When Black Churches Accept Homosexuality
Breaking tradition isn’t easyby j. brotherlove
Church and homosexuality seems to be in the news every week. Could it be due to the upcoming election, ping pong legislation on same sex marriage, or are people really having renewed conflict between their faith and homosexuality?
Adding to the discussion is the recent New York Times article detailing the struggle some African American pastors are facing when they choose to accept gay members and stop preaching against homosexuality from the pulpit.
Several pastors are highlighted including, Reverend Dennis Meredith, of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta, who changed his stance on homosexuality after his son told him he was gay. The result of his decision has caused a decrease in congregation and finances over the past five years as many longstanding members leave the church.
Not surprising since the African American community has a longstanding connection to the Christian faith and find it difficult to resolve the overwhelming interpretation of the Bible that homosexuality is a sin and “an abomination” — especially in the South.
Black LGBT are faced with traditional churches that preach against homosexuality, non-traditional “accepting” churches, or not attending church at all.
Of course, not all black LGBT folk follow Christianity. Prominent blogs like Republic of T and That Black Lesbian Jew are examples of how an increasing number of African Americans choose religions outside of Christianity; including myself.
Unfortunately, Christianity has a popularity and political reach that leads to faith-based legislation, entitlement and narrowmindness like the following from Lashawn Barber:
“…I know Christians have their faults. We’re still sinners, after all. But I think about how much better life would be if everyone I met, everyone I heard, everyone I worked with, every writer I read… was a Christian.”
Good luck with that, Lashawn. A world full of Stepford Barbers sounds like Hell to me. As for the idea we are all sinners, I side with Greg Marzullo who wrote in Debunking the ‘Bible defense’:
“Actually, we’re not. Only those who believe in sin are sinners. The rest of us are making choices — some work out, some don’t. Sometimes we do things based in compassion, beauty and love. Sometimes we act selfishly and cruelly.”
Amen.
It’s a good thing there is more than one religion in the world.
While peoples religion is Important to them…How a black person could blatantly discriminate against gays “Using the Bible” to do so…seems hypocritical. Considering Whites USED the Bible to KEEP slavery, and to Prevent Inter-racial marriages, and Segregation! Anyone could interpret the Bible to fit thier agenda…blacks should know this more then anyone, since it WAS used against them.
White folks have been using the Bible to control blacks for years. Why do you think Bush won AGAIN? lol
The part of the argument that makes my skin crawl is “Only those who believe in sin are sinners.” I left my former church when that church, which has always taught something like “God calls upon gays to be celibate,” started spending my donation money on politicking against civil gay marriage. But I agree with that church that God knows right from wrong and will set us straight (even if he doesn’t punish anyone) when our time in this world is done. What sort of God do we believe in if we think God has no moral or ethical expectations of us? I hope that I never cease to believe that God expects us all to cultivate high ethical standards and act on them, rather than follow some “I’m okay, you’re okay” creed.
Thank you for your comment, Willie. You bring up an extremely valid point; one that many of us share.
It’s the association of “sin” with morality that’s causing a disconnect with me. The “we’re all sinners” phrase often smells of blind regurgitation to me.
I’m not suggesting there shouldn’t be an ethical core by which we live. However, morality can (and in many cases, should) exist outside of a religious context.
My struggles have always been around the Christian bible and how it has been translated, interpreted (and reinterpreted) over the years with an agenda to oppress. These days it’s more often used as a political tool than a source of inspiration and guidance. Frankly, that book doesn’t hold a lot of weight over how I live my life.
I believe in a spiritual component to life (sometimes I use the word “god”; sometimes not). But that doesn’t prevent me from living with ethical standards.
Well, as a practicing homosexual who does not get as much sex as I would like, and one who grew up in COGIC, I say to heck with all those fools. They are all money grubbing parasites who prey on the uneducated with fear of the “unknown.” Its odd, they can twist and choose how to deal with gays and lesbians, my parents being a perfect example, my dad is a Pastor and my Mother an evangelist and a pretty good one since she is al over the place. Yet, when it comes to me the gay son, nary a peep has ever been said, nor have they ever said anything about my Moms favorite cousin, a flaming queen who is well known within music circles in LA and San Diego.
