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| Updated July 28, 2008
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Bringing Common Sense to Homosexual Issues:
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Sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church
Bringing Common Sense to Homosexual Issues:
A Discussion of the Bible, the Myths, the Laws and the Ethical Issues
Thirty years ago, acknowledging one’s homosexuality in public required exceptional courage and posed extraordinary risks, homosexuals had reason to remain silent; they wanted to survive. Since then, the awareness of and attitudes about homosexuality in the general population has changed rapidly as an increasing number of homosexuals have “come out of the closet.”
Whether we realize it or not, everyone knows people who are homosexual. They may be our friends or colleagues, our employees or employers, our siblings, our neighbors, our patients, clients, customers, stockholders, our fellow parishioners, our teachers or our students, our political representatives, our relatives, our children or our grandchildren.
Homosexuals are now, always have been and always will be an integral part of our communities. The age of silence, invisibility is inexorably and undeniably passing away in our before our very eyes.
Yet, homosexuality in many settings is “the elephant in the room”. People go to great lengths to avoid discussing the subject. This program is being offered as an effort to dispel the myths and misunderstandings. Since individuals vary in the way they want to approach any multifaceted subject, the subject will be looked at from three perspectives: Theological, Scientific, and Legal. Additionally, there will be two sessions on the position of PCUSA on homosexuality and what it is like to ‘come out of the closet’ as well as a movie, ‘For the Bible Tells Me So’, an outstanding documentary on homosexuality The schedule and description of each session follows:
10/26 The Bible and Human Sexuality—What does the Bible have to say about Human Sexuality, generally and Homosexuality, specifically. What are the contexts of the statements? Is the Bible homophobic? Is anti-homosexuality consistent with the teaching of Jesus? Dick Stazesky, a retired Methodist Minister who has spoken widely on these subjects will speak on these issues.
11/2 Physiological and Psychological Issues—Is homosexuality genetic? Is it a lifestyle of choice? Do people choose to be homosexual? Do people choose to be heterosexual? Can the success rates claimed by Sexual Orientation Therapies be substantiated? Are such programs ethical? Are homosexuals pedophiliacs? Why are individuals uncomfortable discussing homosexuality? What do you know about Transgender? Larry Peterson who has taught gender and sexuality at the University of Delaware will address these questions.
11/9 Homosexuals and Relationships—Where do the courts stand on homosexuality? Is homosexuality illegal? Why is marriage (vs. unions) important to homosexuals and are there legal, ethical and moral grounds for their position. Drew Fennell, Head of the Delaware ACLU has an excellent background in this area and has agreed to present this area.
11/16 Presbyterian Church-USA’s (PCUSA) Position on Homosexuality— Jim Moseley., Presbyter of New Castle Presbytery has agreed to conduct this session, including the discussion of the results of the 2008 General Assembly.
11/23 Coming out: What Is It like to Accept One’s Homosexuality and to Tell People—A panel of both male and female homosexuals will discuss their journeys to understand their sexuality and what happened when they decide to come out of the closet.
On Friday, October 24, “For the Bible tells me So.” This award winning documentary tells the stories of how five very normal, very Christian, very American families, including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, handle the realization of having a gay child. Additionally respected individuals such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, discuss how right wing religious personalities are misreading, misinterpreting and misusing the Bible as a weapon against homosexuals. Rev Anne Ledbetter will lead the discussion on this film.
Westminster Presbyterian Church is located 1502 W. 13th Street in Wilmington. For directions go to their web site at www.wpc.org or call 302-654-5214. Printable Map
Or visit Google Maps (see below)or a similar web site for directions, which are also available by calling (302) 651-9533
