Dion's random ramblings

Monday, February 11, 2008

'God is Gay' minister to marry same-sex couples

The article below appeared in 'The Times' newspaper on Sunday. Kevin is a very close friend of mine. He and I have worked together on a number of projects. Most recently he has written two chapters for two of the books that Wessel and I have worked on.

I am proud to call Kevin a friend, and I am proud to testify to his Christian conviction and love for Jesus Christ and ALL people who Christ loves!

I'm with you Kev! Your courage inspires me.

For the readers of this blog - Please read the last paragraph in the article! You will notice that the whole point of Kevin's 'God is gay' breakfast is to show that God is not gay.

It is so sad that this is one of the reasons why Kevin had to resign from our Church. What he is aiming to do is Christian mission - sharing God's love with persons that the Church seldom reaches out to... Yet, sadly because of this missional emphasis he was misunderstood. He has been badly treated as a result. I find this so sad. Sadly, I fear that this article will cause him to face further misunderstanding and struggle among Christians. Personally, I am proud that we have persons who are bold and courageous enough to take a stance of conviction to reach to those who are marginalized in society, and even the Church.

Here's the article (from The Times http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=702541).

A FORMER Methodist minister who rocked the church when he questioned its stance on gay rights is now encouraging people to find God in food, pubs and even poker games.

Kevin Light and 18 other ministers questioned the Methodist Church's position at a synod in September last year ? to no avail.

He left the church a month later, after Andrew Hefkie, the Cape of Good Hope district bishop, banned him from talking to the media after he hosted a talk called "God is Gay".

"About 30 minutes before I was to be interviewed by a radio station, the bishop called me and instructed me not to speak to the media," said Light.

Now his vision of being able to bless same-sex marriages is about to be realised. He is set to receive his licence to marry gays and lesbians next month.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, 935 gay and lesbian couples tied the knot in South Africa last year, when there were only 35 religious officers licensed to conduct same- sex marriages.

Ministers can only obtain a licence to bless same-sex unions with the consent of their denomination and the Methodist Church, like most mainstream churches in the country, has chosen not to endorse these marriages.

When approached for comment, Hefkie was tight-lipped.

"It is not the policy of the Methodist Church to make any comments on people who resigned. He (Light) finished off, and that was that," he said.

Said Light: "As a minister for 19 years I wanted to honour the church. On the other hand, I needed to honour my own clarity on the matter ... My position on same-sex unions is a matter of human rights.

"I thought I was caring for the marginalised ? and then the church went and marginalised me."

Today, he refers to himself as a "spiritual facilitator", with a growing following who seek an alternative to institutional religion on mountains, in forests and even in pubs around Cape Town.

"Cooking is very spiritual for some people. Other people encounter God while gardening or while having a drink.

"We also have 'poker for the poor' nights. Poker can be a very spiritual experience; it's all about getting to know your dark side ... your ability to bluff.

"But poker can be greedy, so we have the winner spend his or her earnings on poor people," he added.

Light is hosting another "God is Gay" breakfast later this month. "The talk merely makes the point that God is neither gay or straight ," he explained.


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6 Comments:

  • Dion

    I came across this as you linked to it from that comment you made on facebook.

    How can you justify supporting this?

    This is the opposite of what Christ did and would have us do, He calls all people to repentance. Telling a homosexual or any person in a sinful lifestyle that their lifestyle is OK shows that you do not care for their soul or have a very skewed understanding of the clear teaching of the bible on sin and repentance.

    By Blogger Grant, at 12:35 AM  

  • Hi Grant,

    Thanks for the quote, and please forgive my slow reply!

    It has been a rather hectic first week back at work!

    I would love to engage you on this topic - please could I ask, however, that before we start the discussion you do me the courtesy of reading through the other posts that I have made on this subject?

    On this particular issue, let me say that I am in favour of a minister who cares enough to put himself and his credibility on the line in order to reach people on the margins of society. If you read the last paragraph of the press release below you will see that Kevin does not believe that God is gay! Rather he used the headline to engage with persons who would never attend a regular Church service, bible study, or evangelistic outreach. Many people arrived for the talk intrigued by the topic. I am certain that as Kevin shared the Gospel many hearts and minds were touched.

    I'd love to hear more from you!

    Rich blessing,

    Dion

    By Blogger digitaldion (Dion Forster), at 3:33 PM  

  • Dion, thanks for the reply and choosing to discuss this issue.

