Homosexuality and the United Church of Canada

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Although the United Church of Canada is one of the few mainstream Christian denominations to both ordain LGBTQ clergy and consecrate same-sex marriages, support for these issues have caused deep divisions within the church.

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LGBTQ clergy

At the time of its inception in 1925, the United Church of Canada considered homosexuality a sin, and openly LGBTQ persons were rejected as candidates for ministry. By the 1970s, attitudes had changed, and as early as 1977, the United Church urged Canada's Parliament to amend human rights laws to protect gay men and lesbians against discrimination. [1]

Although openly gay candidates were still rejected for ministry, that began to change on August 17, 1980, when a United Church of Canada task force released In God's Image... Male and Female, its report on sexual ethics, which stated "there is no reason in principle why mature, self-accepting homosexuals, any more than mature, self-accepting heterosexuals, should not be ordained or commissioned." [1] That same year, however, an openly lesbian candidate's application for ordination was rejected. [1] [2]

In 1988, a task force released Gift, Dilemma, and Promise: A Report and Affirmations of Human Sexuality that stated that all human beings, regardless of sexual orientation, are persons made in the image of God, and recommended that the church welcome sexually active gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals into all aspects of the Church, including the ministry. [1]

A poll taken within the church revealed that only 28% of members supported this concept, and conservative factions vowed to defeat the proposal that would be tabled at the 32nd General Council later that year. [1] However, the General Council commissioners, by a 3-to-1 majority, endorsed a statement called Membership, Ministry and Human Sexuality that stated "all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, who profess their faith in Jesus Christ are welcome to be or become members of The United Church of Canada" and that "all members of the United Church are eligible to be considered for ordered ministry." [3] Taken together, these two statements opened the door for openly gay men and women to join the ministry. [3]

Many conservative church members were vehemently opposed this, and over the next four years, membership fell by 78,184. [4] In some cases, congregations split, with a sizeable faction — sometimes led by the minister — leaving to form an independent church. In some cases, entire congregations elected to leave the church, some of these joining other Protestant denominations like the re-constituted Congregational Christian Churches in Canada or the Presbyterian Church in Canada. [5]

In 1992, Tim Stevenson became the first openly gay man to be ordained as a minister by the United Church. [6]

In 2012, the church elected Gary Paterson (the husband of Tim Stevenson) as its Moderator, the first openly gay man elected to lead the church, [6] and the first openly gay leader of a major Christian denomination in Canada. [7]

Same-sex marriage

In 1992, although same-sex marriages did not exist in Canada, the 34th General Council called for liturgical and pastoral resources for same-sex covenants be made available to congregations. In 1999, representatives of the Church appeared before Parliament's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to speak in favour of a bill extending survivor pension rights to same-sex couples on the same basis as those in heterosexual relationships. In 2000, the 37th General Council resolved to support the civil recognition of same-sex partnerships. In 2003, at the 37th General Council, commissioners affirmed that "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvellous diversity of creation." When later that year, courts in Ontario and British Columbia ruled in favour of same-sex marriage, church leadership called upon the government of Canada to extend these rulings across the country. [1] [8] Representatives of the church appeared before the Justice Committee considering a bill to authorize same-sex marriages. [9] Moderator Peter Short editorialized in national newspapers and wrote to Members of Parliament on behalf of the church. [1]

Coming seventeen years after the divisions caused by the issue of gay ordination, the same-sex marriage issue again divided liberal congregations willing to consecrate same-sex weddings from those that did not. This caused some more members to step away from the United Church. [10]

Although there are many United Church congregations that now allow same-sex marriages to take place within their sanctuaries, there are many that do not. Nonetheless, the schisms that divided the church appear to be healing as acceptance of gay ordination and same-sex marriage become more widespread. Conservative factions such as the United Church Renewal Fellowship (UCRF) and the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations have seen their membership decline since 2000, with the latter now only claiming 75 of the United Church's more than 2000 congregations as members. [1]

Related Research Articles

Within Christianity, there are a variety of views on sexual orientation and homosexuality. The view that various Bible passages speak of homosexuality as immoral or sinful emerged in the first millennium AD, and have since become entrenched in many Christian denominations through church doctrine and the wording of various translations of the Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heterosexuality</span> Attraction between people of the opposite sex or gender

Heterosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between people of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to people of the opposite sex; it "also refers to a person's sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions." Someone who is heterosexual is commonly referred to as straight.

The subject of homosexuality and Judaism dates back to the Torah. The book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is traditionally regarded as classifying sexual intercourse between males as a to'eivah that can be subject to capital punishment by the current Sanhedrin under halakha.

The relationship between religion and homosexuality has varied greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and denominations, with regard to different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. The present-day doctrines of the world's major religions and their denominations differ in their attitudes toward these sexual orientations. Adherence to anti-gay religious beliefs and communities is correlated with the prevalence of emotional distress and suicidality in sexual minority individuals, and is a primary motivation for seeking conversion therapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Church of Canada</span> Protestant denomination in Canada

The United Church of Canada is a mainline Protestant denomination that is the largest Protestant Christian denomination in Canada and the second largest Canadian Christian denomination after the Catholic Church in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uniting Church in Australia</span> Australian Christian denomination

The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union of Australia united under the Basis of Union. According to the church, it had 243,000 members in 2018. In the 2016 census, about 870,200 Australians identified with the church; in the 2011 census, the figure was 1,065,796. The UCA is Australia's third-largest Christian denomination, behind the Catholic and the Anglican Churches. There are around 2,000 UCA congregations, and 2001 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) research indicated that average weekly attendance was about 10 per cent of census figures.

Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution "rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture". However, this is not legally binding. "Like all Lambeth Conference resolutions, it is not legally binding on all provinces of the Communion, including the Church of England, though it commends an essential and persuasive view of the attitude of the Communion." "Anglican national churches in Brazil, South Africa, South India, New Zealand and Canada have taken steps toward approving and celebrating same-sex relationships amid strong resistance among other national churches within the 80 million-member global body. The Episcopal Church in the U.S. has allowed same-sex marriage since 2015, and the Scottish Episcopal Church has allowed same-sex marriage since 2017." In 2017, clergy within the Church of England indicated their inclination towards supporting same-sex marriage by dismissing a bishops' report that explicitly asserted the exclusivity of church weddings to unions between a man and a woman. At General Synod in 2019, the Church of England announced that same-gender couples may remain recognised as married after one spouse experiences a gender transition. In 2023, the Church of England announced that it would authorise "prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God's blessing for same-sex couples."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Community Church</span> International LGBT-affirming Protestant Christian denomination

The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), also known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC), is an international LGBT-affirming mainline Protestant Christian denomination. There are 222 member congregations in 37 countries, and the fellowship has a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender families and communities.

The blessing or wedding of same-sex marriages and same-sex unions is an issue about which leaders of Christian churches are in ongoing disagreement. Traditionally, Christianity teaches that homosexual acts are sinful and that holy matrimony can only exist between two persons of different sexes. These disagreements are primarily centred on the interpretation of various scripture passages related to homosexuality, sacred tradition, and in some churches on varying understandings of homosexuality in terms of psychology, genetics and other scientific data. While numerous church bodies have widely varying practices and teachings, individual Christians of every major tradition are involved in practical (orthopraxy) discussions about how to respond to the issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reconciling Ministries Network</span> Religious organization

The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is an organization seeking the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of United Methodist Church. It is one of many Welcoming Congregation organizations to emerge in American Christianity in the 1980s. The ministry has over 1100 affiliated congregations and 42,000 affiliated individuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Restoration Church of Jesus Christ</span> Defunct LDS church

The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ (RCJC), based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a church in the Latter Day Saint movement that catered primarily to the spiritual needs of LGBT Latter Day Saints. It was founded in 1985 and was dissolved 25 years later in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unitarian Universalism and LGBT people</span> Relationship between Unitarian Universalism and LGBT people

Unitarian Universalism, as practiced by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), is a non-Creedal and Liberal theological tradition and an LGBTQ affirming denomination.

Attitudes in Presbyterianism toward homosexuality vary, ranging from outright condemnation to complete acceptance.

Methodist viewpoints concerning homosexuality are diverse because there is no one denomination which represents all Methodists. The World Methodist Council, which represents most Methodist denominations, has no official statements regarding sexuality. British Methodism holds a variety of views, and permits ministers to bless same-gender marriages. United Methodism, which covers the United States, the Philippines, parts of Africa, and parts of Europe, concentrates on the position that the same-sex relations are incompatible with "Christian teaching", but extends ministry to persons of a homosexual orientation, holding that all individuals are of sacred worth.

Many views are held or have been expressed by religious organisation in relation to same-sex marriage. Arguments both in favor of and in opposition to same-sex marriage are often made on religious grounds and/or formulated in terms of religious doctrine. Although many of the world's religions are opposed to same-sex marriage, the number of religious denominations that are conducting same-sex marriages have been increasing since 2010. Religious views on same-sex marriage are closely related to religious views on homosexuality.

The ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) clergy who are open about their sexuality or gender identity; are sexually active if lesbian, gay, or bisexual; or are in committed same-sex relationships is a debated practice within some contemporary Christian denominations.

The first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clergy in Judaism were ordained as rabbis and/or cantors in the second half of the 20th century.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) affirming denominations in Judaism are Jewish religious groups that welcome LGBT members and do not consider homosexuality to be a sin. They include both entire Jewish denominations, as well as individual synagogues. Some are composed mainly of non-LGBT members and also have specific programs to welcome LGBT people, while others are composed mainly of LGBT members.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Summers, Claude J. (2008). "United Church of Canada" (PDF). GLBTQ. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  2. ↑ "United Church Talks to Focus on Sex Study: Homosexual Ordination an Issue". Globe and Mail. 9 August 1980.
  3. 1 2 "Overview: Historical Timeline". The United Church of Canada. March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  4. ↑ Trueman, Dawn (April 2010). "Going Backwards for 20 Years: United Church Membership Loss (1988 - 2008)" (PDF). Concern. Hamilton, Ontario: Community of Concern. XXI (1): 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  5. ↑ Grove, Leslie (July 30, 1990). "Reverend Donald Prince watches his new church blossom and grow" (PDF). The Citizen. III (7D). Retrieved 2010-03-11.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 Butler, Don (August 16, 2012). "United Church of Canada elects first openly gay moderator". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012.
  7. ↑ McCracken, Krista (2013-07-22). "Internal Conflict: 25 years of LGBT Advocacy in the United Church". Active History. Huron University and College, University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  8. ↑ "UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA AND HOMOSEXUALITY". www.religioustolerance.org. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  9. ↑ "Partners Task Force - United Church of Canada Support for Legal Recognition". www.buddybuddy.com.
  10. ↑ "Chronology of Marriage and Equality Rights in the United Church". Archived from the original on 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
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