Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Mainstream

Google

Web

Anglican Mainstream

Prayer

Please continue to pray for the Anglican Communion and those involved in key events. The Anglican Cycle of Prayer is here.

Mainstream Mailing List

Want to keep up to date with what's happening at Anglican Mainstream? Join our mailing list here.

Latest News

Mainstream issues letter on Civil Partnerships
19th September 2005

Fulcrum response to Bishop's Pastoral Statement
17th September 2005

Akinola - Anglican Church is not splitting
16th September 2005

Oscars for the Orthodox
15th September 2005

CofE Evangelicals back Recifé
15th September 2005

Church of Nigeria redefines Communion
15th September 2005

African archbishops fault church on gays
11th September 2005

A True Hearing (2nd Edition) launched
6th September 2005

Network's call to prayer for Katrina
3rd September 2005
Andrew Carey on Worcester Statement
2nd September 2005

"A Pseudo-Synod of a Pseudo-Diocese"
2nd September 2005
Evangelical Anglicans Plan International Gathering
2nd September 2005
Statement by Recifé Clergy
2nd September 2005
Oliveira deposes 35 orthodox clergy
2nd September 2005
Anglicanism - Death and New Life
2nd September 2005
Ministry among the poorest - Simea Meldrum
2nd September 2005
Recifé - "What is Right and Fair?"
2nd September 2005
AAC launches Hurricane Relief Fund
31st August 2005

Alpha, Bisto and Omega
25th August 2005

Action against clergy in Recifé
25th August 2005

Michael Green's US Mission
25th August 2005

Charges filed against Connecticut Bishop
24th August 2005

"Mugabe Bishop" on trial
24th August 2005

Worcester supports Civil Partnerships
21st August 2005

Judge tentatively rejects LA Diocese claim
12th August 2005

New Act will Establish Gay 'Marriage'
12th August 2005

Winchester - "The State We're In"
12th August 2005

Other News Sources

Classical Anglican News Network
American Anglican Council
Anglican Media Sydney

Living Church

 

 

Statement by German Institute for Youth and Society 

It is our standpoint that the blessing of homosexual couples is, in every respect, unbiblical, irresponsible and lacking any positive, solid foundation for the future.

We would like to support our position based on the following points:

1. Disorientation of future generations

Despite all assertions to the contrary, by blessing homosexual couples, the exemplary function of marriage between man and woman in its role as a model of orientation is devalued, reducing it to merely one relational option among many.

Through the blessing of same-sex relationships, the church congregation, and in particular children and young people, are given the false impression that homosexual sex is all right, thus also portraying it to a certain degree as something interesting, or in other words, worthy of imitation.

Young people, many of whom are experiencing a certain degree of insecurity regarding their sexual identity or who may be apprehensive concerning encounters with the opposite sex, are encouraged to believe that adopting a homosexual identity is just as good as a heterosexual identity. Those persons who are already struggling with the problem of homosexuality are discouraged from seeking change with regard to their sexual inclinations.

The results of a 1992 survey taken in the USA showed that 25.9% of the 12-year-olds questioned were unsure about their sexuality and their sexual orientation.1

Before one introduces the homosexual lifestyle as a meaningful option to young people in the homoerotic phase, it is important to take into consideration the following:

a) One in four practicing male homosexuals becomes ill with the incurable disease AIDS.2 According to a 1997 Canadian study, the life expectancy of men who have sex with men is up to 20 years shorter than the overall male life expectancy.3

b) Women and men who are practicing homosexuals suffer significantly more often from various emotional illnesses, in particular anxiety disorders, eating disorders, severe depression and multiple substance abuse. This has been confirmed by new studies.4, 5, 6

Michael Bailey, who has become well-known internationally for his research on homosexuality, warns against attributing these emotional problems simply to a society‘s negative attitude towards homosexuality.

Up until the present, there has been no scientific proof that homosexual orientation is innate.

As long as it has not been fully clarified why the homosexual lifestyle is associated with so many burdens and such self-destruction, it is irresponsible, based on this reason alone, to bless homosexual couples within the context of any church ceremony.

2. Only one step on the way to an endless state of misery?

The homosexual movement in the church demands equality and the equal treatment of homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality and heterosexuality. If the church were to bless homosexual relationships today, how could it refuse to bless bisexual relationships tomorrow? What boundaries would remain concerning polygamy, incest or pedophilia?7

3. Homosexuality and heterosexuality are incomparable

Numerous studies on the living situation of practicing homosexual men show that homosexuality is lived out in a different way than heterosexuality. Indeed, in an report on behalf of the German government in 2000, the general openness to anonymous sexual contacts while at the same time living within a committed relationship is seen as a distinguishing characteristic glorified among practicing homosexual men.8

In a 1997 Australian study, 2583 older male practicing homosexuals were surveyed with regard to the number of sexual partners they had had in their lifetime. The average number of sexual partners was 251, while only 2.7% of those surveyed reported having had only one sexual partner.9