    I did a search and read through most of what you have written on the subject I scanned some articles to read the relevant parts pertaining to same sex unions and I had a look at the article you posted, unfortunately the link to the original article no longer works so I could not read that.

    God is neither Gay or Heterosexual as God is not a sexual being and has no need to procreate so I don't see the point of making that statement as it confuses the issue. Maybe it is harmless and Kevin just used it to get more people to come and listen to his talk well fair enough. But I would strongly disagree if he is implying that God does not mind if you are Gay or Heterosexual, because God's word clearly teaches that the Homosexual lifestyle is a sin.

    In your reply you said "I am certain that as Kevin shared the Gospel many hearts and minds were touched." However reading a review of one the talks this is how it was described by Gary de Klerk

    At that meeting where it was debated whether God is gay or not, Kevin?s love of people and life became obvious and his high regard for each person?s right and responsibility to make sense of their own living in their own way, identifying and expressing their own unique spirituality. We all left with our own correct answers.


    You can find the review here: http://www.labyrinth.co.za/web/Default.aspx?tabid=135

    That does not sound like the Gospel was preached to them. Remember in Acts 2:37-38 and how the crowd reacted after Peter's sermon:

    Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ?Brothers, what shall we do?? And Peter said to them, ?Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    By Blogger Grant, at 3:30 PM  

  • You also said

    "On this particular issue, let me say that I am in favour of a minister who cares enough to put himself and his credibility on the line in order to reach people on the margins of society."


    I agree with that statement but once he has those people there what message is he preaching to them and how much does he care for them if he does not love their souls enough the preach them the truth of the gospel, that calls all men to repentance and faith?

    Here are a few quotes I have pulled from your other blog posts about this issue:


    It shows that our Church does not yet accept that there ALREADY are gay and lesbian members and clergy! While one is dealing with the concept of homosexual Christians you can objectify them as individuals.


    I cannot think of anything more pastoral than seeking God's gracious acceptance and blessing of persons of any gender or sexual orientation who lovingly commit themselves, and all that they are and do (including their relationships) to live under God's blessing.


    I know for a fact that in my congregation at Bryanston there are a number of gay persons.


    As many of you know, I am an inclusive and affirming Christian. In short, I believe that scripture says much more about justice, love, and grace, than it does about sexuality. Moreover, Jesus clearly shows that we as Christians need to reach to those who are marginalized, rejected, and on the fringes of society. Moreover, Megan and I have come to know and love many friends, and some family, who have a same sex orientation and are deeply committed to Christ. For some years now I have been part of a group within our denomination that has been trying to encourage the Church to have a far more open and affirming stance towards persons of a same sex orientation. I do sincerely believe that Christ would want all persons to be part of the body of Christ. It is a sad indictment upon the Gospel when we exclude anyone from Christ's love and grace! I do not expect every other Christian to feel the same as I do. However, I certainly would want to have the freedom and privilege of extending Christ's grace to, and not be curtailed or stopped from doing so by the Church itself.

    By Blogger Grant, at 3:30 PM  

  • Now based on these statements you have made please read these verses:

    1 Cor 6: 6-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


    This is one of the many places that the Bible teaches that Homosexuality is a sin, just like other things are sins like idolatry, stealing, alcoholism, slandering and swindling etc. And yes I will agree you do find people in the church (small c) who sin like this, but can these people be Christians? (part of the Church(big c)). Paul here said "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified". So he is saying that was what they were before they came to know Christ but they turned and repented from this lifestyle.

    So if you are saying and I think you are. That a person can be a practising Homosexual and be a Christian, then I think you are not teaching something that is taught in scripture and if you are indeed saying this then you must also believe that as a Christian it is ok to commit adultery, to steal, to be a drunkard, a slander, a swindler, the list is endless.

    Yes we as Christians are to go to the fringes of society to those marginalised and rejected just like Christ did, remember they called him a drunkard because he ate with sinners and tax collectors but why did he go there, it was not to tell them that they were OK and that their sin was how they were born so they do not need to change, no he called them to repentance.

    Luke 5:30-32 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ?Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ?sinners??? Jesus answered them, ?It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.?



    I had better stop now and post this before I go on for too long.

    By Blogger Grant, at 3:31 PM  

  • Hi Grant,

    Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply!

    I have moved my blog to a new address and so have responded to you there.

    Please see the following link

    Please could you respond to the conversation on that side?

    Thanks so much!

    Dion
    new blog address is http://www.dionforster.com

    By Blogger digitaldion (Dion Forster), at 2:34 PM  

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