‘Welcoming, but not affirming’: being gay and Christian August 30, 2016 1.11pm AEST on The Conversation Author Mark Jennings Lecturer in Religious Studies, Murdoch University It may seem like LGBT people and conservative Christians inhabit two different worlds. But with 40% of same sex couples in Australia identifying as Christian, LGBT people are likely to [...]
In an extraordinary week, both the Catholic Church and Hillsong appeared to be making progress re their attitude, if not their beliefs, about LGBT people. It's a dance. Two steps forward one back. Roman Catholic Church Two steps forward At the Vatican, a Shift in Tone Toward Gays and Divorce One step back Pope Francis [...]
Why is it so hard? Resolving the perceived conflict of faith and sexuality is a difficult path for most people from a traditional/conservative Christian culture. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Pentecostal or Charismatic backgrounds have specific needs to be addressed in order to resolve that internal conflict. LGBT people from Pentecostal and Charismatic [...]
Society has forever tried to tell homosexual people what they can and can't be. You can't exist and we will take your life. Indeed the last hanging of a gay man in the British Empire happened in Australia in 1867. Some African and Middle Eastern counties still have the death penalty for homosexual men. We [...]
Evening meeting University of Hong Kong It's hard to believe that it is over a month now since I was in Hong Kong Have you had the feeling that you were really meant to do something? That's the feeling I got when I first heard about the Amplify Asia 2012 Conference. The amazing time in Hong [...]
People often email me looking for answers to questions that are concerning them. Questions I am often asked are Can gay Christians have sex? Should they be celibate? If they can't marry shouldn't they then refrain? Aren't only heterosexual relationships allowed in the bible? Here is one I recently received and my response. [...]
Two documentaries in the coming Mardi Gras Film Festival you might like to see. 1. The Bedroom Commandments http://mgff.queerscreen.com.au/bedroom-commandments/Sunday Feb 19, Cinema Paris, 2:30pm Malcolm Burt interviews a variety of people across a range of ages, backgrounds and faiths. He interviews the non religious and ex religious as well as those currently involved in [...]
It’s always good to sit down and evaluate what has been achieved over the year to ensure that you are on track. 2010 has been another full-on year and looking back certain themes have emerged, and I have become even more aware of how extensive and important this work has become. I hope that you [...]
WHEN THE INVISIBLE BECOMES VISIBLE Recently, gay youth suicide reached the media landscape in an unprecedented way. Initially one suicide made headlines as a result of bullying then another then another till five names were regularly repeated. Within several weeks it had been reported that Seth Walsh, 13, hanged himself in his backyard. Asher Brown, [...]