د/شريف العجمىChurch-gay issues challenge the mainline faithful-Byelqurssan

http://blogs.usatoday.com/.a/6a00d83...099e4db970b-pi

The new survey released today on the views of mainline
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...marriage_N.htm
Protestant clergy (you know, the Methodists, the Evangelical Lutherans, Episcopal folk etc.) finds the one civil right for gays they don't support is marriage.
But although the primary focus of the 60-questionClergy
http://www.publicreligion.org/research/?id=208
Voices Surveyconducted by Public Religion Research, was lesbian and gay issues, there are other interesting theological findings here. These could explain why the Rev. Martin Marty, the nation's leading historian of religion and a Lutheran pastor, quips, "It takes Christians two centuries to settle anything."
Robert Jones, president of Public Religion Research and co-author of the survey, says 57% of general population and 70% of mainline laity -- but 65% of clergy -- agree on some form of legalizing same-sex marriage or civil unions.
However, the clergy survey finds 55% say they do not want their denomination to bless or conduct same sex-marriages and only 7% say they have officiated at one.
(UPDATE NOTE: The Pew Forum on
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1228/gay...rcise-religion
Religion & Public Life has a new Q&A on its web site examining legal issues around gay marriage. Among other points, it notes that although
...the U.S. Constitution likely bars states from regulating decisions by clergy or faith communities about who may marry within their religious traditions, the Constitution does not limit state regulation of those who provide adoption, housing or other services.)
Clergy also were asked if "homosexuality is a choice" (31% agree, 14% not sure) or whether "sexual orientation is determined at birth (41% agree but 26% not sure).
Keep in mind the demographics of this survey: 80% male, 74% age 50 or older, 93% white. Among women in the survey, for example 58% supported same-sex marriage.
Overall, only 29% of clergy say the Bible is inerrant "both in matters of faith and in historic, geographical and other secular matters."

(UPDATE NOTE: The Pew Forum on Religion & Public
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1228/gay...rcise-religion
Life has a new Q&A on its web site examining legal issues around gay marriage. Among other points, it notes that although
...the U.S. Constitution likely bars states from regulating decisions by clergy or faith communities about who may marry within their religious traditions, the Constitution does not limit state regulation of those who provide adoption, housing or other services.)
Clergy also were asked if "homosexuality is a choice" (31% agree, 14% not sure) or whether "sexual orientation is determined at birth (41% agree but 26% not sure).
Keep in mind the demographics of this survey: 80% male, 74% age 50 or older, 93% white. Among women in the survey, for example 58% supported same-sex marriage.
Overall, only 29% of clergy say the Bible is inerrant "both in matters of faith and in historic, geographical and other secular matters."
The Bible does matter deeply in how they view gay issues. Of the 51% who say disagreement over homosexuality in the church is a crisis, 40% say this crisis is centered in disagreement over how to read the Bible.
On other theological issues,some mainline clergy findings that struck me:
* Almost as many, 43%, say human nature is basically good while 47% disagree.
* A surprising 21% are "not sure" if everyone came to Christ all social issues would be resolved: 38% agree but 41% disagree.
* Only 12% agree that "all the great religions of the world were equally good and true."
* One of the strongest agreements (apart from 80% expecting that Jesus will one day return) is that 73% say "social justice is at the heart of the Gospel."
As usual, I have questions for you.
DO YOU THINK ... social justice is at the heart of the Gospel? Why would it matter if a state specifically exempts clergy from requirement to perform same-sex weddings? The First Amendment clearly prevents government from compelling any clergy to perform any wedding (think of all the interfaith-couples turned down by a clergy-person, for example).
Photo by Mitch Jacobson, AP: An Episcopal priest,The Rev. Kevin Coffey, center, officiated at the 1998 "holy union" of Jon Galluccio, left, and Michael Galluccio, at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Fair Lawn, N.J.
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http://content.usatoday.com/communit.../05/67055865/1