Pastors: Homosexuality not a sin (100 ordained Christian ministers have signed the proclamation)

OneNewsNow ^ | 07/20/2011 | Russ Jones

[SeekAndFind]

A group of Omaha pastors has issued a proclamation that states homosexuality is not a sin.

More than 100 ordained Christian ministers have signed the proclamation, including leaders from Lutheran, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

David Bydalek is executive director of Family First, the family policy council for the state of Nebraska. He deems this effort troubling for many Nebraskans and contends the ministers involved are from liberal denominations that do not respect the orthodox biblical teaching on homosexuality.

[InvisibleChurch]

I’d like to see the proclamation. Is it somewhere to be read?

[momtothree]

“No sarc tag needed...”

I put in the sarc tag for FR purists. LOL! Amazing to me that some people will “religion shop” in order to do whatever they want without the feeling of guilt.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: I’d like to see the proclamation. Is it somewhere to be read?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE HEARTLAND PROCLAMATION

http://www.heartlandproclamation.org/

As Christian clergy

We proclaim the Good News concerning Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons and publicly apologize where we have been silent. As disciples of Jesus, who assures us that the truth sets us free, we recognize that the debate is over. The verdict is in. Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a choice, and not a sin.

We find no rational biblical or theological basis to condemn or deny the rights of any person based on sexual orientation. Silence by many has allowed political and religious rhetoric to monopolize public perception, creating the impression that there is only one Christian perspective on this issue. Yet we recognize and celebrate that we are far from alone, as Christians, in affirming that LGBT persons are distinctive, holy, and precious gifts to all who struggle to become the family of God.

In repentance and obedience to the Holy Spirit, we stand in solidarity as those who are committed to work and pray for full acceptance and inclusion of LGBT persons in our churches and in our world. We lament that LGBT persons are condemned and excluded by individuals and institutions, political and religious, who claim to be speaking the truth of Christian teaching. This leads directly and indirectly to intolerance, discrimination, suffering, and even death. The Holy Spirit compels us:

* To affirm that the essence of Christian life is not focused on sexual orientation, but how one lives by grace in relationship with God, with compassion toward humanity;

* To embrace the full inclusion of our LGBT brothers and sisters in all areas of church life, including leadership;

* To declare that the violence must stop. Christ’s love moves us to work for the healing of wounded souls who are victims of abuse often propagated in the name of Christ;

* To celebrate the prophetic witness of all people who have refused to let the voice of intolerance and violence speak for Christianity, especially LGBT persons, who have met hatred with love;

Therefore we call for an end to all religious and civil discrimination against any person based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. All laws must include and protect the freedoms, rights, and equal legal standing of all persons, in and outside the church.

[massmike]

Communist Goals (1963)

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion.

http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/comgoals.htm

[PeterPrinciple]

When you are your own God, you get to decide what sin is. This is eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, when we were offered the tree of life.

[vicar7]

Sayin it does not make it so methinks. The day my pastor signed it would be the last day I was part of that flock.

[Bed_Zeppelin]

"But having the desire is one thing. Doing the deed is another."

There is also a sin of the heart whether it is acted on or not.

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:28

[magritte]

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:28

Holy Jimmy Carter !! Is this just Evangelicals that believe this one?

[calex59]

So, these are supposedly Christians ministers who, somehow, have convinced themselves the Christian bible isn’t relevant when it comes to queers? I fail to see how you can be a Christian and not believe in the bible and it’s teachings.

[Rippin]

Homosexual behavior is a sin all the time. Heterosexual behavior is a sin most of time (in this culture.) Homosexuality is not a sin. Heterosexuality is not a sin.

Without a link to the actual statement (not a response to what it supposedly said) maybe I agree. The left wants us to define homosexuality as = to homosexual behavior. Once they do that the truth loses. Why do conservatives fall for these stupid gambits.

[Hoffer Rand]

100 pastors who haven’t read Romans 1. Although once I had a pastor try to convince me that Romans 1 wasn’t condemning homosexuality, it was condemning heterosexual men who were engaging in homosexual sex. We were in a Sunday School class when he proffered this view. I just blurted out, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. That’s like saying ‘I’m not an adulterer, I’m just cheating on my wife.’” He didn’t see the correlation...

[AD from SpringBay]

Isn’t this nice - changing scripture to fit the times. How special. There is a difference between a Pastor and bastors such as these.

[PeterPrinciple]

. But having the desire is one thing. Doing the deed is another.

---

I understand what you are trying to say but there is also a lot of reference as to what you think is what you are. And what we think about and desire is usually what we do. Thinking and desiring are just another form of doing.

The homersexuals are right in saying “why are you picking on my sin.” We should be holding everyone to higher standards.

[Ransomed]

“...didn’t realize there was a GLBT version of the Bible.”

The Queen James Version.

Freegards

[wagglebee]

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[republicanbred]

They have truly sold their souls to the devil, but there will be a day of reckoning!

[joesbucks]

It may be a moot point, but the article would carry more weight if it contained the scripture and reasoning that formulated the decision these pastoral leaders had came to. In its present form, it’s simply a rant.

[xzins]

This, of course, ignores both the Bible’s numerous passages rejecting homosexuality and it ignores 2000 years of church tradition and history.

[Wuli]

“including leaders from Lutheran, Episcopalian, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches”

The usual suspects, No???

[upsdriver]

100+ pastors are destined to hell