Steve Chalke, often called the “Billy Graham of the UK,” on January 15 came out in favor of committed, faithful, same-sex relationships, and posted the following video that explained how, as a long-time evangelical Christian and Baptist pastor of a network of Oasis churches in England, he came to this controversial decision about same-sex relationships and the church:
After the video was published, the BBC interviewed Chalke, and followed up with an interview with American conservative Baptist preacher-educator-sociologist Tony Campolo about his reaction to Chalke’s announcement. Campolo posted the following excerpts of these interviews on his website, Red-Letter Christians:
Click photo of Tony Campolo to listen to radio interviews
I bring these interviews and video to your attention because, as Campolo writes in a supplemental post on his website:
Steve’s public declaration . . . represents the first time that a major evangelist and leader in the Evangelical community has come out in support of same-sex relationships. Discussions about what he has done will reverberate from churches, youth groups, seminaries, Bible schools and denominations. Both those who support same-sex partnerships and gay marriage as well as those who oppose such developments will look upon Steve’s declaration as a watershed. It is one more evidence that a major shift is taking place on this controversial subject, not only within mainline Christianity, but among Evangelicals.
Indeed, same-sex issues that are upfront in our society, in the voting booth, in the military, and on television shows are also confronting us in our families and in our mainline and evangelical churches.
Last year I had to face this issue as a church leader who was part of a committee that was commissioned to explore and recommend the direction that our congregation should take in response to our denomination’s decision to approve the ordination of gay clergy—a decision that had already resulted in some congregations choosing to leave the denomination.
While our 3,000-plus-member congregation eventually voted not to support our denomination on the ordination issue, we chose to stay within the denomination and be “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-16) to our denomination and mirror the grace and love of Jesus to gays within our families, churches, and our society.
In a similar vein, Campolo ends his post with:
For my own part, I remain conservative on the issue, but I agree with Steve that the attitudes of many churches are homophobic and cruel. Whether or not we change our positions on accepting same-sex relationships or even gay marriage, we Evangelicals have to face the reality that the time has come for many of us to change our attitudes towards gay people, and show something of the love and grace of God in the name of His Son Jesus.
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The gay issue is not going to go away, especially here on the West Coast. It will provide us believers with much excitement in the months ahead. All of it will revolve around one word and our definition of it: love.
If there is any “sin” in homosexual relationships it is limited to sexual acts and, even then, I don’t know that all are included. In Leviticus it is deemed an abomination for a man to lie with another man as with a woman however no other sexual acts are deemed such. In the Gospels, Christ admonishes us to hate the sin but love the sinner (even as to our selves). Even if we were to conclude that sexual acts between members of the same sex were “sinful” the commandment of Christ remains clear – we are to love such individuals as He has loved us. Beyond that one must wonder why Christ does not spend a lot of time discussing “sexual” sins in the Gospels. It has long been my belief that this country continues to cling to puritanical ideas about sin particularly “sins of the flesh.” To some such sins are deemed more offensive than even the taking of an innocent life. Clearly this cannot be as no human being has ever lived without “inappropriate” sexual urges whether a married person “lusting” for someone who is not a spouse, unmarried individuals engaging in sexual behavior or people of the same sex craving physical intimacy. Despite this we do not find Christ condemning the entire world over its weaknesses in all matters sexual. Ultimately we must view this through the image of God that was given us by Christ – that of a loving, caring Parent. How loving is the parent who would turn away a child because that child is attracted to members of the same sex? I believe, if we’re honest, discerning the answer in the light of Christ’s teaching and commandments should be simple.
Bravo to Steve Chalk for acknowledging the hypocrisy in allowing for evolving beliefs with regard to women and slavery, but not homosexuality in religious thought. Such a brave declaration coming from a member of the evangelical community. As someone who places her faith in the power of love, I am encouraged by all expressions of compassion and inclusion.
Yes the gay issue is not going away here in L.A.
Steve Chalke showed immense moral courage and is to be commended. Tony Campolo, as well-intentioned as he appears to be, is lacking in his response in two major ways.
First, he claims that the church needs to be less homophobic and cruel, yet he does not cite any practical examples of how to do that. It is outrageous that the evangelical community – Dr. Campolo included – does not denounce the patent gay-bashing of conservative Christian organizations like the Family Research Counsel, the American Family Association, and others. Likewise, it is unconscionable that the evangelical community does not speak out when the fundamentalist factions of the church fight anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. The complicit silence of leaders like Tony Campolo – their utter failure to hold their anti-gay brethren accountable – smacks of politics and commerce. It’s time for Dr. Campolo to put his money where his mouth is.
Second, his assertion that more than 2000 years of traditional interpretation cannot be wrong is a cop out. If his prayerful consideration of the traditional interpretation has led him to the conclusion that gay relationships are sinful, that’s one thing. He should own that. But to say that the very human church is infallible, that’s nonsense. As Steve Chalke points out in his article, the church held the view for 1700 years that the earth was flat (and Pope John Paul II only conceded that the earth revolves around the sun in 1992). In the same way, evangelical tradition supported slavery and the subjugation of women – which today most Christians would agree are bad things. Why, then, is he so certain that the traditional view of the sinfulness of homosexuality (and the attendant emotional abuse of gay people) is ordained by God?
With all due respect to Dr. Campolo, it’s time for him to be a leader here in showing love to people who are gay – regardless of the personal cost.