Gays and Church

I read with great interest your March 11 report on the Rev. Jimmy Creech and the Methodist Church’s struggle with the blessing of gay couples (“Blessing of Gay Couple’s Union Splits Methodists”). I consider myself married to my gay partner of 20 years. In fact, our union was blessed by my Protestant minister and by my partner’s rabbi.

I believe that the very first Protestant, Martin Luther, modeled a truly appropriate and heroic stance, i.e., when the authorities are wrong, it is a duty to say so and to stand up for the truth. Those who, like Creech, affirm love and commitment are heroes, too. They are the real leaders of Protestantism. Their efforts point away from hatred and exclusion and toward the creation of a loving and inclusive church.

JON M. SMITH

North Hollywood

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The Bible specifically and unequivocally condemns homosexuality (Romans 1:27), not only calling it an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13) but declaring that those practicing it will not so much as enter the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). As unfair as this seems, it is in fact the clear, unambiguous will of the Lord, and if anything else is preached--as reasonable as it may sound--it would be of man’s own invention and a deliberate rebuke of Scripture.

How, then, can this “minister of God,” having sworn to uphold and preach the Gospel of God and therefore not his own, possibly justify retooling the Bible and preaching a lifestyle utterly incompatible with salvation itself? There are indeed many nontraditional churches that share this minister’s perspectives--perhaps he should look into them. But if you’re going to claim Christian ministry, does it not follow that you must follow the tenets of the Christian Bible?

A.B. STEPHENS

Los Angeles