But, they will scream that gay rights isn’t the same as black civil rights, I turn them off, just like I did organized religion years ago, they gave me and my siblings a choice take it or leave it, and all but two of us left it. Black people are brainwashed by the Bible beyond belief, and those are the same fools who put Bush back in the White House with that whole silly marriage crap.
Until those in the pews rise up, the hate the sin love the sinner mentality will prevail.
Plenty of good people and not just blacks, have either left the church, or refuse to attend, because of the homophobia which exist in many churches. And I too, don’t understand how a black person with all the discrimination that we have faced, can justify keeping another person down, for any reason. To be at odds, is one thing. To be about and encourage discrimination, is another. Furthermore, what’s with these people who believe that equality is only due them? When I meet such a person, I’m always amazed. And I don’t care what anyone says gay rights, is a civil rights issue.
You know, Big Mike, I’m one of the few I assume black, out gay men who does not equate the gay civil rights issue with the black one. The original civil rights landmark law made successes possible for one group more than any other, white women. I somehow doubt that gays of color will benefit at all from any real passage of an sexuality equality law, but, hey, that’s just me. I still see how men and women of color are treated less than civil by most white gay establishments, be it bars, restaurants or even a bookstore, where they won’t even hire a person of color to work for them, so, count me out when they try and equate the two. They still have a thousand times more rights privileges and than I could ever imagine, so, the only law I need is one that stops employment discrimination based on sexuality and the one that says family comes first over personal relationships in health matters.
Yeah, church and sexuality in the news every couple of weeks…and what good does it do?
The media still uses the race card as a wedge tool. If I have to hear one more person talking about the black church is more homophobic…more than who? When I turn on the TV, it’s white guys I see. White men want to make it so I can’t get married, keep a job, go to church in peace. The only black man I see on TV about it here in Seattle is Rev. Ken Hutcherson, and I hate to say, but he’s not even a bit player.
And as a white transgender man, I know enough about the mainstream white gay community to point out our racism too. Our movies, music, magazines, ads, anything that is “in” for mainstream queerness also means that it’s white, able-bodied, muscular with no body fat, and usually Abercrombie pretty too.
I do not bust my tail for queer folks so we can grow up to be a bunch of Aberzombies working in an ADA inaccessible non-profit rehashing the same four issues over and over.
Grrrr…thanks for letting me rant.
Lincoln
“Our movies, music, magazines, ads, anything that is “in” for mainstream queerness also means that it’s white, able-bodied, muscular with no body fat, and usually Abercrombie pretty too.”
Well stated, Lincoln. “Aberzombies” is my new favorite word.
This is all too sad…regarding color and sexual preference. Whether you are Christian or not, there is Love. I believe God loves us all, I believe the Bible is TRUTH, and I believe it is NOT the right of anyone to judge another for any reason. That is God’s job…and I believe His greatest command was to LOVE. It is sad when people feel the need to judge others, for any reason, that they are somehow better than the next. I think the phrase “We are all sinners” is appropriate, in the fact that no one has greater sin than another, and that all will come before God and that is when judgement will stand. But here on earth, LOVE..no matter race, religion, or sexual preference. That is what Christianity is based on…Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His unbelievable ability to love the unlovable. That is what Christians should focus on…Let Go of the HATE!!
I am a 18 yr old black african american lesbian myself I grew up in the church playing the drumset and doing other thing around the church like attending sunday school, youth activties, and even going on church trips. I feel that i am christian yes it is a sin to be an homosexual I know that but its also a sin to be something that your not. Yes I do read the bible and still attend church. Yes I had some experiance of going to church and pastor’s talk about homosexuality. But I am not going to change for nobody people love me for who I am. Every since I came out I have lost friends and made more friends then ever.I feel that people should stop having hate on people who are them and start loving. I am not racist of any race or person out there in the world people make mistakes. God forgives and loves us all. ALL I CAN SAY IS ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME.
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