Monday, May 12, 1997 --
A statement endorsed by 68 Christian
clergy and additional non-Christian clergy was released today at a press
conference at First Congregational Church, Madison, Wisconsin
A Madison Affirmation: On Homosexuality and Christian Faith
Jesus Christ calls us to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. As
Christian clergy we embrace gay and lesbian persons as our neighbors. From
our reading of scripture and from our pastoral experiences, we believe
there is sufficient evidence to conclude that homosexuality is neither
sickness nor sin. For too long, homosexual persons have been condemned and
mistreated by the followers of Jesus Christ. Sadly, the Bible has been
misused in support of this condemnation. This abuse of scripture must end.
Heterosexual and homosexual persons are children of God, created in God's
image. We invite Christians to prayerfully re-examine scripture and their
consciences for any vestiges of hatred or prejudice against their
homosexual brothers and sisters.
We strongly uphold the family as the basic social unit in which we are
called to live together and to give and receive nurture and support. We
often find the term "family values" applied to only some Christian
families. Gay and lesbian persons live among us as our brothers and
sisters, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, uncles and aunts, nephews
and nieces. We believe in the value of loving, committed families for all
God's children. We support families who provide love and affirmation for
each of their members. We are saddened and concerned by the breakdown of
the family that stems from various forms of infidelity, violence, and
failure to maintain long-term commitments---among both heterosexual and
homosexual communities. We commit ourselves to the encouragement and
blessing of relationships that meet the test of fidelity and loving
nurture.
We believe it is time to eliminate all policies and practices which
create barriers and restrictions to the full participation of gay and
lesbian Christians in all of the privileges and responsibilities of church
membership. Recognizing that our churches still speak and act out of our
longstanding prejudices:
- we hope and pray that we will acknowledge our sin and be forgiven
for our ignorance, fear, arrogance and self-righteousness;
- we commit ourselves and encourage others to engage in the study of
scripture and open dialogue with other disciplines to allow the
Holy Spirit to teach new understanding;
- we rejoice in the refusal of many gay and lesbian Christians to
abandon or be forced out of their church homes;
- we are moved by their gracious response to years of intolerance
and inspired by their creative and courageous service to the gospel
of Jesus Christ;
- we consider these sisters and brothers to be a unique, holy, and
precious gift to all of us who struggle to become the family of
God.
We hope and pray that those who have left our churches will in God's
time return to full and unqualified membership in the Christian community
and by their presence help us to be renewed as the church of Jesus Christ."
This statement is addressed to the Christian community since much of
the anti-gay rhetoric in Wisconsin comes from the right wing of the
Christian church. Non-Christian clergy signed in support of the Christian
clergy and the statement remains open to other signatures which can be
added by mailing one's intention to: First Congregational UCC, 1609
University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 or by Fax to 608/233-7180. Questions
should be addressed to the Convenor of the writing group, The Reverend Paul
Kittlaus, pastor of First Congregational, or to
Woody Carey
Web publication of this document provided by the
Interfaith Working Group Online