At 93, I’m trying to wrap up some of my end-of-life business. One of my efforts over the last 40 years was to try to understand the LGBTQ issue and how it fits into our church dialogue and theological understanding.
Every church in the world is trying to understand how to deal with homosexuality. How do we accept LGBTQ people who have faith in Christ and are asking to become full members of our churches? They aren’t trying to disparage the church; they want to become worshiping members.
Homosexuality is not like smallpox or measles. It can’t be eradicated with man-made laws, church dictums or vaccines. It’s part of the human experience.
Unity within diversity is one of Christ’s major teachings. Some of us have been waiting for 40 years for the church to accept women’s leadership and LGBTQ people.
If we want everyone to think alike, we are not modeling the New Testament church.
Evan Oswald
Glendale, Ariz.
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