Time for church to stop arguing about sex
CHRIS Trotter asked in the ODT, on May 14, why parents are not up in arms about the teaching in state primary schools of ‘‘the fire and brimstone of Christian fundamentalism’’.
And well he might, if that is happening. Officially, it cannot happen in ‘‘school time’’, because state primary school education is, by law, secular. So the school is deemed, under Section 77 of the Education Act 1964, to be ‘‘closed’’, even though it is physically open, with the children present (unless their parents have withdrawn them), while religious instruction takes place.
That pretence seems dishonest, and it is surprising that churches arranged the fiction, and are keen to continue using it — are churches not supposed to be honest moral exemplars? But perhaps not too surprising. After all, many socalled Christians voted for, and continue to back, Donald Trump, despite his predatory sexual behaviour, racism, promotion of torture, and barefaced lying, and churches have a sad history of hiding sexual abuse by their authority figures.
As Mr Trotter remarks, there has been a trend, in Protestant churches, towards fundamentalism (Destiny is an extreme example), offering the illusion of security, in an insecure world, by preaching selective conformity to ancient understandings of God, personal salvation, and eternal damnation for those outside the fold, at the expense of much that Jesus taught.
Fire and brimstone is topical. Rugby player Israel Folau tweeted that homosexuals will go to hell unless they ‘‘repent’’, then tried to justify this by referencing Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 910.
Odd that, because in none of the six translations that Civis consulted does Paul mention hell — only his opinion that those committing homosexual acts with men (lesbians are apparently OK) will not go to heaven. Biblical ‘‘literalists’’ are hardly ever really literalist — how many of them refuse to eat pork, or to wear garments of mixed fibre? They often pick and choose what suits their own prejudices and insecurities.
Mr Trotter should not despair completely. Last month, Civis noted that the General SynodTe Hinota Whanui of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia was about to consider a recommendation which, while not amending the church’s formal description of marriage as the union of a man and a woman, would allow (but not require) individual clergy, with their bishop’s consent, to bless samesex marriages liturgically. The synodhinota agreed, by a substantial majority. It is only a first step, but it suggests that it is possible for reason and Christian love to trump prejudice.
Sadly, some found even that tiny step too much. Civis understands that noone resigned from General Synod over allowing remarriage of the divorced, though the Bible says Jesus condemned it, but, though there is no record of Jesus even mentioning samesex relationships, apparently three members of this synodhinota withdrew (that last happened over 40 years ago, when a layman resigned on a point of principle, because the synod voted to seek a way to break contracts without compensating the other parties) after the decision. It is to be hoped that such inconsistent, narrowminded intolerance of difference, is not evident in the Dunedin (OtagoSouthland) diocese.
The Most Rev Michael Curry, the first black Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church (of the United States), will preach at the marriage of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle. TEC has authorised clergy to celebrate samesex marriages (the Scottish Episcopal Church has also approved them), and therefore been denounced by some Anglican churches. Michael Curry was a leader in affirming those relationships.
Prince Harry’s grandmother is ‘‘Supreme Governor’’ of the Church of England, and ‘‘Fidei Defensor’’. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who will conduct the marriage, leads that church. Does the Presiding Bishop’s participation mean the C of E, too, is (unofficially) becoming more inclusive?
Perhaps the senior English lawyerpriest who assured Civis, some years ago, that reason will finally prevail in the church regarding samesex relationships, was right. Then it could stop arguing about sex, and concentrate on preaching Jesus’ message of inclusive love.