{"id":298,"date":"2006-05-08T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-05-08T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/idolchatter\/2006\/05\/on-the-indigo-girls-methodists.html"},"modified":"2006-05-08T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-05-08T12:00:00","slug":"on-the-indigo-girls-methodists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2006\/05\/on-the-indigo-girls-methodists.html","title":{"rendered":"On the Indigo Girls, Methodists, Lesbians, and Love"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

One of Beliefnet\u2019s news stories this weekened was about Emily Saliers<\/a>, a lesbian who is one-half of the singing group The Indigo Girls. She was invited to be a speaker at the United Methodist Women’s Assembly this past weekend in Anaheim, Calif.<\/p>\n

I think the most important issue isn\u2019t about homosexuality, celebrity, culture, religion, or Methodists. I think it\u2019s about how many of us strongly believe in something like \u201clove the sinner, hate the sin,\u201d as our expression of Christian love. As a phrase, it summarizes the kind of love Jesus expressed and modeled as well as what many of us long to humbly and non-judgmentally live out in our own lives. The problem is that we also must form associations, contracts, commitments, governances, companies, and other entities that must draw real boundaries and stand for real convictions.<\/p>\n

There are a significant number of women in the United Methodist Church who were glad<\/a> she was on the speaking program because they believe the church should be more open and inclusive regarding the homosexual lifestyle. There are also many in the denomination<\/a> who believe homosexuality should not be condoned in any way by the church and wanted her disinvited. There are still others who don\u2019t have a strong opinion either way as much as they don\u2019t think this kind of controversy is what the annual renewal conference is supposed to be about. Still others love the media attention<\/a> it has drawn to the event because this is obviously a current and debated issue in the church.<\/p>\n

The question of homosexuality and the church\u2019s treatment of both the issue and the people struggling with it is certainly a significant one. Inclusiveness is a value<\/a>, as is church interpretation of doctrinal purity, which on this issue says the practice of homosexuality is incompatible <\/a>with Christian teaching. The church also stands strong<\/a> in its commitment to \u201csocial witness against the coercion and marginalization of former homosexuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s easier said than done, as is most anything that is truly spiritual.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of Beliefnet\u2019s news stories this weekened was about Emily Saliers, a lesbian who is one-half of the singing group The Indigo Girls. She was invited to be a speaker at the United Methodist Women’s Assembly this past weekend in Anaheim, Calif. 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