome only to learn the church is less interested in the person than it is in its own political agenda.

What other churches say to those of different beliefs or to an adulterer about morals is rather much the approach a normal, wholesome church can be expected to take with gays and lesbians. They recognize the Bible teaches marriage between male and female and sexuality to be heterosexual (if, indeed, any term other than "sexual" is actually appropriate) and such become the doctrine of the church. If one so objects that he cannot be comfortable worshipping there, the church understands if that person worships elsewhere. But gays and lesbians are always welcome.

This is not to guarantee that in no church will they ever sense any discomfort or hear (more likely over-hear) unkind remarks. Such embarrass and even disgust me, too. This sort of thing comes from those who more need to receive ministry than they are able to give it.

Yes, gays and lesbians will be accepted at most Austin churches. They, like us, are sinners in need of redemption from whatever expression our particular sins have taken. What the churches offer are their distinctive ministries to what they understand gay and lesbian needs to be.

Wallace Alcorn’s column appears Mondays