Wednesday, March 16, 2011

CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL BECOMING HOMOPHOBIC

It may be that Coleman thinks that the financially strapped Crystal Cathedral will gain more members by wooing reactionary, homophobic, professing Christians. For most institutions, certainly including churches, the mantra must be, "Follow the money."

Choir members at the financially troubled Crystal Cathedral say they are upset by a covenant they have been asked to sign that places a strong emphasis on them being heterosexual and Christian.

The "Crystal Cathedral Worship Choir and Worship Team Covenant," recently handed out to members, states that members should commit to being Christians by following the Bible in every way.

Sheila Schuller Coleman, senior pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, stated that the Reform Church has consistently maintained that marriage must be between one man and one woman. This statement is part of a covenant, which several of the cathedral's choir members are reluctant to sign.

Former and current choir members say they are particularly offended by a statement in the document that refers to homosexuality. Long-time church members say this is the first time they have seen the cathedral take a firm stand against homosexuality and are disturbed by it.
The covenant states: "I understand that in an era where images of family relationship and personal sexuality are often confused, Crystal Cathedral Ministries believes that it is important to teach and model the biblical view. I understand that Crystal Cathedral Ministries teaches that sexual intimacy is intended by God to only be within the bonds of marriage, between one man and one woman."


[For the full article, see here.]

It must be reiterated that the Bible in no way condemns same-sex love, and even celebrates it as we see in the relationship between David and Jonathan! (1Samuel 18:1-4; 20:17,41)

The tragedy is that faulty biblical exegesis has blinded many to the reality that the Bible doesn't preclude same-sex marriage; in no way condemns Gay people or same-sex couples!
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8 comments:

DC HAMPTON JACOBS said...

Jerry,

Glad to see your semi-retirement from blogging includes commenting on sorry incidents like this one. I think you'd agree with me that "genital theology" is rearing its ugly head again! When will Christian converts realize that no legitimate church wants to get into your pants? They must flee from such churches! It's supposed to be about the spirit, not the flesh!

Jerry Maneker said...

Absolutely, Don Charles! I urge all people, Gay and Straight, to flee toxic churches, those that preach and teach that anything other than the finished work of Christ on the Cross is a means to salvation. Best wishes, Jerry.

Kittredge Cherry said...

Thanks for this unhappy news. I attended a workshop on Church Growth at the Crystal Cathedral 20-plus years ago as an open lesbian in the Metropolitan Community Church delegation. At that time Robert Schuller himself was very welcoming to us, although he urged us to "believe in the possibility" of heterosexuality.

Jerry Maneker said...

Thanks Kitt. Best wishes, Jerry.

DC HAMPTON JACOBS said...

Kitt is giving Robert Schuller a pass he doesn't deserve. "Believe in the possibility of heterosexuality?" That's not Christian advice! All a Christian need do is believe in the Lord and follow the example that His son, Jesus Christ, left us. We must stop accomodating ourselves to the prejudices of prestigious clergymen! It's not about belonging to anybody's church! It's about knowing and adhering to the Savior's teachings. If Schuller has overlooked the teaching about "eunuchs born from their mother's womb", then he is not the learned theologian he pretends to be and woe betide anyone he should counsel.

genevieve said...

To me it's a lsophisticated way of blaming LGBT people for their financiall ills. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but it's my sense.

This is distressing and I would never sign that covenant.

Bradley Fowler said...

Hello,

My name is Bradley Fowler, the Gay Man Who Sued The Bible Publisher regarding the revised implementation of the term homosexual in I Corinthians 6:9. I'm hoping to share some vital information about a new book I just completed titled A Compelling Look At Why Same-Sex Love Should Be Respected In A Religious And Homophobic World.

You can read an excerpt at Lulu.com. However, please contact me at bfowler@capellauniversity.edu so that I can submit some vital information you may be interested in adding to your site. In the meantime, you can review my Blog at
http://positivelight4lgbt.blogspot.com

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Bradley Fowler

Jerry Maneker said...

Dear Bradley: Thank you so much for all you have done for the LGBT Rights movement, and for the information you have provided here. Please forward to me anything you think will benefit LGBT people and I will place it in the Links Section of this blog, as I'm also placing your blog there. Best wishes, Jerry.