Questionnaire 1: Question 6 Summary

34 answered yes and 28 answered no, 2 were undecided and 5 chose not to answer, or answered differently.  In total 49% were supportive of lesbians and gay men participating and having a ministry within Methodism.  Of those who were unsure or abstained from actually answering yes or no, another 5 expressed yes with certain conditions or were actually not bothered either way, feeling sexuality was irrelevant.  In total it would seem that 57% would be supportive of this statement, whether actively or not.

The main reason expressed by those who supported this statement was that God welcomes everyone.  16 respondents expressed some notion that God’s family was all-inclusive and that everyone was a child of God.  6 of the respondents said the church must not discriminate.  There were 5 references to the fact that it does not matter, 3 expressed the private lives of people should be kept private and 3 commented that it was nothing to do with the church or the role of leading people.  There were 3 comments saying that if a person has received the call they should be accepted and one said they should be if they are good at it.  There were others who commented that people are all different and the church needs to be outward looking.  2 people commented that other worse things are allowed in the church, such as adultery and out of marriage heterosexual sex, and that it would be hypocritical to reject homosexuals.  There was 1 comment that we are all made as God makes us.  1 person commented ‘live and let live’, whilst another said as long as sermons were not on it.  1 person said that outside the church when treated by medical staff they would not reject their treatment if they were homosexual, so why reject homosexual people from ministering the Sacraments.

There were also comments that people need to be encouraged to use the church.  There was a response that God does not care about a person’s sexuality, as long as they believe in God.  People thought that a person’s sexuality should have nothing to do with how they worship God and that it should be open to all.

The main basis for the ‘yes’ argument is that the church should be all-inclusive.

Of those who responded with a no response the major basis given was Biblical reasons, all expressing that it is against the teaching of the Bible.  There were several Biblical passages quoted which were: Leviticus 18:22, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1: 26-28, Genesis 1:27-28.  In total 9 people said their answer was because of the Bible.  4 people commented that it was against nature, 2 people said it was not normal, 1 person said it was morally wrong and 1 said it was inappropriate.  2 people commented that humanity was made male and female and one person said God did not make ‘Adam and Steve’.  1 person said it was against the Christian life and 1 said it was a contradiction to it.  There were three references to paedophilia/child abuse, whilst 3 people commented it would give a wrong impression to young people.  1 person commented it would harm the balance of an orthodox society and 1 said that it is only a response to popular demand to accept homosexual people.  1 person said that ministers are there to set an example.  1 person commented that it was too sensitive at the moment and more discussions were needed.

People’s comments were passionate, some commented about feeling sick when seeing homosexual relationships on the TV.  Some people recalled stories of child abuse that had happened locally.  There were a couple of references to practising homosexuals, and that they should be encouraged to be different, perhaps heterosexual or remain celibate.

There was one person who would accept them in a non-official capacity, and one person said that a person’s sexual orientation could be accepted but not celebrated.  There was one respondent who believed that worshipping congregations would not welcome this.

The main basis behind the ‘no’ argument is that it goes against Biblical and traditional understandings of the Christian faith, reflecting much of the wider arguments.