Questionnaire 1: Question 7 - No Responses

‘I don’t think they have had to welcome any lesbian and gay men’

‘In general terms yes but in practice I feel it may differ from church to church’

‘I have no experience of any but my view is that they do not fit into the concept of family as it has been affirmed hitherto by the Methodist Church and as blessed by the Creator and affirmed in the Bible which is the Word of God.  Consider in particular Ephesians 5:22-33.  Ephesians is one of the seven epistles we should turn to for guidance in these “perilous times” before the Judgement of God falls.  May we be found to be “good and faithful servants”.’

‘I don’t think churches of elderly congregations would welcome this’

‘I cannot give you any examples either way concerning this’

‘As within the Anglican Communion I think it will be a mixed response.  Certainly at local level there are those who will not welcome them.’

‘I feel we are all one God what ever a person’s sexual preference is between them and God.’

‘Because of an incident of prejudice towards a gay lay preacher’

‘I hope not’

‘From a conversation I heard here recently within the Methodist Church, two gentlemen were voicing their opinion of gays and lesbians, one saying that they should be “shot” and the other believing they can be “trained” in childhood to behave differently and if they were allowed into the ministry they would definitely not agree with it.’

‘Because we feel such morals are wrong which makes it very difficult to accept such ways of living amongst us.’

‘Because of outdated reasoning’

‘I find this very difficult to answer.  I would like to affirm the answer 100% but at the moment find parts of the Methodist Church most unwelcoming to people who do not fit in whatever their sexuality, colour or creed.’

‘It is a very delicate subject and people do not feel comfortable with people who are “different”.’