The Ugandan parliament on May 2 passed a revised version of anti-LGBTQ legislation that had been introduced earlier this year. The original version of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 criminalized merely identifying as LGBTQ, prescribed the death penalty for certain crimes involving same-sex activity, and called for life in prison for anyone engaging in same-sex relations.
So what IS the GC/church leadership, including Ted Wilson’s, obvious hesitancy to talk openly and honestly about homosexuality, WITH LGBTQIA+ Adventist members? Being gay is not contagious, so sitting down with gay church members should not be a problem. Do the leaders loathe LGBTQIA+ members so much that they can’t even condemn laws that strip folks of human dignity and deny innocent folks of human rights. It appears the GC condones the Ugandan Anti-LGBTQ Law. I wonder how Bugema University is responding to the new law and the queer students attending there???
The failure of denominational leaders to respond to Spectrum’s queries shows that not only are they lacking in Christianity…something we had already imagined…but they are also lacking in courage. For shame.
I know what they say about pride, but seeing reports like this, and reading about TW’s actions-or perhaps more importantly his inaction-in dealing with such issues, I’ve never been more proud about my decision to become an ex-SDA.
Our GC Office of Public Affairs and Public Affairs should be in touch with African leaders to provide some wise counsel.
It could be just simply arrogance…they don’t care enough to respond. I don’t think that it would take a genius to understand simple journalistic queries.
Well…arrogance fits right in with the lack of Christian dialogue and lack of courage…and perhaps the former precipitates the latter
Yep…like I said- it doesn’t take a genius.
To quote Yogi Berra, It’s deja Vu all over again. 10 years on, and nothing really changed.
The involvement of local and regional church leadership in this gross injustice is shameful.
The non-response of our GC and Ted, in particular, is sickening. Even if you think being a member of the LGBTQ community a sin, what makes it criminal? Why not see if we can pass a law in Uganda to stone Sabbath breakers? Same disgusting principal applies. It would be, at its worst, a victimless crime. Consenting adults should be left alone, even with the most bigoted and judgmental Adventists, all of you should be speaking out against this action.
Ted Wilson is a disgrace, not as much for his position about the nature the LGBTQ community, as to the fact that some of our African leadership would seek to criminalize something that is clearly ONLY a religious belief and a victimless crime, and he won’t even address the issue. He must go. I am fed up with the tip-towing around this issue. He is disgusting and he must go. I hope someone in the GC office will show him my post. I dare him to disfellowship me. It would only confirm that he is a disgrace.
Very well stated Lindy. Things like this make the church look ridiculous. How can any doctrines or teachings be taken seriously with this attitude from leaders?
This is appropriate. Not sure of its origin but all credit to whoever wrote it.
“Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people; before you tell me about how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children; before you preach to me of your passion for your faith, teach me about it through your compassion for your neighbours. In the end, I’m not as interested in what you have to tell or sell as I am in how you choose to live and give.”
And in acting like being responsible !!!
Apparently the separation of church and state doesn’t apply in Africa. Or, perhaps, we can ignore it everywhere as long as the state agrees with the church’s conservative, reactionary, and backwards teachings.
If it weren’t so sad it’d be comical. They rely a superficial understanding of an ancient text, refuse to understand that after translation and nearly 3000 years and the resulting loss of context, that they have changed its meaning. And then (if that wasn’t enough) they cherry pick from it in a way that was never intended, in order to come up with a theology of hate and exclusion. Which in turn - they fail to notice - flies in the face of the core teachings found in their new testament and its primary protagonist, Jesus.
Yea… Every time I hear some fundamentalist leader harping about “biblical marriage” I want to laugh in their face and ask the simple question, “Have you read the bible?” In another amazing feat of complete denial, these same leaders can - somehow - find what they think is their view of marriage in the bible. Which of course isn’t there at all. What is found in the bible is a multitude of different practices, most all of which are illegal in the west today, and if not then they’re practices they themselves consider immoral and rail against.
I suspect the refusal to comment derives from fear of the alt-right members within the Church, much as many conservative politicians fear the MAGA wing of their party. We seem to have a crisis in spinelessness that can be repaired only by a spiritual infusion of calcium and phosphorous.
@timteichman, dont they read their recent “Family model” out of their environment into the Bible ? - - Abraham and Sarah sitting on their porch somewhere in Portsland, Maine ?
The young newly converts in my little church have to get along in a postmodern society with the economy and the society and making a livelhood and raising their little ones (some - yes - single !!) - - -
Since all LGBTYQIA’s are also God’s children, I often wonder what Jesus would do? I also often wonder if God still loves Lucifer? Should our GC/church leadership reflect the true character of God? If so why do they continue to be so silent on the matter?
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As time passes from days to weeks, and months to years, it appears with greater certainty & unambiguous clarity, Ted Wilson and cronies are afraid of painting themselves into a corner as Christians; or even worst as His disciples.
For it is He who spoke the very first words in the beginning of Creation, that also spoke with unambiguous clarity that which we so desperately desire to see exemplified in the lives of His people & is so readily relevant today from His Remnant.
For it was the Creator Himself who previously walked the earth with Adam & Eve, who now walked in the flesh as the Son of God who spoke these immortal words: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
You’re equating taxation with laws that prescribe the death penalty for homosexual behavior. Really?