Does God ordain roles in human life based on gender? Is there a distinction between male and female in Christ?
If the church can read passages relating to pastoral calls in a gender neutral manner, it can do the same with passages relating to marriage.
As a 4th generation Nazarene, I withdrew my membership in protest in 2013 after the denomination changed its General Rules to explicitly deny gender agnostic marriage. I have seen the Holy Spirit upon my friends in same sex marriages just as I have with my friends who are female and who are ordained.
I pray for the day that the denomination rejects patriarchy and embraces the truth that there is no male nor female in Christ by offering full inclusion in the church - including marriage and ordination - regardless of gender.
A
Alaina Ray
3 years ago
a biblical no brainer
J
Jonathan Hutchison
3 years ago
It’s time to discern the theological foundation for this issue. We cannot continue to harm folks by our timidity and inaction.
K
Karen Pedersen
3 years ago
I agree
E
Erin Moorman
3 years ago
Back in 2019, when the UMC was voting on the Traditional and One Church Plans, my morning readings on a particular day included Jeremiah 13:15-27 and Matthew 27:1-33.
It struck me as I read them that supporters of the Traditional Plan would read the Jeremiah passage and nod along, labeling the LGBTQ+ community and their allies as those being judged and scattered (i.e. leaving the UMC). And as I was reading this in a devotional context, I prayed over it and asked God what it means if they were right and those advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion were wrong -- and to show me if that were the case.
Then I read through my Psalm and my Proverb and got to the Gospel passage. The context is Jesus' trial before Pilate and crucifixion. As I finished that passage, I felt God reminding me that Jesus' disciples were also scattered, and the people judging and condemning Christ would have felt that it was a judgment from God because of sin. But we know those who condemned Christ were wrong; and not long after, those who had been scattered were vindicated. They'd just had to wait and see for their hope. My morning's readings that day seemed like a warning against our idol of certainty.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,...Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight!" Those who condemned Christ might have viewed that verse as describing Christ's followers, when in fact they were the ones calling evil good and good evil.
The fact is, God is always doing a new thing and has no hesitation in turning our understanding upside down. Much like Peter's vision in Acts 10 when he is told, “Do not call anything impure (evil) that God has made clean (good).” This was a new thing. This turned Christ's followers' understanding of holiness upside down. Yet, we accept and believe that it was God's doing.
I had a vision like Peter's in which God made it clear to me that LGBTQ+ people must be included fully in t
K
Kara Hudson
3 years ago
To Whom it May Concern,
The willingness of the church to "disappear" anyone who is not cisgender or heterosexual is, in essence, social murder.
The church's absolute SILENCE is deafening.. You are cheerleaders when you chose to not care for us.
J
Joel Tooley
3 years ago
"LGBTQIA+" is more than a category or label; these people have names. These people are in my family. These people are in my congregation. These Nazarenes love Jesus - they demonstrate a pursuit of holy living, a devotion to Jesus and a commitment to make Christlike Disciples in the Nations. These people honor those they love with fidelity and Christian love.
I can't explain how I've grown to this place from where I once was, but I lament at the times I've hurt others with my prejudice, judgment and lack of understanding of how deep and wide and long is the wonderful grace of Jesus.
A
Anonymous
3 years ago
I am an ordained pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, taught in universities and seminaries, served on denominational boards and initiatives. I am ashamed that I must hide my name in fear of repercussions with signing this petition, however I am determined to press in with love from the inside. As Wesleyans we must put away our exceptionalism and humbly give grace as we have received. A great place to start is to be curious, listen and learn from the gift of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe if we do this vulnerability, we will drop our stones and use our arms to embrace. We must admit that we have gone the easier, non-gospel route of exclusion instead of Jesus' way of inclusion, solidarity, and love. This time is now.
B
Beelzebul
3 years ago
My plan is playing out as we speak. This is so exciting.
L
Louise OldenKamp
3 years ago
Featured
As a married lesbian and former member of the Nazarene church, it would be so nice to see myself, my family and my child included as part of the Nazarene family.
S
Steve McCormick
3 years ago
When we identify as the pure and the righteous and see ourselves as not like those who are “other than us,” we become the exact opposite of Gods righteousness and perfect holy love. We ‘close the loop’ and cordon off ourselves into an ecclesial apartheid—an institutional tribe that works from the top down towards the genocide of those “other than us.” This is not the Way of the Gospel for the life of the world; a Good News that declares God's love and belonging to all things of creation.
L
Laurie Braaten
3 years ago
This is long overdue. There is no place among those who identify as followers of Jesus to discriminate against or exclude others as beyond the reach of God’s love.
G
Glenn Lightbourn
3 years ago
Condemnation of this horrific , hateful slaughter is an easy call, Church of the Nazarene
T
The Rev Angela Lerena
3 years ago
Featured
As a priest in Colorado Springs, and a former Nazarene with my BA and MA in religion from NNU, the silence is deafening.
P
Prince Of Darkness
3 years ago
I love this effort!
J
Jamie Raine Jude-Thomas
3 years ago
LGBTQIA+ people deserve the same treatment and inclusion and love as cishet people. My way of loving isn't any lesser than yours
G
Grace Ellis
3 years ago
I am a Nazarene Christian born and raised and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s that simple.
M
Megan Battershell
3 years ago
This would be an incredible step in the right direction. If this was accepted I may actually consider returning to the Church.
P
Patti Dikes
3 years ago
The time to acknowledge God's love for and full inclusion of ALL people, including LGBTQIA+, in the life and community of the CoTN and the church universal, without condition or condemnation, has long passed, but it is never too late. Thank you.
E
Eli Roberson
3 years ago
The verses misquoted to justify persecution of lgbtqia+ individuals do not hold up to close scrutiny. In every case, when taken in their original context they are shown to refer to rape, pedophilia, and the use of sex acts as worship of false idols. To continue to persecute our neighbors is to to go against the very spirit of love that God and Jesus demands of us.
Does God ordain roles in human life based on gender? Is there a distinction between male and female in Christ? If the church can read passages relating to pastoral calls in a gender neutral manner, it can do the same with passages relating to marriage. As a 4th generation Nazarene, I withdrew my membership in protest in 2013 after the denomination changed its General Rules to explicitly deny gender agnostic marriage. I have seen the Holy Spirit upon my friends in same sex marriages just as I have with my friends who are female and who are ordained. I pray for the day that the denomination rejects patriarchy and embraces the truth that there is no male nor female in Christ by offering full inclusion in the church - including marriage and ordination - regardless of gender.
a biblical no brainer
It’s time to discern the theological foundation for this issue. We cannot continue to harm folks by our timidity and inaction.
I agree
Back in 2019, when the UMC was voting on the Traditional and One Church Plans, my morning readings on a particular day included Jeremiah 13:15-27 and Matthew 27:1-33. It struck me as I read them that supporters of the Traditional Plan would read the Jeremiah passage and nod along, labeling the LGBTQ+ community and their allies as those being judged and scattered (i.e. leaving the UMC). And as I was reading this in a devotional context, I prayed over it and asked God what it means if they were right and those advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion were wrong -- and to show me if that were the case. Then I read through my Psalm and my Proverb and got to the Gospel passage. The context is Jesus' trial before Pilate and crucifixion. As I finished that passage, I felt God reminding me that Jesus' disciples were also scattered, and the people judging and condemning Christ would have felt that it was a judgment from God because of sin. But we know those who condemned Christ were wrong; and not long after, those who had been scattered were vindicated. They'd just had to wait and see for their hope. My morning's readings that day seemed like a warning against our idol of certainty. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,...Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight!" Those who condemned Christ might have viewed that verse as describing Christ's followers, when in fact they were the ones calling evil good and good evil. The fact is, God is always doing a new thing and has no hesitation in turning our understanding upside down. Much like Peter's vision in Acts 10 when he is told, “Do not call anything impure (evil) that God has made clean (good).” This was a new thing. This turned Christ's followers' understanding of holiness upside down. Yet, we accept and believe that it was God's doing. I had a vision like Peter's in which God made it clear to me that LGBTQ+ people must be included fully in t
To Whom it May Concern, The willingness of the church to "disappear" anyone who is not cisgender or heterosexual is, in essence, social murder. The church's absolute SILENCE is deafening.. You are cheerleaders when you chose to not care for us.
"LGBTQIA+" is more than a category or label; these people have names. These people are in my family. These people are in my congregation. These Nazarenes love Jesus - they demonstrate a pursuit of holy living, a devotion to Jesus and a commitment to make Christlike Disciples in the Nations. These people honor those they love with fidelity and Christian love. I can't explain how I've grown to this place from where I once was, but I lament at the times I've hurt others with my prejudice, judgment and lack of understanding of how deep and wide and long is the wonderful grace of Jesus.
I am an ordained pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, taught in universities and seminaries, served on denominational boards and initiatives. I am ashamed that I must hide my name in fear of repercussions with signing this petition, however I am determined to press in with love from the inside. As Wesleyans we must put away our exceptionalism and humbly give grace as we have received. A great place to start is to be curious, listen and learn from the gift of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe if we do this vulnerability, we will drop our stones and use our arms to embrace. We must admit that we have gone the easier, non-gospel route of exclusion instead of Jesus' way of inclusion, solidarity, and love. This time is now.
My plan is playing out as we speak. This is so exciting.
As a married lesbian and former member of the Nazarene church, it would be so nice to see myself, my family and my child included as part of the Nazarene family.
When we identify as the pure and the righteous and see ourselves as not like those who are “other than us,” we become the exact opposite of Gods righteousness and perfect holy love. We ‘close the loop’ and cordon off ourselves into an ecclesial apartheid—an institutional tribe that works from the top down towards the genocide of those “other than us.” This is not the Way of the Gospel for the life of the world; a Good News that declares God's love and belonging to all things of creation.
This is long overdue. There is no place among those who identify as followers of Jesus to discriminate against or exclude others as beyond the reach of God’s love.
Condemnation of this horrific , hateful slaughter is an easy call, Church of the Nazarene
As a priest in Colorado Springs, and a former Nazarene with my BA and MA in religion from NNU, the silence is deafening.
I love this effort!
LGBTQIA+ people deserve the same treatment and inclusion and love as cishet people. My way of loving isn't any lesser than yours
I am a Nazarene Christian born and raised and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s that simple.
This would be an incredible step in the right direction. If this was accepted I may actually consider returning to the Church.
The time to acknowledge God's love for and full inclusion of ALL people, including LGBTQIA+, in the life and community of the CoTN and the church universal, without condition or condemnation, has long passed, but it is never too late. Thank you.
The verses misquoted to justify persecution of lgbtqia+ individuals do not hold up to close scrutiny. In every case, when taken in their original context they are shown to refer to rape, pedophilia, and the use of sex acts as worship of false idols. To continue to persecute our neighbors is to to go against the very spirit of love that God and Jesus demands of us.