Christ Chapel and evangelical gay Christians
One of the assumptions folks like to make is that most openly gay Christians are in liberal, mainline denominations, such as the Methodists, the United Church of Christ, or the Episcopalians. When I was teaching gay and lesbian history a few years back, I got to know the good people at Christ Chapel of the Valley (North Hollywood), and their gay pastor, a former Foursquare minister from West Texas named Jerrell Walls. There are several other Christ Chapel congregations in Southern California, and one in Colorado. Their statement of faith is standard pentecostalism, including the belief in immersion baptism, the importance of spiritual gifts like tongues, and the existence of hell. But Christ Chapel is also a welcoming community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBTQ) Christians -- and without flinching, it affirms both the gay community and Christian orthodoxy.
Pastor Jerrell came and spoke in one of my classes in 2002, where he was a hit. What mystified the more liberal members of my class (both gay and straight) was his social and theological conservatism. Christ Chapel conducts same-sex blessings, and has for years; promiscuity is regarded as sin. Fidelity and monogamy within committed same-sex relationships is upheld as the norm and the standard within the community.
Jerrell and his flock are mostly from evangelical and pentecostal backgrounds, and most had tried more liberal Christian churches before discovering Christ Chapel. They don't want Anglican liturgy or mainline reticence; they want healing services, tongues, folks gettin' "slain in the spirit", and hands over the head with every praise song. And they want to know that they are okay just as they are, as gay men and lesbians, and that to build relationships of love based upon their identity is not an offense to their God.
I only worshipped with the folks at Christ Chapel once, but was moved by their charismatic, spirit-filled worship service. And because I know that even many people who are "in the know" about gay issues in the church aren't aware of the growing number of GLBTQ evangelicals and pentecostals, I thought I should share...
Well, that's interesting. They are following the line I find most convincing, the "Not addressed in the Bible" line, although that's not saying much. They don't address those Scriptures in Jude, nor the one in the book of Hebrews-I wonder why? Perhaps someone forgot. Anyhow, while I wish them well in their search for inclusion, I couldn't worship there. I still prefer transformation as the Biblical pattern-After all, God has and is doing it with me, and every other sinner in the church, no?
Posted by: John | March 18, 2004 at 12:22 PM
And they endorse transformation, John -- just not from their basic identity, any more than you expect Christ to transform you into a woman...
Posted by: Hugo | March 18, 2004 at 12:31 PM
Ouch. ;-)
Posted by: John | March 18, 2004 at 12:43 PM
Hugo, I appreciate this. I would enjoy a chance to worship with folks like this, sit down and have a burger with their pastor.
Posted by: Bill Ekhardt | March 18, 2004 at 08:45 PM
Thanks, Bill. They really are good people; they also have a pretty mean softball team: The Christ Chapel Crushers. Cool stuff.
Posted by: Hugo | March 18, 2004 at 09:15 PM
Good talk Hugo,
But God is all against this vile lifestyle. The book of Romans Chapter One states so. Now to even justify it in the name of the Lord. I don't God is in want of people to call His own that bad.
He's got His standards sir. He's got His standards. All in the Scriptures.
I'll pray for them.
Posted by: Dele | August 09, 2004 at 11:52 AM
"But God is all against this vile lifestyle."
Well, then God should quit working through gay and lesbian Christians. He should quit glorifying the name of Jesus Christ through them. He should quit sending the Holy Spirit to inspire them to minister to the sick, help the poor, visit folks in prison, and generally show that they are His disciples by loving one another.
Is it that God doesn't understand what He's doing, or that we don't? I know which way I'd bet.
The early church had to deal with Christians living a "vile lifestyle." They weren't keeping the laws that all good Christians kept. They weren't circumcised, even!
We all know how that one turned out.
By the way, ever eat any meat without the blood properly drained? It was one of the few rules the Apostles insisted the gentiles still keep. Today, we don't follow it. Go figure.
Posted by: Rob | October 23, 2004 at 08:21 AM
Well said indeed, Rob.
Posted by: Hugo | October 23, 2004 at 12:25 PM
is there who can told me about sites like this teens free porn movies love vaginal sex free pictures of sex taboo sex dog sex stories thank you
Posted by: free sex | November 16, 2004 at 07:23 PM