How I Changed My Mind on Homosexuality

I appreciate the opportunity to address you this morning. I am going to speak about my change of mind on the question of homosexuality, what I have learned theologically in that process, and some implications for us as a church. I hope that you will find dealing with these issues helpful. My deepest desire is that our discussion of these issues might in some way contribute to moving us beyond our present theological polarization. I look forward to the question period when I can hear from you.

My education about homosexuality in the church probably began with the General Assembly in 1976. I had a unique perspective on that Assembly. I had been chosen as one of two Theologians-in-Residence to work with committees of the Assembly to help them think theologically about the business that they were assigned. That 188th Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church (the Northern stream) in 1976 had received overtures from two presbyteries, New York City and Palisades, asking for “definitive guidance” on whether it was appropriate to ordain a person who was well qualified in every part of the trials for ordination but was, in the language of 1976, a “self-affirming, practicing homosexual.” As part of my theologian-in-residence duties, I was assigned to meet with a group of gay men, to help them develop their response to the overtures. Prior to that I’m not aware of knowing any openly gay Presbyterians...