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Special to United Methodist Insight
The language we use aids and abets the conflict we face in our denomination. I refer specifically to the words “oppression,” “oppressors” as applied to the gay issue which has become impossibly distorted. These words carry heavy baggage and fuel the debate far beyond the reality of what we actually face. Their use makes those on one side look morally stunted, enemies of the Christian community, and those on the other side, champions of justice and equality. Consider some of the heinous things variously covered by the words: denial of human rights, interdiction, excommunication, punishment, persecution, torture, imprisonment, slavery, despotism.
To use such language to describe the plight of the LBGTQ+ persons perpetrates two injustices—unjustly judges those who in one way or another differ with the gay community, and greatly over-states the victimization of homosexuals. What, in fact, are the gays denied at this time in our church? In the daily life of our congregations, are they set apart and refused hospitality? Are they denied worship, membership or opportunities to freely associate and serve anywhere in the local organization (or in all the national echelons)? We know there are exceptions around the country in communities still dominated by deeply biased attitudes against homosexuals. But the main thrust of secular society is in the other direction.
We need to be precise as to the exact grievance suffered by the gay community today. What they are denied is the right to be ordained for the ministry while actively engaged in homosexual life. I join with large segments of the church who seek to have this ruling in the Discipline abolished. Otherwise, I see the homosexual community moving freely, unidentified through a majority of our churches, people who are liked, disliked, ignored or unknown. To use terms against our denomination as “oppressor” is to speak mindlessly and irresponsibly and has needlessly whipped us into the current frenzy dividing our people.
It appears that in some of the debate we are mixing racism with anti-homosexuality. Racism has been tragically interwoven in the development of our country and continues today in serious, if more attenuated forms. The unfortunate hurt experienced by those who are homosexual cannot be compared with the appalling suffering of those who are victims of racism since the founding of this nation, or the equally disastrous fate we inflicted on the native American.
The Rev. Gilbert H. Vieira is a retired clergy member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference.