From time to time, I must take the time to let any reader who reads this blog know what is happening in the discussion.

On February 2, 2023 I began an ambitious project to discuss an issue that [at that time] was tearing at the seams of the United Methodist Church. Should active homosexuals be allowed to pastor United Methodist Churches, assume leadership positions within the UMC and be married within the church.

My congregation was grappling with the issue and so was I. I had in mind that I could do an open discussion with a writer who affirmed the LGBTQ+ community [Peter Gomes in his book The Good Book]. I could then turn to a non-affirming writer who felt that homosexuality is a sin and the LGBTQ+ community should not be welcomed in church [Keving DeYoung in his book What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality]. For a “middle ground” viewpoint I could refer to Dr. Preston Sprinkle’s book People to be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue.

This project has been difficult to say the least; to date I have written sixty-nine posts on this subject. I have covered Gomes’ book at this point, his chapter eight entitled “The Last Prejudice” was his vigorous attempt at affirming LGBTQ+ pastors in the pulpit [Gomes was a homosexual pastor at Harvard’s Memorial Church].

Lately, I have been writing a block of posts entitled “Answering Objections” which are Kevin DeYoung’s defense of the non-affirming church. DeYoung does not accept homosexuality as anything other than a sin. He has thoughts on how the Bible hardly mentions homosexuality. He has thoughts on the “kind” of homosexuality defense that some people use and he has thoughts on other sins that should get more attention [gluttony and divorce?].

Now we turn to his ideas on the role of the church. Shouldn’t the church be a place for broken people?

As I have finished Gomes’ first eight chapters dealing with this topic, I will finish DeYoung’s book, continuing to “answer objections.”

Then we will see what Dr. Sprinkle has to say.

For now, DeYoung………