Christian denominations and homosexuality
Statements by the Society of Friends (Quakers)
Quaker congregations are almost completely autonomous. There exists no central general
assembly or main authority within the Society of Friends which can make definitive
statements of policy for the entire denomination. Instead, Quakers have regional
"meetings" at which a group of congregations gather.
Most Christians and Christian groups can be sorted into three categories:
conservative, mainline and liberal. Quakers cover the full range. This is
displayed in their beliefs about homosexuality and bisexuality. The following
are excerpts taken from their statements on the topic, sorted in chronological
In 1963, British Quakers published a book "Towards a Quaker View of Sex".
10 It put forth the argument that it was not the gender and sexual orientation of a person
that mattered; it was the depth of feeling they have for each other.
there is a genuine tenderness, an openness to responsibility, and the seed of commitment,
God is surely not shut out. Can we not say that God can enter any relationship in which
there is a measure of selfless love?"2
Subsequently, the Quakers of Westminster Meeting in the UK published a
"We affirm the love of God for all people, whatever their sexual orientation,
and our conviction that sexuality is an important part of human beings as created by God,
so that to reject people on the grounds of their sexual behaviour is a denial of God's
Quaker Life published an essay on
"Quaker Views - Close Relationships," which commented:
"This tolerant attitude probably reflects the view of most British
Quakers. No discrimination is found among Quakers in terms of employment
policies. However, there are some Quakers who are very unhappy about the
subject of homosexuality."
"What would Quakers say to people who point to teachings in the Bible
against homosexuality? Most British Quakers, while finding much
inspiration in the Bible, would not use it as the final or only
authority. We believe in obedience to the same spirit of God that
inspired the writers of the Bible and that we feel can speak directly to
people today. We remember that the writers of the New Testament accepted
the institution of slavery but Christians no longer keep slaves. Parts
of the New Testament seem to support the argument against the ordination
of women but several churches now ordain women. How the Christian Church
decides which of the teachings in the Bible are eternal and which were
'of their time' is an important issue. Within Quakerism we feel it is
very important for ideas to be treated by careful and prayerful
consideration by the larger Quaker community - which may take a long
The meeting issued the following statement on 1986-MAR: 4
Meeting affirms the goodness of committed, loving relationships and offers recognition and
support to those who share this ideal and desire to enter into a permanent relationship
based upon it. By tradition, the Meeting recognizes committed union in a celebration of
marriage under the care of the Meeting. The same loving care and consideration should be
given to both same-sex and heterosexual applicants as outlined in Faith and
Beacon Hill, MA:
The meeting issued the following statement on 1988-MAR: 4
the members and attenders of Beacon Hill Monthly Meeting, affirm our belief in that of God
in every person. Furthermore, we attest that this belief embraces all persons regardless
of sexual orientation."
"Beacon Hill affirms that all couples, including those of the same sex, have equal
opportunity to be married within the framework of the meeting process. The love between
these couples, as it grows, will enrich their relationship, the Meeting, and the world at
large. The Meeting is committed to supporting these couples according to their needs."
"Beacon Hill acknowledges the Certificate of Marriage signed by the couple and those
present at the ceremony as the witness of Friends to the couples' spiritual union. Mindful
that only the heterosexual couples among us currently have the right to legally sanctioned
marriage and its privileges, the Meeting asks Friends, and particularly couples preparing
for marriage, to examine how best to respond and bear witness to the inequalities still
present in the system."
Friends Church Southwest Yearly Meeting [This is a Meeting in the southwest of the U.S., and is not the Yearly Meeting in the Southwest of England:
They issued a statement on 1992-JAN-24 which says in part:
"We declare that our
sexuality is God's gift, and that sexual intercourse is to be enjoyed, as the Scriptures
teach, only within the marriage of one man and one woman. We reject and utterly oppose
homosexual activity, especially the "blessing" of same sex unions, as sinful and
displeasing to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Right reason, Holy Scripture and the
Spirit of Christ within us unitedly testify that homosexual practice is contrary to God's
will. We also observe that homosexual practice is portrayed in the Scriptures as one of
the awful consequences of humanity's pursuit of idolatry. (Romans 1:18-32)"
"We want to be clear that we welcome those who struggle with homosexual temptation. The
gospel of Jesus welcomes all who turn to Him in the hope of a new and remade life. Our
Lord Jesus offers that power for real change. We must also be equally clear, however, that
we cannot welcome or tolerate the teaching that homosexual or extramarital sexual activity
is acceptable to Friends. Without hate or fear we must reject these behaviors because they
are both sinful and displeasing to our Lord, and because they are ultimately hurtful and
destructive to those who participate in them." 1
Evangelical Friends Church - Mid America Yearly Meeting:
They approved a statement on homosexuality on 1992-AUG-02:
"The Scriptures declare that God creates us male and
female. Furthermore, the biblical record shows that sexual union was
established exclusively within the context of a male-female relationship
(Genesis 2:24), and formalized in the institution of marriage. The
partner for man was woman. Together they were to be one flesh. In the
New Testament, the oneness of male and female in marriage pictures the
relationship between Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:22-23).
