Homosexuality and Christianity - Christian Denominational Positions

Christian Denominational Positions

Main article: List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality

The many Christian denominations vary in their position on homosexuality, from seeing it as sinful, through being divided on the issue, to seeing it as morally acceptable. Even within a denomination, individuals and groups may hold different views.

The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church Seventh-day Adventist Church, do not condemn same-sex sexual attraction in itself. All Orthodox jurisdictions, such as the Orthodox Church in America, have taken the approach of welcoming people with "homosexual feelings and emotions," while encouraging them to work towards "overcoming its harmful effects in their lives," while not allowing the sacraments to people who seek to justify homosexual activity. The Roman Catholic Church views as sinful any sexual act not related to procreation by couple joined under the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is opposed to same-gender sexual practices and relationships on the grounds that "sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman."

The Christian Reformed Church of North America has taken a negative stance, referring to homosexuality as "a condition of distorted sexuality that reflects the brokenness of our sinful world." While the CRC does not advocate banishing same sex oriented people, it does take the position that homosexual people should not live a homosexual lifestyle. This position is grounded in a conceptual distinction which argues that homosexual orientation is not sinful, but homosexualism, or acting on same sex desires, is sinful and should be avoided.

LGBT-affirming denominations regard homosexuality as a natural occurrence. Many Mainline Protestant churches are open and affirming to gay and lesbian couples. The United Church of Christ celebrates gay marriage, and some parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches allow for the blessing of gay unions. The United Church of Canada also allows same-sex marriage, and views sexual orientation as a gift from God. Within the Anglican communion there are openly gay clergy, for example, Gene Robinson is an openly gay Bishop in the US Episcopal Church. Within the Lutheran communion there are openly gay clergy, for example, bishop Eva Brunne is an openly lesbian Bishop in the Church of Sweden. Such religious groups and denominations interpretation of scripture and doctrine leads them to accept that homosexuality is morally acceptable, and a natural occurrence. For example, in 1988 the United Church of Canada, that country's largest Protestant denomination, affirmed that "a) All persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be or become full member of the Church; and b) All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry." In 2000, the Church's General Assembly further affirmed that "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvelous diversity of creation."