African-American Clergy Debate Proposition 8
Posted By The Editors | December 15th, 2008 | Category: Hot Topics | 2 comments
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By Stacey Patton
Do most African-American ministers believe that homosexuality is a sin? Are black churches bastions of homophobia? Does the Bible condemn same-sex liaisons as unnatural and immoral? Will God cast gays and lesbians into a vast lake of fire and brimstone if they don’t repent and come unto the ways of Jesus? Do the scriptures explicitly define marriage strictly as a covenant between a man and a woman? Is there a connection between fundamentalist religious teachings and anti-gay sentiments? Are gays and lesbians threatening the sanctity of marriage and the reproduction of black families? Are the battles over same-sex marriage akin to past civil rights struggles of African Americans? Does all this talk about “men becoming lovers of themselves” signal what some members of the cloth cite from New Testament books, Revelations and 2 Timothy, as the “last days” being upon us all?
Some African-American clergy members answer “yes” to all these questions while others provide a resounding “no,” just as Californians did last month when they cast votes for or against Proposition 8. In this week’s issue of TheDefendersOnline, we asked a diverse group of black clergy from across the country to weigh in on the controversy over same-sex marriage.
Ministers on both sides of the issue are passionate and they maintain that they are balancing the challenge of staying faithful to their inherited religious traditions while being cognizant of the changing social realities and impact of all forms of sex on the communities they serve.
Throughout the hullabaloo over the California ballot initiative, some media pundits claimed that African Americans tipped the balance on Prop. 8, subsequently drawing backlash against the black community, including its churches. Gay rights activists argued that African Americans should realize more than any other group what it is like to experience discrimination and to have the majority population decide by vote the limits to their civil rights. Others contended that blaming black people for the loss was a mistake and a distortion of the statistics.
Though African-Americans represented just 10% of the California electorate, many commentators only noted that 70% of blacks voted for Prop. 8. This distortion drew a false conclusion and increased hostility between gays and blacks.
At the same time, various exit polls and studies highlighted black attitudes on gay marriage. For example, a recent study by the PEW Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed that:
- Of black Protestants, 25% support same-sex marriage while 64% oppose and 11% are
unsure. - Of black Evangelicals, 15% support same-sex marriages while 79% oppose and 6%
are unsure.
These numbers do not reveal the complexity of opinions within black religious communities. Absent from much of the mainstream media analysis on black church’s queer attitudes about the issue, are the nuanced discussions taking place across the country. Like white Protestant and Evangelical churches, so too are black churches just as split over Prop. 8. But white churches and attitudes are not presented in the same monolithic, even racialized way.
In the wake of this controversy, seven black ministers candidly express their views of race, sex, religion, and citizenship rights.
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Reverend Dr. Brad R. Braxton Senior Minister The Riverside Church in the City of New York New York, New York |
| A Beloved Community For All God’s Children
“We reaffirm our commitment to pursue an open and candid conversation to forge greater understanding of such issues …” |
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Reverend Rolen L. Womack, Jr. Progressive Baptist Church Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Same-Sex Marriage – Not a Civil Rights Issue
“This is not a civil rights issue from the black church perspective …” |
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Reverend Dr. Gerald L. Durley Providence Missionary Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia |
| Between a Man and a Woman
“Since slavery, the African-American pastor has assumed the role of interpreter of the value system which best enables his/her following to survive …” |
 |
The Reverend Dennis W. Wiley, Ph.D. and The Reverend Christine Y. Wiley, D.Min. Pastors, Covenant Baptist Church Washington, DC |
| A Gospel of Inclusion
“The question, then, is why has the black church become so hostile toward non-heterosexual persons and so vitriolic in its approach to the issue of homosexuality?” |
 |
Reverend Dr. Clenard H. Childress Senior Pastor New Calvary Baptist Church Montclair, New Jersey |
| ‘Christ centric,’ Not Homophobic
“African Americans are not homophobic but generally, ‘Christ centric,’ and desire to adhere to the tenants of the faith.” |
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Reverend Dr. Jacqueline Lewis Senior Minister Middle Collegiate Church New York, New York |
| Sexuality a Gift from God
“The black church, like the so-called Evangelical churches, has been preoccupied with all things sexual.” |
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TO PASTORY WILEY: WHY AREN’T YOU GAY, IF ITS OK? WHY ISN’T YOUR WIFE A LESBIAN??? IF ITS OK????
TAKE A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS HOMOSEXUAL, HOW LONG WOULD THE HUMAN RACE SURVIVE???!!! CAN TWO WOMEN MAKE CHILDREN TOGETHER OR TWO MEN???!!!
WOULDN’T THE WORLD DIE OFF IF EVERYONE WERE GAY???!!! YESSSSSSSSSS, WE WOULD BE EXTINCT!!!
PEOPLE, EVERYONE HAS TO ANSWER TO CHRIST FOR THEMSELVES!!!
First of if Christians are in their proper place, there should be a median between Love vs. What’s Right in the sight of God. Being a homosexual has nothing to do with the heart of a person.
There are people who are habitual liars, but yet will give the coat off their back to a homeless person, does God dismiss their sins??? NO!!!!
There are people who are serial killers, but yet have taken care of their children and wives, is their sin excuseable or acceptable??? NO!!!!
Since most Christians are not in their proper place, most of all leaders, we evolve to extremes of issues: EXTREME 1: TOTALLY SUPPORTING AND UPHOLDING THAT WHICH IS WRONG IN THE SIGHT OF GOD VS. EXTREME 2: TOTALLY DAMNING WHAT’S WRONG BUT YET OFFERING NO HELP FOR CORRECTION, both of these views are contradictory to God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In its purest form, the Gospel states to Love people no matter what, but yet teach the truth and allow them room to change, without force. “One plants the seed, the other waters, but God gives the increase.
Homosexuality is a sin and contrary to popular liberal demand, there are many scriptures to support. The biggest scripture course that points to damning this is in Genesis, had this from the beginning been acceptable from what we know NOW men can’t have children by another man, nor can two women have children together, so “being fruitful and multiplying would not have ever been mentioned.
People lets not take a play on words to support Homosexuality, because technically Jesus never said:
1) Don’t smoke weed or drink liquor
2) Don’t rape or molest children
3) Don’t abort children
But because he never explicity said non of these statements, is it ok?! NO! There are scriptures that point in the direction of the subject matter. Just as with homosexuality, there are scriptures that point in the subject manner and a couple that directly hits the nail head on.
Do we as Christians mistreat a homosexual? NO! We entreat them with love and understanding with a focus for them to learn the truth, and then from their let them decide whether they want to change or not. The problem Christians face is that we want to force them to change. Teach them the truth and then from their “its on them!” One thing for sure is, once you come into the knowledge of truth “I didn’t know” no long is a viable “EXCUSE!”
PEOPLE, IN THE END EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. SOME WHO BELIEVED LIES AND THOUGHT THEM TO BE TRUTHS, ARE IN FOR RUDE AWAKENINGS!!!
[...] “African-American Clergy Debate Proposition 8.” The Defenders Online. 15 December 2008. http://thedefendersonline.org/2008/12/15/african-american-clergy-debate-proposition-8/ (retrieved 20 December 2008). A consideration of statistics and African-American viewpoints, with [...]