Allen Johnson
Rt. 1, Box 119-B
Dunmore, West Virginia 24934
March 6, 1993
Mr. Chuck Boyer, Moderator
Church of the Brethren
2425 E Street
LaVerne, California 91750
Dear brother Chuck,
This letter is to express a deep concern that I and
others in our congregation have pertaining to your statement quoted in the
February, 1993 Messenger : "...I personally am ready to accept
gay, lesbian, and bisexual people into positions of leadership in the
church."
Although your statement may be heartfelt, sincere, and
based upon compassion, your personal belief
has denomination-wide ramifications in your position as moderator. Another quote raises an important point:
"When we bring in unqualified Brethren
or non-Brethren leadership, our small churches really struggle."
(p. 17) I take this quote to mean at
least in part that an important function of Brethren leadership is to impart
Brethren perspectives and doctrines into the congregation.
Your statement on homosexuality and leadership raises
questions, in light of the position of The Church of the Brethren on sexuality
(1983, etc.), for it is no small matter for any moderator to go strongly
counter to Annual Conference position.
Perhaps your statement applies only to orientation, not
to practice. If so, then this needs to
be clarified. As I understand the
scriptural revelation, I am neither justified nor condemned for my orientation
but rather am accountable for my thoughts and deeds. I am heterosexual, but unless I am married and faithful to my
wife, sexual intercourse is not permissible.
An unmarried man or woman is not to have sexual intercourse or to let
lustful thoughts have rein. Such is
fornication, strongly condemned in the New Testament scriptures. Likewise, sexual intercourse, behavior,
attitudes, or lustful thoughts between a married person and someone other than
the spouse is condemned as adultery.
You know the New Testament scriptures well enough to know that this is
incontestable and irrefutable. But were
you only referring to orientation?
If you were referring to homosexual practice, then you
betray the teachings in the New Testament.
Some advocates of homosexual practice legitimacy state that monogamous
homosexual union is acceptable, even blessed.
Tell us, then, how your practicing bisexual church leader could be in a monogamous
relationship?
It is ironic that in the Messenger article you style yourself as "... a
healer." If the issue of
homosexuality legitimacy is pushed much further, it will split the church. I would feel certain that there are tens of
thousands of Brethren (and former Brethren!) who are increasingly disgruntled
and grieved by the sexually permissive position of key Brethren
leadership. Is fomenting a split a
legacy you would like to leave?
Another quote: "I wonder whether I would have been
elected moderator if I had dealt openly with my feelings in front of Conference
before being elected?" There is a
considerable difference between taking positions against war and injustice
which lead to acts of war-tax refusal or incarceration due to peace witness,
and advocacy of homosexual practice.
The Brethren position is that war is sin. The Brethren position also is that adultery and fornication is
sin, and homosexual practice has to fit those categories.
I believe there is a grievous error permeating the
"peace and justice" movements (which I with considerable frustration
try to identify with) to "live and let live" in the sense that one
should be accepting of everything about everybody (except violence and economic
oppression). Thus the reluctance to
evangelize people who are Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, or even agnostics and
atheists. Advocates of homosexual
legitimacy have been able to infiltrate and manipulate through a play on
compassion and human civil rights much of the "peace and justice"
movement. A notable example is Sojourners which has had noticeable
shift in ten years due to considerable pressure. I believe the issue of homosexuality may split the peace and
justice movement, too, but worse, be a barrier to other groups taking
peace/justice issues seriously.
Sexual purity is foundational to church leadership. Heterosexual or homosexual sin must not be
tolerated. The Church must be firm with
this! Only when one confesses sin can
one become free from its power. A role
of the Church is to facilitate the redemptive process of repentance and
forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Such is
salvation.
Thank you for your attention to this letter. I pray that God give you grace and anointing
to do His work for His glory.
Respectfully,
Allen Johnson