Church at odds with gay issue.

[MinFaluMuhammad]

Churches are poles apart in Presbyterian debate on gays
Two in Louisville reflect division as assembly begins
By Peter Smith, The Courier-Journal

When Dan and Ellen Finn were looking for a church, they settled on Central Presbyterian in downtown Louisville after one visit. The parents of four children wanted a church committed to social justice and diversity, including an openness to gays and lesbians.

''It had the right feel of being very inclusive and accepting,'' Ellen Finn said. ''We thought that was the best environment in which to raise our children.''

When Baptist seminarian Donna Jentes interned at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Windy Hills in the 1980s, she was so drawn to Calvin's vision of evangelism and biblical authority that she switched denominations and joined the church.

''What has kept me here is the church's Christ-centered worship and overall ministry,'' Jentes said. ''This church has always been very strong in encouraging people to be witnesses for Christ.''

Calvin and Central trace their roots to a common ancestor -- Fourth Avenue Presbyterian -- but they are at opposite ends of a family dispute that will flare up when delegates for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gather in Louisville tomorrow through June 16 for their General Assembly.

Liberal advocates will be urging the assembly to allow the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians, currently banned. Conservatives will defend the ban on gay clergy. But they see the sexuality debate as a symptom of a deeper conflict -- that the denomination has lost its voice on basic beliefs.

The liberal Central congregation is Louisville's most outspoken in favor of including gays and lesbians. The conservative Calvin is a defender of Christian doctrines it says are under attack.

Since the 1970s, Presbyterians have debated homosexuality, with conservatives saying it violates biblical morality and liberals saying Christians should be inclusive.

The convention comes just months after regional bodies reaffirmed church policy allowing same-sex unions, as long as they don't resemble weddings.

As a counterpoint to the expected vote on ordaining homosexual clergy, some conservative advocates will ask the General Assembly to reaffirm that Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation -- this after Presbyterian minister Dirk Ficca suggested otherwise at a church-sponsored conference.

Conservatives were dismayed that a church governing council defended such ''open dialogue'' even on core doctrine. As with homosexuality, they feel the authority of the Bible is being challenged. ''The question of whether Jesus is 'the way, the truth and the life' is so fundamental, I can't believe we're arguing about it,'' said Calvin elder Hal Bogard, quoting from the Gospel of John.

Central members, however, say the Gospel is under attack from those who would exclude groups of people. ''We see Jesus as a welcoming person and really believe Jesus would welcome gays and lesbians,'' said Eileene MacFalls, a retired worker for the Presbyterian headquarters in Louisville.

In that same spirit of inclusivity, Central members are not bothered by Ficca's speech. ''I would rather err on the side of welcoming too many people into God's family,'' said associate pastor Ann Deibert.

Despite their theological differences, Central and Calvin members say they are more than just cardboard cutouts of left and right.

Central members tell of their robust choir and their commitments to everything from hunger relief to nonviolent conflict resolution. Calvin members have kept busy preparing for the upcoming Billy Graham crusade and distributing Christmas gifts to needy children abroad.

But both churches fear a split in the denomination as bitter as any divorce.

''It might be better for the kids if they don't hear the parents fighting, but if some are forced out or choose to leave, there still will be a loss,'' Jentes said.

''My hope is that people won't have to believe the same to work together,'' said Central Pastor Mark Baridon. ''Certainly people in this church (Central) don't agree on every issue.''

Where Central members do agree is summarized by the sign outside their historic stone edifice: ''Celebrate God's wildly inclusive love Sunday at 11 a.m.''

While Central's leaders estimate that about a third of its congregation is homosexual, the church doesn't view itself as a gay church but rather an ordinary congregation in which homosexual members can take part.

That approach impressed Nick Wilkerson, an elder at Central who is gay. ''I wanted an integrated church as opposed to an all-gay or lesbian church,'' he said.

Central, formed in a 1957 merger of Fourth Avenue and Warren Memorial Presbyterian churches, has a history of supporting liberal causes.

But age and suburban flight had taken its toll by the time the Rev. Ron Reinhardt took the pulpit in 1980.

''I looked out the first Sunday and saw 20 people, two of whom met me at the back door saying they were going to celebrate their 90th birthdays,'' said Reinhardt, who retired in 1998. ''The building was a wreck.''

Reinhardt hired seminarians who developed social and educational outreaches, slowly reviving the church.

About that time, a gay man who attended Central and had been ''wrestling with his sexuality'' committed suicide, Reinhardt said.

