The White Paper on Human Sexuality

[Kylie]

Sexuality and sexual immorality has always been a prominent thing in culture, leading all the way back into the Old Testament. Having a white paper of guidance that has been thoroughly examined, discerned and made will help prevent the grey areas that tend to reveal themselves. It is also a difficult topic today with people leaning more and more into sexuality as identity and the Church trying to walk through change and embracing it without forfeiting the morals/values set in place by God’s word. Also this white paper will aid members of ACOP in the hard questions that are being asked. I think some of the important values include extending grace and loving people well who feel they have been marginalized and cast out by the church.

[Karlena]

In the last several decades, the issue of human sexuality has become a key issue in society and it is interesting how sexuality has become a key defining element in the minds of many for shaping their perception of what constitutes personal identity. Society has become highly sexualized—and this can be seen in the media (e.g. films, TV, advertisements), politics, and education (those who advocate that we should never use the words 'he' or 'she,' but only 'they'). Consequently, there have been shifts of attitudes towards homosexuality (for example) that have had major social and cultural implications (e.g. countries approving same-sex marriages) that have influenced churches (e.g. churches approving same-sex marriages). In addition, pastors, ministers, and other Christians have had to grapple with the complex issues of providing pastoral care, guidance, or teaching to those struggling with SGA and their sometimes distraught families. In the midst of all this, Christians are having to navigate how to interpret biblical teaching on sexuality in order that they can live as a grace-filled, loving, redemptive community while still upholding biblical truth about sexuality. The emotionally-charged issue of sexuality has also led to misunderstandings, abusive ministry practices, and/or division in the church. ACOP's development of this white paper on human sexuality is therefore a timely and much-needed study that provides guidance and direction to members of the ACOP Fellowship.

I think that the affirmations that we "are all created in God's image" and that "we are to love all people as we love ourselves" are the most important guiding principles. In my work as a music teacher, some of my colleagues and students became involved in the LGBT community. In addition, a dear brother in Christ who is SGA has experienced such abuse from ministers in churches that about 12 years ago he decided to "put God on the shelf"—after much fervent prayer, I see signs that he is making his way back into the loving-arms of Christ—which I know are ever outstretched towards him. In Psalm 139, the psalmist states that he is "fearfully and wonderfully made." I have found in my experiences of speaking with such SGA men (for example) who may be so because of a genetic/biological cause [I am not saying that SGA is always the result of genetics—on the contrary, it is sometimes a choice], that most possess an exceptional sensitivity to the feelings of others (e.g. empathy), the huge capacity for thoughtful, intimate, and/or caring emotional relationships, creativity, and also an appreciation/aptitude for deep personal expression/communication (e.g. music, art, literature). My point is this: in situations where a biological/genetic aspect may have caused SGA, why not celebrate other aspects of the way these people been born, through no fault of their own—for example their huge capacity for empathy, emotional sensitivity, creativity, expressive/communicative gifts? Why must society (and Christians) choose a term to label these people in terms of sexual activity? I like the term Same Gender Attraction (SGA)—reading the ACOP material provided in this lesson was the first time I came across this term—as opposed to "homosexual" because: 1) it avoids labels which put the focus on sexual activity and self-identity and 2) it makes it clear that one may struggle with an attraction without making the decision to engage in sinful sexuality activity. Christians struggling with SGA can live fulfilled lives of purity and obedience to Christ (as we all aim to do even as we sometimes struggle with our various vulnerabilities and weaknesses) as highly valued and contributing members of the church community, receiving and in living in God's grace (Titus 2.12).