The All-New Hampshire Gathering

Last Saturday I attended the All New Hampshire Gathering of Friends. This is an annual meeting for all Friends in New Hampshire. There is no one Quarterly Meeting for the state so it is a meeting for fellowship and discussion of common issues. This year they chose to explore the area of sexual ethics. One of the outcomes of the discussions of the sexual ethics portion of the FUM personnel policy has been a realization that New England Friends have not engaged in an exploration of the nature of their sexual ethics in at least the last half-century. While many Friends are opposed to the sexual ethics embodied in the FUM personnel policy, as a corporate body, NEYM has no statement on the matter. Although a number of monthly and quarterly meetings have taken positions and meetings have conducted many same-sex marriages, especially since they became legal in Massachusetts, the matter has never come before the yearly meeting for a decision. We have also not addressed issues of heterosexual ethics although our Young Friends and Young Adult Friends have asked for guidance in this area. Two years ago, more or less, the Yearly Meeting asked the local meetings to start a consideration of their sexual ethics with the idea that out of this the Yearly Meeting might come to some unity on the subject. This gathering was part of that process.

The keynote speaker was Gene Robinson, the bishop of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire. He discussed the difficulties that the Anglican communion is having over issues surrounding acceptance of gays and lesbians. He, of course, has been a lightning rod for this controversy since he is the first openly gay bishop. Even though he was discussing the Episcopal Church, it sounded very much like the situation among Friends.

In the afternoon I led a discussion on homosexuality and the Bible. (You can find my posts on the subject here) There were questions about the so-called “terrible texts” or the clobber verses. These are the 6 passages in the Bible that are the basis of the Biblical case against accepting gays and lesbians. I explained how the context for most of them is not homosexuality as it is practiced in today's society but male temple prostitution in Canaanite religion. I also presented material on the places in the Bible where same sex relationships are portrayed in a positive light.

Another set of questions people had revolved around how to talk about these issues with people who seem them so differently. I stressed that there is nothing in any of these verses that have changed anyone's mind on the issue, in either direction. My beliefs in equality for gays and lesbians are deeply held and would not be easily changed. People who don't agree with me on this are also expressing deeply held beliefs. In any discussion like this we need to assume an equal level of sincerity, conviction and desire to be faithful on all sides. The problem is, what to do when you have sincere, faithful and deeply convicted people who disagree. I wish I knew the answer.. At the workshop I said, this is where miracles happen. On Thursday night I am flying out to Richmond, Indiana, for the FUM General Board meeting. The sexual ethics issue will come up as part of a larger consideration of the entire personnel manual. I am hoping and praying for a miracle.

Blessings to all,

Will T