Working for the full inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons within our church.
Changing Attitude Ireland's archive of sermons and other addresses, with most recent texts appearing first. For an overview of all texts on one page, visit the Sermons & Addresses sitemap page.
We use the word marginalization all the time, and almost always in a negative sense. There is a good reason for this. Being marginalised from communities, families, societies can be deeply hurtful. And sometimes, if we are overwhelmed by exclusion, it can be catastrophically painful. But part of the wisdom of Christianity is that there is no situation in which God’s grace cannot operate. God’s providence does not respect human boundaries. [Continue Reading]
Words for the launch of Changing Attitude Ireland’s Parish Welcoming Leaflet, May 17, 2012, St. George’s Church, Belfast. [Continue Reading]
Much progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go. The IDAHO service developed out of a historic step in progress made nearly 40 years ago. It now seems incredible that homosexuality was ever considered a mental disorder, but that was the case before the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders back in 1973, quickly followed by the European Psychiatric associations and psychological societies. The World Health Organisation was a bit slower, but it removed homosexuality from its list of ‘disorders’ in 1990. [Continue Reading]
Welcome to our service for IDAHO 2012 – International Day Against Homophobia. We join with those throughout the world who are concerned about the persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals. We recall the many places where to be LGBT is a crime punishable by imprisonment or death. We gather in Belfast*, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and L’Derry in welcoming and accepting our family members and friends whose sexual orientation is different from our own. The theme of our service is —“No more Them and Us.” (or “Moving Forward Together”). [Continue Reading]
For over 20 years, Southwark Diocese in south London was my spiritual home, in particular the parish church of St John the Divine in Richmond. It was both a formative and a transforming time for me – nurtured by a succession of superbly pastoral, non-judgmental and godly clergy (married, single, divorced, gay, partnered, celibate, male, and latterly female too). I confess I had been strongly anti the ordination of women, and hanging on to particular biblical texts as if my life depended on it. And yet finding myself in 2001 ordained in this cathedral proves that people can change, and that God indeed has a sense of humour. [Continue Reading]
Epiphany – as no doubt you all know – means “appearing” or “revelation”. And today‟s readings help us to reflect on the revelation, the appearing, of Jesus the Messiah, the Word of God in human form, in Galilee two thousand years ago; and as our Lord, our example and the shining light of our lives, in today‟s world. [Continue Reading]
The article below is one of seven contributions, representing a variety of viewpoints, given at the “Bible Listening Day” organised by the Irish Peace Centres in November 2011. This is part of an effort both to take Scripture seriously and to engage in respectful evangelical dialogue. [Continue Reading]
The Bible – or at least, certain passages of it – is used to defend discrimination against same-sex relationships, regardless of the fact that those writings are thousands of years old, coming from a time and a culture that was also against the eating of shellfish and the trimming of beards. It is odd that such Old Testament injunctions would appear to have more power over some Christians than the clear example that Jesus sets of total inclusivity, accepting all people and even giving preference to those whom others have rejected. Jesus never mentions same-sex relationships. One of Paul’s epistles does, but it is clear that Paul believes all people are heterosexual, and so if they are engaging in homosexual activity they are only doing it out of naughtiness. [Continue Reading]
Find an open and welcoming congregation! Changing Attitude Ireland maintains this list of Church of Ireland and other congregations where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christians can be guaranteed a welcome.
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