The letters, written by a homosexual, but celibate, Missouri Synod pastor, share memories of a child teased and taunted since second grade.
A child who dreaded recess because he was ridiculed by classmates who called him "fag," "fairy" and "queer." A teenager whose ninth-grade English teacher spoke in a falsetto lisp when they passed in the hall. A young man who "went to school with a stomach ache every day of [his] tenth-grade year" because a fellow student called him "sissy" and made fun of him at every opportunity.
"Compared to this 'preaching of the Law,' no pastor's fire-and- brimstone sermon about the dangers of hell could ever move me," he writes.
In fact, he adds, most homosexuals don't worry about hell. "To many, as to myself, hell seems like somewhat of a relief. ... to be honest, if hell is the price to pay for just a little bit of love -- even perverted love -- here on earth, many homosexuals are prepared to pay that price."
Those passages, and others, provided input to members of the Synod's Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals as they worked for three years to produce the church body's first "Plan for Ministry to Homosexuals and their Families."
The letters, sent unsolicited to the task force, cite the need for pastors to take care when applying Law and Gospel in counseling situations involving homosexuals.
"Every homosexual knows very well what the Bible says about homosexuality," writes the unnamed pastor. "They have endured far more devastating applications of the Law than any church can bring to bear." The new "Plan for Ministry" cautions pastors against preaching the Law when it may not be indicated: "To those who are truly troubled and repentant, there may be little need for the actual or verbal proclamation of the Law."
Rather, such cases "should be handled in the same spirit in which Christ dealt with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11).... He announces grace and comforts her: 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'"
The goal of pastoral care, according to the document, is "to affirm the person's identity in Christ and to strengthen his or her relationship with Him."
The 20-page document, now being prepared for distribution to LCMS pastors by the Synod president's office, tackles such issues as Law and Gospel, sexual ethics, the nature and origin of homosexuality, the Sixth Commandment, congregational reactions to homosexuals, and pastoral care.
It is the first time the church body has examined the "pastoral- care dimensions" of homosexuality, according to Dr. Howard E. Mueller, assistant to the director of LCMS Health Ministries and one of two LCMS International Center staff members on the task force.
"The majority of pastors have never ministered to a homosexual," Mueller says. Pastors -- and even congregations -- are often perceived by homosexuals as being "judgmental," so many homosexuals choose to avoid church life, according to Mueller.
The document's overriding message, he says, is to foster, among pastors and congregations, "serious and hopeful engagement with a homosexual and his family to bring the strength and comfort of Christ."
Because it's a first-time study for the church, the report may carry a few surprises for some readers.
For example, it declines to take a side on the nature vs. nurture argument regarding the cause of homosexuality, since "nothing scientifically definitive can be said" and "the Bible is silent" on the question.
"The most that can be said is that homosexuality is the tragic result of original sin," the report concludes.
The document also cautions against some myths concerning homosexuality: that all effeminate men are homosexual (false); that a person chooses to be homosexual ("who would choose to become something that is so widely castigated and discriminated against?"); and that 10 percent of the U.S. population is homosexual (most scientific studies estimate the actual percentage to be between 1 and 3).
The document was produced in response to a directive from the 1992 Synod convention, which asked for such a plan to provide "biblical and Gospel-oriented ministry" to homosexuals and their families.
When the task force, appointed by Synod President A.L. Barry, began its work in 1995, it had "only the [convention] resolution" as a guide, Mueller said, and faced three "challenges" to devising such a Gospel-based ministry:
* The confusion of others toward homosexuality creates a great deal of discomfort and disappointment in the family of the homosexual, and causes heterosexual people to ostracize the homosexual. Says Mueller: "Even the pastor may feel uncomfortable with homosexuality," which can create a "wall" between him and the person to whom he is offering pastoral care.
* The "double-standard" of sex outside of marriage, which society generally condones for heterosexuals but not for homosexuals. Both are equally sinful, according to the report.
* The "loud voice of the gay-rights movement," which seeks to legitimize homosexual behavior -- a direct contradiction to the biblical teaching that such behavior is sinful.
In its resolution, the 1992 convention also suggested several "goals" for the new ministry strategy. The task force's report addresses those goals, and adds another: "to assure [the homosexual] of the acceptance of the church."
That goal was added, according to the document, "since the attitude of the church is often the most important initial factor in determining whether a person feels that he or she can approach the church for help, or a person avoids the church because he or she feels unwelcome or unwanted."
Other goals included in the report are:
* To confront the individual with his/her sinfulness and call him/her to repentance. But, it cautions, "care must be taken to distinguish between those who need to hear the Law and those who have already heard the Law and now need to hear the Gospel."
* To assure the repentant sinner of forgiveness in Christ.
* To assist the individual to rely on Christ's love and strength to abstain from homosexual behavior.
"Sexual orientation is not the centerpiece in God's design. In the divine economy, every life has a mission and a purpose," notes the report. "Help each person to recognize the gifts with which he or she is divinely endowed, and let them use these gifts to build up the body of Christ, to spread the Gospel, and to serve the community."
* To help the individual bear his or her burden without fear of recrimination and rejection by his or her sisters and brothers in Christ. The document encourages congregations to "respect, not reject" homosexuals and to enable them to use their talents in the church.
* To minister to families that include persons of homophile behavior/orientation. Family reactions may include anger, guilt, avoidance of the Christian community, grief, confusion and loss of respect. The pastor must encourage all family members "to be accepting of the homosexual ... while not condoning the person's sins."
The report urges pastors to meet with family members, and offers suggestions for how to discuss the issue with them.
Also included is a list of resources and support groups for pastors, congregations and the families of homosexuals. Recommended by Mueller are the books "My Son, Beloved Stranger," by Kate McLaughlin, and "Someone I Love is Gay," by Anita Worthen and Bob Davies.
"I know our pastors will appreciate this new resource for helping them work with homosexuals and their families," Barry said of the document. "It is good that our Synod has produced this resource. In addition to clearly speaking out against homosexual behavior, we very much need to be sensitive to the unique needs of the individuals and their families who are impacted by homosexuality."
As a task force member, Mueller said he hopes the new "Plan for Ministry to Homosexuals and their Families" will ultimately help "to empower [homosexual Lutherans] to recognize and respond to the gifts that God has given [them], and to lead a celibate life as a gift to Christ."
The document is expected to be mailed to all LCMS pastors before year's end.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This news release is published by the News and Information Division, Board for Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Free subscriptions to this service are available by sending an electronic mail message to mailserv@crf.cuis.edu and include the words SUBSCRIBE LCMSNEWS in the body of your message. To unsubscribe, send the message UNSUBSCRIBE LCMSNEWS to the same mailserv address. For more information, contact Paula Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or at (314) 965-9000.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *