Homosexuality

Article Added February 1, 2003:

• Why Bill C-415 (Now Bill C-250) is Ill-Advised (Graham A. D. Scott)

Article Added September 15, 2001:

• God's Ways or Our Ways? (Rev. David Fisher)

Under construction. This has been the big issue in the United Church since March 1988. See the papers listed above in Sex before marriage? as well as: Nicky Gumbel, "What is the Christian attitude to homosexuality?" in his Searching Issues (Eastbourne, UK: Kingsway, 1994), pp. 77-92; Peter C. Moore, "'And such were some of you': The church and homosexuality today," in George Egerton, ed., Anglican Essentials... (Toronto: ABC, 1995), pp. 179-194; Stephen F. Noll, Two Sexes, One Flesh: Why the Church cannot bless same-sex marriage (Solon, OH: Latimer Press, 1997).

A classic in United Church circles is Don Faris's Trojan Horse (Burlington, ON: Welch, 1989), reviewed by Victor Shepherd In TD V/1, Jan. 1990, pp. 20-21. This was reprinted in a revised edition by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (905 479-5885) under the title, The Homosexual Challenge: A Christian response to an age of sexual politics, in 1993, and is still available for $12. See the EFC Website: www.efc-canada.com

A classic in the field of healing for homosexuals is Elizabeth R. Moberly, Homosexuality: A new Christian ethic (Cantab.: Jas. Clarke, 1983-1991), pp. 56. Moberly reviews seven books on homosexuality in her "Homosexuality and Truth," in First Things, No. 71, March 1997, pp. 30-33.

TD V/2 and V/3 deal with homosexuality: George R. Slater, "Can Homosexual Orientation be Changed?" TD V/2, July 1990, pp. 18-24; John H. Trueman, "Review of Michael Riordon, The First Stone: Homosexuality and the United Church...", TD V/2, pp. 33-34, noting the inaccuracies in this biased book; Graham Scott, "A Commentary on A Covenant for the reformation of the United church of Canada," V/3, August 1990 (special issue), pp. 4-12, esp. sec. 4.3, pp. 9-10; Graham Scott & Kenneth Ramsay, "A Position Paper..." TD V/3, pp. 12-18, from the United Church's 1960 position in Toward a Christian Understanding of Sex, Love, Marriage to the 1990 debate on the 1988 General Council's statement, "Membership, Ministry and Human Sexuality" (MMHS).

See also TD&O VI/2 July 1991: Peter C. Moore's review of Pamela Dickey Young, ed., Theological Reflections on Ministry & Sexual Orientation (Burlington, ON: Trinity, 1990), pp.10-11; Trudie Clarke's review of Roger J. Magnusson's Are Gay Rights Right? (Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1990), pp.11-12. TD&O VIII/2, July 1993, Kevin D. Ray, "Finding Homosexual Behavior Sinful is not a Phobic Reaction," pp. 18-19. TD&O IX/2, July 1994, Cuyler Black, "A Call for Clarity concerning the use and misuse of the term homophobia," Green pp. 3-4; John Trueman's review of Thomas E. Schmidt, Straight & Narrow? Compassion and Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1995), TD&O XI/1, Jan. 1996, pp. 15-16.