What's going on?  What's going on? In most Australian states (1990) 'homosexual acts' between consenting adults are no longer illegal. There has been a change in the attitude of many toward homosexual people during the last twenty years. Debate has been happening in the Uniting Church in SA for some time, but came to a head in April 1990. A Uniting Church youth worker, much respected for his work, was interviewed by New Times. He said that by far the most important step in faith for him in recent years was accepting he was homosexual. This struggle was 'formative' for his faith, his attitude to relationships, and his theology.
He had read the whole Bible by age 15 and thought being homosexual was not good but something he would grow out of it. Finally he saw he needed to admit to all parts of his life, including his sexuality. "God is in all parts of my life, sexuality included." In accepting he was gay he found "new life."
(1) Before his interview the Uniting Church had been already discussing how to relate with homosexual people. There was already a support group for homosexual people called Unity, which had the blessing of the church. Another group, Friends of Unity, has been formed since then, and the Evangelical Ministers' Union, now Evangelical Members of the Uniting Church (EMU) has been formed partly in conservative reaction to the debate.
Much fear has been generated, and far more heat than light. People have felt the UCA was going soft on sexual morals or departing from biblical authority. It has been assumed in some places that all sorts of deviant, sinful behaviour was suddenly going to be allowed. |