The tragedy prompted Central to affiliate with More Light Presbyterians, a group of 106 congregations nationwide that advocates gay inclusion.

The More Light label attracted retired minister Dick Carlson and his wife. One of their sons is gay, and ''we wouldn't feel at home in a congregation where he would be disrespected,'' Carlson said.

In the last three years, Central has grown from 130 to 200 members, with weekly attendance of about 150. Rising donations have funded repairs to Central's historic sanctuary and sponsored various charities.

''The church practices what it preaches,'' Baridon said.

So does Calvin, its members busy with Bible studies, evangelistic campaigns and social outreaches. About 200 people attend weekly worship.

''People here are serious Christians,'' said Jentes, Calvin's director of education and spiritual nurture. ''Not so serious that we don't have fun . . . (but) people here have always put feet and hands on their faith.''

Calvin, formed in the 1950s as a suburban mission of Fourth Avenue Presbyterian, now has about 400 members. That's down from 1,000 in the early 1990s -- due in part to an updating of membership rolls.

While rejecting the gay-bashing rhetoric of some conservative Christians, Calvin members say the Bible is clear: The only proper sexual relationship is within marriage. All people, gay or not, struggle with sin, Pastor Paul Detterman said. ''Do we respect and value somebody as another human being? Without question, yes,'' he said. ''(But) the biblical witness as we understand it is that there is a transformation power of the Gospel which does not leave any of us where we are but calls us to a Godgiven righteousness and to repent of the things that keep us from God.''

Longtime elder Evelyn Byrd sounded a different note, saying she feared Christians who ''are very zealous about fixing other people.''

Several people who grew up in the church are gay and lesbian, she noted.

''Fixing'' people isn't part of Central's agenda, said MacFalls. She noted that churches have used the Bible to justify slavery, prohibit divorce and restrict women.

''The day will come when they will apologize for the persecution and treatment of gay and lesbian people,'' she said. But, she added, ''I am afraid it won't happen in my lifetime.''

She expressed hope that people on both sides ''can live together in the same denomination.''

Detterman said liberals and conservatives need each other.

''A homogenous church of likeminded people is a very dangerous thing,'' said Detterman, a former associate for worship at Presbyterian headquarters in Louisville. ''There is no challenge for us to grow in our own faith and understanding if all the essentials are assumed across the board.''


Peace and Blessing. As Salaam Alaykum. I am a Muslim minister in the Nation Of Islam. I brought this article to your attention being that this hits close to home with me. My younger brother is gay. I do distinguish ones sin above another. All sin is the same. However, it seems to me that spirituality is something that is at odds with the gay community. I attended the American Family Conference which is a huge supporter of George W. Bush and the Republican Party in Washington D.C. There I came across a man who was distributing a book entitled, 'How to stop the gay/lesbian movement.' I have a copy of his book and he makes it clear that his motives is to openly oppose gay ordinances, fairness acts, etc. As a Muslim, I am opposed to homosexual behavior, as well as all other sinful behavior. Being that religion, and scripture speak of homosexuality as an abomination, how do homosexuals seek and obtain spirituality. I know you believe in God, and there is a movement of homosexual clergy going on in the United States. But, how do you view your sexual preference in terms of your sexuality? I do not consider myself homophobic. Homophobic meaning fear of homosexual activity. I ask this because I am trying to convey a common interaction with churches, mosques, and synagogues with their homosexual members. It is easy to point the finger and turn your back, but Jesus said, 'He who hath not sinned, cast the first stone.' None of us can cast that stone. I believe the word of God, whether it be from the Bible and Qur'an, if ministered correctly, can heal the problems in the world. My brother is under a lot of pain. He also has contracted the HIV virus. The amount of gay Black and Latino men who have contracted the virus has grown immensely. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. No one deserves to suffer. And those that do suffer, are redeemed. I feel that dialogue needs to be opened with those of us who say we are preachers and with those among the homosexual community to reach a healing. I am open to all questions and comments. Feel free to ask me and tell me anything. I thank you for reading these few words.

your brother and servant,

Hector Falu-Muhammad

[NJ7070]

My heart goes out to those who are gay. The scrutiny is enough to to drive many gays to depression and even suicide. I have learned a lot about gay men and women. I know that they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are loathed and octrasized. it must something awful to have to go through this sort of thing day in and day out. I don't view them as evil like some hard liners like to portray them.

NJ7070