by Frank Baugh

Created on: July 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 08, 2009

Should there be ordained Gay Priests? I'm in the midst of this struggle with my own church, the Episcopal Church of North America. My poor church is in the clutches of its death throes due to this controversy. It was the Episcopal Church that ordained Gene Robinson, an openly gay man who left his marriage to pursue a homosexual lifestyle, to the position of Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003. This action on the part of the Church started a tear that is slowly and painfully dividing the church. More recently the Episcopal Church has decided to come up with rites to bless same sex marriages in those states where same sex marriages are legal.

My argument against gay clergy is based on the concept of the three legged stool ascribed to the Rev. Richard Hooker (1554-1600). This three legged stool concept was that Christianity stood on the three legs of scripture, tradition and reason. I have found this to be an acceptable model for the consideration of Christianity in light of ordination of gay clergy.

First, what does scripture say about homosexuality? The Old Testament was quite clear on the subject. In one example, Leviticus 20 verse 13, it says "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination...." (ESV) That is clear. In the New Testament Saint Paul makes it clear in several places that homosexuality is unacceptable as in 1 Corinthians verses 6-8: "But you yourselves wrong and defraud-even your own brothers! Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (ESV) Again Paul states clearly in 1 Timothy 9-11: "...understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted." (ESV) Paul makes it clear that homosexuality is as much a sin as idolatry, adultery, stealing, greed and murder!

Secondly, the leg of tradition is clear. There has never been until

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