Removing the Masks
Since the beginning of the year, the two major protestant churches in Britain have both produced reports on sexuality. Both churches have also refused to ordain people on the basis of their sexual orientation. There is a great deal of anxiety among the hierarchies and members of these churches. It is clear that the issue is not going to go away.
The Church of England Report on Homosexuality was made public against the wishes of the Church hierarchy; the Archbishop of Canterbury wants the report revised as it is too contentious. In fact, the Osborne Report (as it is known) does not say anything very new either about what the Church could be doing or about the experience of gay men and lesbians in today’s society. It appears to be primarily concerned with resolving conflict within the Church. This may make some people feel more comfortable in the short term, but it does not go very far towards acknowledging the important contributions that lesbians and gay men are making to the life of the Church.
The Methodist Report on Human Sexuality is similarly non-comittal, affirming sexuality as God-given, but making the unhelpful distinction between “orientation” and “practice”. The report does, however, recommend that all Methodists study issues of sexuality for themselves.
While the emphasis remains on avoiding contention by refusing to accept the reality of homosexuality or regarding it as a special case, the experience of gay men and lesbians will continue to involve rejection, fear of being “found out”, being pitied, and being encouraged to deny or apologise for part of one’s humanity; generally feeling unwelcome and unappreciated among people who claim to follow the teachings of Christ.
One important organisation which links Christianity and homosexuality is the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement. LGCM attempts to offer “Gay Liberation to the Church and Christ to the Gay Community” by challenging, campaigning, offering support, and by providing opportunities to share and learn. The Movement has only one paid employee, and therefore relies on the goodwill and commitment of members to help organise local groups, denominational groups, conferences and the counselling service.
LGCM has, as an organisation, faced discrimination and prejudice, particularly from the Church of England. The Movement was based at a parish church in Aldgate, East London, but was evicted after Church Court proceedings were instigated by the Archdeacon of London. This action, however, has not weakened the resolve to continue working for the aims of the Movement. It has concentrated the minds of members who realise (if the Church does not) the potential loss to the Christian community if lesbians and gay men are pushed to the sidelines of organised religion.
Christians are divided in their views about homosexuality, and more specifically, about ways in which homosexuality and lesbianism are expressed. Biblical arguments provide support for almost any view that people care to take, and for every claim to the truth, there will be a contradictory conclusion which also claims to be true. This is a complicated and confusing situation, and all the more so for the strong feelings that are evoked by this intimate, personal and political issue.
I am not concerned here with the contradictory opinions and claims to truth. I am concerned, however, with encouraging an open-minded approach to working together as Christians. Open-minded does not simply mean accepting the other person as far as we can and ignoring the rest: it means recognising that we carry all sorts of prejudices and assumptions around with us. In acknowledging this, we can allow ourselves to see through the falseness that we create around ourselves and other people. This applies both to those who identify themselves as heterosexual and those who do not.
My experience of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement has helped me to realise how difficult it is to take away the masks. Human beings can become vulnerable and afraid, and by putting masks on others or allowing a mask to be put on themselves, find a (false) sense of security and confidence. Part of what LGCM tries to do, it seems to me, is to challenge people to question the masks they give to lesbians and gay men, and to offer the opportunity to face reality — with love.