wfn.org | Homosexuality and the Church Trying to Hear From All Sides

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Taiwan Church News 2584, 9th September 2001
Reported by Wang Huei-chu,  Written by David Alexander

    When the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT)
established a Research and Development Center a few years ago among its
first assignments was the development of a position paper on
homosexuality.  The project had languished in various church committees
for 5 or 6 years. It was hoped that the R&D center could move it along
to completion.
    In Phase One the center and sought opinions inside the church.  Now
in Phase two open seminars inviting input from persons outside the PCT
are being sponsored.  On August 24th various homosexual organizations
celebrated the 2001 Taipei Gay Pride Festival.  A week later the center
held a seminar entitled "Can a Homosexual be a Christian?"  Presenters
included Dr. Hwang Po-ho, (R&D Center director), Rev. Tzeng (pastor of
Tongkwang Presbyterian GLBT Church), Lai Yu-lin (secretary of the
Homosexual Consultant Hotline Association), and Rev. Lin Ni-ling
(Women's Work Secretary at the General Assembly of the PCT).
    Dr Hwang opened discussions with a bit of history, describing phase
two as "reflection and discussion."  He reported that after invitations
to this seminar had been sent out he received comments from many clergy
saying that it had been misnamed.  Instead of the announced "Can a
Homosexual be a Christian?" they said that it should be called "Can a
Christian be a Homosexual?"
    Pastor Tzeng told the history of the Tongkwang Presbyterian GLBT
(Gay. Lesbian, Bisxual and Transgendered) Church.  This independent
congregation with no organic connection to Presbyterian structures in
Taiwan or overseas has operated for six years.  Many of the members have
come from other churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, where they
had found themselves increasingly isolated.  Most often they arrive at
Tongkwang asking "Since I am Christian, and I am a homosexual, does that
mean that God will punish me or not?"  As they face the question, these
homosexual sisters and brothers in Christ are brought to consideration
of the basis of their faith. Often this is tied to the clergy whom they
have known in the past.  If the faith they received has been a matter of
rule-keeping and prohibitions on various acts buttressed by
pronouncements of God's judgement, this becomes is a pivotal time.
There are homosexuals who take a position of "I'm in serious error and
am sure to be punished by God."  Among the members of Tongkwang Church
are many who have struggled with this question while active in other
congregations.  They have come from all sorts of Protestant churches in
Taiwan.  Pastor Tzeng estimates that homosexual Christians who leave
their home churches to unite with Tongkwang are a minority.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Homosexuals in the Church
    According to Pastor Tzeng, homosexual Christians who are involved in
church life can be divided into four groups.  The first are those who
deny their homosexual orientation and live in a way that is
indistinguishable from other church members. If these come to recognize
and accept their sexual orientation they often leave church and the life
of faith to merge into Taiwan's homosexual subculture.
    The second group is homosexual Christians who continue to participate
in their own churches keeping their sexual orientation secret. They seek
to overcome homosexuality through the application of Christianity, but
the matter is kept entirely between themselves and God.  A third group
is those who seek therapy and healing through groups such as the "Exodus
Center."  They and those who help them hope that religious power can
change them to become the type of heterosexuals who can blend in with
the majority of Christians.
The last group comprises those in the church, including both lay and
clergy, who openly participate in discussion about the topic of
homosexuality. Because their openness is not understood by the majority
of Christians they experience rejection.  For many the end result is
departure from participation in church or the life of faith. Their
aspect becomes indistinguishable from that of unbelievers in Taiwan's
homosexual subculture. Probably the majority of Taiwan's Christians of
homosexual orientation wind up in this category.

Can a Homosexual be a Christian?
Rev. Lin Ni-ling, PCT Women's Work Secretary, told how Tongkwang Church
emerged from college campus ministries.  The founding pastor was
originally a campus minister. She had counseled students who, having
sought their pastors to ask for help in understanding their sexuality
and their faith, had been treated to scoldings lasting up to two hours.
They emerged deeply injured. Typical churches in Taiwan find homosexuals
unacceptabe.  Rev. Lin said, "No matter if we phrase the question 'can a
homosexual be a Christian', or 'can a Christian be a homosexual,' we
have to address it from three angles: 1)the gospel from the Bible; 2)
the nature of the church; and 3) the meaning of rebirth."

The seminar heard from medical, sociological, ethical and legal experts
and from the life and faith experiences of homosexual Christians.  Dr.
Hwang emphasized that the question is still open within the R&D center.
No official position has yet been taken by the PCT.

For More Information:
     PCT R&D Center  rd@mail.pct.org.tw
     Lin Ni-leng        niling@mail.pct.org.tw
     Tongkwang Presbyterian GLBT Church  tongkwang@ms6.url.com.tw