A new study carried out in 1998 in Zurich revealed that, on the average, practicing homosexual men between the ages of 20 and 50 had had 10-14 sexual partners during the 12 months prior to the survey. Although two-thirds of those questioned were concurrently living in a steady relationship, 90% of the men had, in addition, one or more casual sexual partners.10

“Many gays define fidelity differently than most heteros. For gays, faithfulness can mean that one comes to an agreement with one‘s partner. This can include, for example, that within the committed relationship, unsafer sex is practiced and in the case of affairs outside of the relationship, the safer sex rule is always to be followed. Fidelity can mean being faithful to this arrangement.“ (www.eurogay.de 2001)

The LSVD (The German Lesbian and Gay Association), which was the most well-known group fighting for the “Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz” (“Life Partnership Act” for homosexual partnerships, modelled very closely after marriage law) represents only a minority of all practicing homosexuals. 27 homosexual groups alone have spoken out publicly against the “Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz“. They base their stance on the belief that homosexuality is something very different from heterosexuality and that free sex is simply an intrinsic part of the homosexual lifestyle.

This has been confirmed by independent sexology journals. In response to the question of sexual fidelity, the “Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung“ (Journal of Sexology Research) wrote in March 2001: “Lying and hypocrisy is the name of the game.“ As an example, Volker Beck, representative of the LSVD is quoted: “Today, now that the weight of persecution has disappeared, most lesbians and gays live in committed relationships.“ This quote is then followed by the commentary: “No proof is required - for Volker Beck, pious wishful thinking is enough.“11

Up until now, there has been no basis for the assumption that the legal regulation of homosexual partnerships will result in a decrease in the promiscuity so characteristic of male homosexuality - that is, in the frequent change of sexual partners, regardless of whether or not a simultaneous “committed“ relationship exists.

In the Netherlands, where “same-sex marriage” has equal legal status, a new study (May 2003) reveals that homosexual relationships last only a year and a half on average. The study also found that even among supposedly stable homosexual partnerships, homosexuals have an average of eight partners a year outside of their allegedly monogamous relationship.12

4. Biblical Perspectives

According to the clear, comprehensive witness of Holy Scripture, Christ-centered discipleship is to be lived out within the framework of a faithful monogamous heterosexual marriage or in sexual abstinence. The Church has always taught this and it should continue to do so in the future.

Theologically speaking, the question of homosexuality cannot be compared to such issues as the prohibition of charging interest, or the prohibition of the eating of pork, as some would like to maintain. It is an issue dealing with the biblical concept of man.

Homosexual practices have existed since the early days of humanity. In contrast to other cultures (for example the Greek culture), these practices have always been rejected throughout the history of Judaism and Christianity. Why?

As the Bible sees it, full humanity in God’s image has always involved two genders: male and female. Their unique complementarity and interdependence expresses itself precisely in their sexuality and thus in the relationship that develops between them.

Created in the image of God, a human being is intended to reflect some of the nature of God in our visible reality. This whole human being, however - according to Genesis 1:27 - can only be man and woman together. Although each person - man or woman - is also a bearer of God’s image as an individual, full humanity has always involved two different genders, male and female, the two being uniquely created in their interdependence and in the way they provide a reference point for one another.

If this unique quality of togetherness between male and female is no longer visible in our world, for instance because other sexual lifestyles are approved within the Church, then we are obscuring the image of God on earth.

Our maleness and femaleness should serve to remind us that we were created with the intention to complement one another - and within the context of sexuality, to be complemented by the other sex. As the Bible sees it, there is no difference between humanness and the need to transcend oneself, that is, the need to point beyond oneself. We were created to point away from ourselves to that which we are not: the man to the woman, the woman to the man, and both together to God.

The earthly image - according to Genesis 1:27, male and female together - points to the divine original. The Canadian Jean Vanier, founder of the “L’Arche” (Ark) movement, therefore describes marriage between a man and a woman as “God’s icon“, in other words, as the true reflection or copy of the perfect original. It is here that we discover at the deepest level the reason why homosexual behavior in the Old Testament and then again in the New Testament is so clearly rejected: such behavior channels a person in a direction that does not involve mutual relatedness between male and female, but which drives the sexes in opposite directions. Homosexual partnerships (and I am not talking about the individual person with homosexual feelings) are relationships where either the male element or the female element is missing, and they are therefore not a “reflection of the perfect original“.

Our sexuality is precisely that creative energy by which we are intended to reach out to the other sex. It should not be channeled randomly, but should find its expression within the relationship between man and woman.

It was first during the Post-Modern era that the concept of a theoretical sexuality, detached from our sexual identity as man or woman, came into being - as if sexuality were free-floating and we could do with it what we wanted, i.e. invent new genders: the homosexual, transsexual, bisexual, pedophile, etc.