Everywhere in Scripture the sexual relationship between man and woman
within the bonds of marriage is viewed as something natural and
beautiful. We believe that homosexuality is not an expression of the
Creatorís plan for human sexuality."
"Homosexual activity, like an adulterous relationship,
is clearly condemned in the Scriptures. In Leviticus 18:22, God declares
the practice of homosexuality an abomination in His sight. In Romans
1:26-27, the practice of homosexuality is described as a degrading and
unnatural passion. I Corinthians 6:9-10 identifies the practice of
homosexuality as sin that, if persisted in, brings gave consequences in
this life and excludes one from the Kingdom of God."
"We as evangelical Friends believe that sexuality has
moral implications unlike race, gender, or national origin. The Apostle
Paul, strong in his condemnation of the practice of homosexuality, also
testifies that those once engaged in homosexuality were among those who
were forgiven and changed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (I
Corinthians 6:11). Individual Christians, pastors and congregations need
to maintain the believe that all human beings have sinned, and that all
Christians have received Godís mercy while helpless, ungodly and hostile
to God. In the name of Christ we proclaim forgiveness, cleansing,
restoration and power for godly living for all who repent and believe
the gospel (I Corthinthians 10:13)." 8
Quakers in Madison WI:
Quakers were one of the denominations from the Madison WI area, which issued a statement
in 1997, titled: "Madison Affirmation On Homosexuality and Christian Faith".
3 It states:
"Jesus Christ calls us to love God and our
neighbor as ourselves. As Christian clergy we embrace gay and lesbian persons as our
neighbors. From our reading of scripture and from our pastoral experiences, we believe
there is sufficient evidence to conclude that homosexuality is neither sickness nor sin.
For too long, homosexual persons have been condemned and mistreated by the followers of
Jesus Christ. Sadly, the Bible has been misused in support of this condemnation. This
abuse of scripture must end. Heterosexual and homosexual persons are children of God,
created in God's image. ...
We believe it is time to eliminate all policies and practices which create barriers and
restrictions to the full participation of gay and lesbian Christians in all of the
privileges and responsibilities of church membership. Recognizing that our churches still
speak and act out of our long-standing prejudices:
||We hope and pray that we will acknowledge our sin and be forgiven for our ignorance,
fear, arrogance and self-righteousness; ...
||We rejoice in the refusal of many gay and lesbian Christians to abandon or be forced
out of their church homes;...
||We consider these sisters and brothers to be a unique, holy and precious gift to all
of us who struggle to become the family of God."
New Zealand: The Quaker meeting in Aotearoa is
called "Te Hahi Tuhauwiri." This was the name gifted to them by
the Maori Language Commission in 1994. It means "The people who are
moved by the winds of the Spirit." In 1999, they published their Statement
of Affirmation and Reconciliation about the inclusiveness of sexualities, especially
gays and lesbians. It had been adopted in 1995. Portions read:
Society of Friends (Quakers) in Aotearoa New Zealand commits itself to be a community of
reconciliation, responding to the love of God in equality of participation and service,
and recognizing the gifts of God in one another. A cornerstone of Quaker belief is 'that
of God' in everyone which makes each person precious, and of value to God, to the planet,
and to her or his community.
Each individual's journey through life is unique. Some will make this journey
alone, others in loving relationships - maybe in marriage or other forms of commitment. We
need to ponder our own choices and try to understand the choices of others. Love has many
shapes and colors and is not finite. It can not be measured or defined in terms of sexual
We are now called:
||to welcome publicly and explicitly the participation and service of lesbian and gay Friends;
||to help one another develop loving and equal adult relationships and friendships;
||to explore ways in which we can, through worship and cherishing, mark the joys and sorrows of one
another's relationships and life circumstances;
||to seek formal ways of recognizing a variety of commitments, including gay and lesbian partnerships.
We realize in making this present affirmation we oblige ourselves to face and deal
with our own homophobia and unconscious prejudices, together with society's limitations
and denials of human rights and justice. We acknowledge that as individuals we are as
fallible as anyone else. When put to the test, we may each fall short."
These statements probably reflect the range of beliefs of most
Minute of Declaration by Southwest Yearly Meeting is at: http://www.clark.net/
QUAKERS in Britain: The Religious Society of Friends Britain Yearly Meeting has an essay
on sexual morality. See: http://www.quaker.org/
(This link could not be raised on 1998-OCT-24, and may be dead.)
"Pastors say Homosexuality Not a Sin", at: http://wayoflife.org/
"Minutes on Same-Gender Marriage...", at: http://world.std.com/
Many additional texts are listed at Q-LIGHT HOME PAGE at: http://world.std.com/
A presentation to the International Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany on
1997-JUN-29 is at: http://quakers.agoranet.be/
"Aotearoa New Zealand Yearly Meeting: Statement of Affirmation and
Reconciliation," at: http://www.mind.net/
"Position papers," Evangelical Friends Church - Mid America Yearly
"Quaker Views - Close Relationships," undated, at:
"Towards a Quaker View of Sex," Quaker Home Service (1998). Out of print.
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