Should "Churches" Be Homophobic?

According to Wikipedia, a Christian Church "thing belonging to the Lord" also "assembly" is utilize to designate both a Christian alliance of people and a place of worship. In the phenomenological sense there are many such relations of people that label themselves Christian churches. "Things belonging to the Lord" is a very defining statement. Genesis 1:31 - "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." So how than can a church be homophobic? Homosexual Counseling Journal, Joseph Steffan versus the United States, andSexuality Research & Social Policy defined the word homophobia this way: since the word homo is an anti-gay insult, "a reasonable interpretation of homophobia is fear of 'homos', that is, homosexuals." Why would a church "fear" homosexuals? There are enough reasons people are homosexual for several more articles.

In two recent articles, Jon Mack and Michael Garrett tookGreater Mount Calvary Holy Church and church leader Bishop Alfred A. Owens Jr. to task for homophobic sermons. Bishop Owens and his wife, an assistant pastor, are known for calling out derogatory names like "sissy", "punk", "faggot" and such from the pulpit. The website Operation Rebirth has an audio clip of the sermon. According to one article, the church attempted to "out" the many members of the congregation. Mr. Mack and Mr. Garrett have moved their church membership to Covenant Baptist Church in Anacostia. The articles were emailed by a friend who knows the couple personally. Other friends are concerned because Mack began to question his relationship with God, even mentioning suicide. Both men consider they are "good people" who stated that they tithed, gave love offerings, and even joined the HIV/AIDS ministry, as a way of describing themselves as a Christian.

In an effort to voice their position and fight back, Mack and Garrett started a Facebook page, "Stop Hate and Homophobia in the church," soon after the offensive sermon. The page slogan is 1 John 4:19-20, "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." The page is only open to members, but the front page is open to the public. The men have a lot of community support from family, friends, and other churches - yes.

So returning to the question, Should "Churches" be Homophobic? Is it the assembly's responsibility to drive members with alternate lifestyle to suicide? Is it the church leadership tasked with calling church members derogatory names? Homophobia was used for the first time in The New York Times to report that the General Synod of the Church of England voted to refuse to condemn homosexuality in 1982. "Let us recognize where the problem lies - in the dislike and distaste felt by many heterosexuals for homosexuals, a problem we have come to call homophobia." Gledhill, Ruth (August 7, 2008). "New light on Archbishop of Canterbury's view on homosexuality" . Well thank goodness there are other churches who support Garrett and Mack. The leaders of three D.C. Christian churches, Rev. Abena McCray, pastor of Unity Fellowship Church; Bishop Rainey Cheeks, pastor of Inner Light Ministries; and Rev. Dwayne Johnson, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, with mostly gay congregations have called on gay members of churches such as Greater Mount Calvary to consider joining their congregations. If individuals have taken the first step to attend a church, and join a congregation - they are seeking God's teaching. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"

Work Cited:

http://www.operationrebirth.com/yourpastor.html

http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=4796

http://dcagenda.com/2010/01/couple-walks-out-during-anti-gay-sermon/#com