Evangelical and Gay -- new trends

As the two most recent "outings" have come in Colorado, it's not surprising that the Denver Post is covering the issue of homosexuality in the evangelical community. This piece by Eric Gorski, the reporter who has been covering the Paul Barnes situation, that is dated December 16 (Saturday) is quite interesting.

Gorski begins by telling the story of one such evangelical who was/is evangelical and gay.

Sheila Burris tried to pray it away. She would lock herself in her dorm room closet with her Gospel music, Bible and the belief she was going to hell.

If this is a choice, Burris thought, I'd be the last one to choose it. She was a Pentecostal youth minister and Sunday school teacher. God meant everything to her.

Only after a long journey that included re-reading the Scriptures and advice from her grandmother that she listen to God, not people, did Burris conclude that two important aspects of her identity were not at odds. She was a lesbian and an evangelical Christian.

"I never stopped loving God," said Burris, 43, of Littleton. "I thought I had to change and live a lie. I realized I didn't have to make that choice. I could be who I was and God would still love me."

The experiences of gay and lesbian evangelicals - and how the broader evangelical community responds to homosexuality - is back in the public eye after two Colorado pastors fell from grace over an issue that has divided Christianity for decades.




The church continues to wrestle with this issue that has major political and cultural ramifications. As we do this, we must also recognize that there is a broader issue that must be addressed and that is: what is family? If, we believe, that monogamy is proper, that promiscuity isn't, that adultery should be discouraged, how do we develop a consistent sexual ethic? Much work needs to be done before we're done.

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