Talk - Homosexuality and the Christian Church.

Arguments about homosexuality and the Christian Church usually run a rather predictable course. On the one side are the conservatives invoking images of hellfire and damnation, on the other are the high-profile ‘out’ clerics campaigning for a visible gay presence. But speaker Dr Gavin Ashenden aims to move it into slightly different territory. “Abuse of power is one of the greatest sins, in my opinion”, he tells me. “And religion is often (mis) used as an agent of control. A prime example being the attempts to exorcise gayness from the human community. So we need to look elsewhere for the criteria - like thinking about other ways of assessing sanctity that will allow for gayness to be looked at in a different way”.

So is he essentially arguing that Christianity and homosexuality are not incompatible? “Well I’m more saying that humanity and homosexuality are not incompatible - that homosexuality is part of being human. I’m not actually concerned with being pro-gay. I’m more pro-messy, and pro-sinners, as God is. I’m against both wings I suppose. I don’t agree with the way that the Conservatives feel the need to make homosexuality a sort of touchstone for the faith. They tend to assume that an anti-gay position is automatically a promotion of holiness. But neither do I think it’s important to die for your sexuality as it were - I wouldn’t die for my heterosexuality - its just not that important.” “Basically”, he laughs, “I’m going to upset twice as many people.” ER