In a pro-homosexual book it has been written, “The original longing of all loving is the longing for one’s own self (...) Thus, all of us who are in search of ourselves are profoundly homosexual.“13

In contrast, the message of the Bible is something very different: The prerequisite for loving is not the search for ourselves, but being enthusiastic about the other, about „thou“. The foundational biblical statement with regard to marriage (Genesis 2:24) directly follows the man’s shout of joy in response to the other sex, the woman (Genesis 2:23). Jesus repeats this statement in Matthew 19:4-6. The goal of human relationships is not the search for oneself, but the reaching out to another, the true encounter between “I and thou”.

5. Discrimination of persons who are seeking change

For about 20 years now, it has been our increasing experience, both within society and the Church, that those persons who have homosexual feelings and who would like to experience change - in other words, those who are seeking a heterosexual marriage relationship or a successful celibate lifestyle - are ostracized, made to look foolish and discriminated against.

While, for example, the German Lesbian and Gay Association has only approximately 2000 members, in recent years alone, far more than 1000 Christians who have homosexual feelings have taken part in self-help groups in Germany in order to better understand and overcome their homosexuality. These self-help groups have received new confirmation through a recent study released by Columbia University. The study was able to scientifically show that a change over to heterosexuality is possible among motivated people with homosexual tendencies.14

Up until now, persons with homosexual feelings who are seeking to experience change have received no support from the Church. Their desire for change, however, deserves respect and recognition.

Their faith and the faith of many Christians who want to continue to hold fast to the biblical model that Christ-centered discipleship should be lived out within the context of a monogamous heterosexual marriage relationship or in sexual abstinence, is undermined by the request for the blessing of homosexual couples in the church.

__________

Notes

1 Remafedi, G., Risk Factors for Attempted Suicide in Gay and Bisexual Youth, Pediatrics, Vol.87, No.6, 1991, S.869-875

2 ZÜMS 98, Hrsg. von: Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin der Universität Zürich, Sumatrastr. 30, CH-8006 Zürich, June 1999.

3 Hogg, Robert S. et al., Modelling the Impact of HIV Disease on Mortality in Gay and Bisexual Men, Int. Journal of Epidemiology, Vol.26, No.3, 1997, S.657-661.

4 Fergusson, D. M., Is sexual orientation related to mental health problems and suicidality in young people?, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, Vol.56, Oct. 1999, S.876-880.

5 Herrell, R., Sexual orientation and suicidality, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, Vol.56, Oct. 1999, S.867-874.

6 Sandfort, T., R. Graaf, R. Bijl, P. Schnabel, Same-Sex Sexual Behavior and Psychiatric Disorders: Findings from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 58, 2001, S.85-91.

7 At a symposium on May 19, 2003 in San Francisco hosted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) sexologists argued for the removal of the diagnosis of pedophilia from the psychiatric manual of mental disorders, DSM. Those who argued for the removal of this diagnosis said that the situation of the paraphilias (sadomasochism, pedophilia and others) “parallels that of homosexuality in the early 1970’s”, when homosexuality as a diagnosis was removed from the DSM. For further information see www.narth.com.

8 Dannecker, Martin, Sexualwissenschaftliches Gutachten zur Homosexualität, in: Jürgen Basedow et al. (Hrsg.), Die Rechtsstellung gleichgeschlechtli-cher Lebensgemeinschaften. Beiträge zum ausländischen und internationalen Privatrecht 70, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2000.

9 Van de Ven, P. et al., A Comparative Demographic and Sexual Profile of Older Homosexually Active Men, Journal of Sex Research Vol.34, No.4, 1997, p. 349-360.

10 ZÜMS 98 a.a.O.

11 Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, Hrsg. von M. Dannecker et al., Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, Heft 1, Jahrgang 14, 2001, S. 35.

12 Xiridou, M. et al, The contribution of steady and casual partnerships to the incidence of HIV infection among homosexual men in Amsterdam, in: AIDS 17 (7), 2003, p. 1029-1038.

13 Gissrau, Barbara, Die Sehnsucht der Frau nach der Frau: Das Lesbische in der weiblichen Psyche, Kreuz Verlag, Stuttgart 1993, S. 172.

14 Spitzer, Robert L., 200 Subjects Who Claim to Have Changed Their Sexual Orientation from Homosexual to Heterosexual, “Bulletin”, German Institute for Youth and Society, No.2, Autumn 2001, www.dijg.de.

 

© Dr. Christl R. Vonholdt
German Institute for Youth and Society
D-64385 Reichelsheim, Germany
Email: institute@ojc.de
Website: www.dijg.de

Back to Resources Page

All content © 2003-2005 Anglican Mainstream. For reproduction and other editorial inquiries contact us here
Home - News - Resources - Who We Are - Links - Contact Us

Anglican Mainstream is a registered charity (No. 290112) in the United Kingdom