should gay ministers be banned from the head of the church?
822670
The question implies that whatever denomination you are talking about already accepts and ordains gay ministers. So why would they have a problem with their being the head of the church?
586375
Not all of them are gay. Most are heterosexual, however there are many sexually immature homosexuals in the priesthood. Too many. Celibacy is the requirement so no one asks about orientation and most gays sneak in because you cannot be a priest and an active homosexual. The Church is against homosexual behavior.
975988
First of all, I'm Methodist (a Protestant Branch of Christianity), and I believe that homosexuals should have every right that heterosexuals have.  Most protestant branches are more open to the subject of homosexuality.  It is a current hot topic in most of the general assemblies.  The most anti-homosexual branch that i know of is the Roman Catholic branch.  Now, keep in mind that not all catholics and not all Christians hate homosexuals.  \n\nThe thing is, JESUS never says anything bad about homosexuals.   JESUS and GOD tells us to love our neighbors, forgive the sins of others, treat others as we want to be treated thought the 10 Commandments and the Lord's Prayer.  JESUS tells us to help the leper (Naaman's Leprosy), to be kind to those with disabilities (healing of the blind man), to help those in need (healing of the paralyzed man lowered throurgh the ceiling where Jesus was speaking), to make friends with your enimies or people who you don't like (Zacchaeus the tax collector).  With the acception of the Pharisees, Jesus never says anything hateful or discriminatory about anyone.  \n\nI totally agree with you!  who are they to criticize people jesus would have loved!  and even more so, who are they to claim that they know what God wants?
275965
Yes I believe you are correct and the ministry should take responsibility,and make the necessary changes to keep this from ever happening again.Good-Luck!
732727
I think he has been punished by being shown to all as one of the people that he spent years preaching against. The closest thing to punishment I would like to see is for him to realize the harm he has done with his words demonizing gay people.
726237
Replace with government, and I might agree.\nThere aren't more of them, it's just covered more in the press. I can't remember the last time I heard of a pedo in the church, but I'm sure they are still there.
550952
who cares i try not to judge others and church is all about money.  as for same sex marriages why did the pres. ban that because he is a babling idoit i say if you love some one and want to make that decision you should be able to. i thought this was a free country
974020
Hasn't the current Pope already said that celibate gay men can't be priests?  Sounds like he's got the first victims picked out already....
763053
birdman,\nI think that one of the most influencial Gay people in all the annals of history is . . . . King James (Prince James) who was responsible for the translation of the King James Bible. He was about as Gay as anyone could be. \n\nIt's not like there weren't any bibles before that, there were. The Great Bible was the main bible of the time, but the King James became more used sometime after that. \n\nBut look at it's influence upon so many people, for so many years. I have no doubt that King James was a saved man, though Gay, and could quote verses and argue effectively with the clergy of the day. He would look forward to the chances that he got to do so.\n\nStrangely enough, those that are most strict with their condemnation of Gays, use the King James Bible, while saying proudly that they use the "inerrant word of God" the King James 1611 version. \n\nAnd they don't.\n\nNo. The 1611 King James Bible had the Apocrypha in it. The Puritans decided that it should not be in there, and so it was taken out.\n\nSo the Fundies that condemn Gays are:\n1) Wrong about the Bible.\n2) Wrong about condemning Gays, rather than presenting the Gospel to them\n3) Are using a Bible that was funded lovingly by a Gay \nking.\n\nI call that VERY influential!
925213
He was dismissed today for "sexually immoral conduct"... now he's out of a really lucrative job... wonder if the Metropolitan Community Church would be willing to let him apply... ROTFLMAO
757221
Oh, you know he did it. That's why he resigned. An innocent man would stay in and fight the good fight. Watch out for gay bashers, because they are usually gay bashing for a reason - ie, to keep people from looking at what they do.
494795
First, not EVERY church preaches exactly the same way, so it is silly to bulk them all together.\n\nSecond, this is still a country that values freedom, including freedom of religion.  Banning the church from being involved in any aspect of life is both unconstitutional and offensive.\n\nThird, it is clear that you've never served in the armed forces in a life or death situation.  People who face death daily are far more likely to seek guidance from clergy.  Barring access to clergy for someone in that circumstance is unthinkable.
1024726
I have a number of gay friends who do - one is even the Australian leader of a worldwide christian youth movement. It was hard for them to reconcile the two lifestyles though. They are all Catholic and have been told they are wrong for a large part of their lives - luckily they found support within the church. I don't go to church myself but support them as I know how.
459322
The Catholic faith is one of few if not the only faith where a minister is not allowed to have a wife. I see all of these holier than thou people answering yes, but you should go back and ask them if they have been abstaining. Anstinence is hard if not darn near impossible. Sex is a physiological need. Such as eating, drinking and sleeping. I believe Catholic priests should be allowed to haves. If this change is made I guarantee you the cases of child molestation, which coincidentally involves young boys not females, because they Catholic faith teaches them to abstain from sex with females and hadn't addressed homosexuality, would decrease. The answer to the second question is yes. There are not only bishops in the Catholic faith but other faiths as well such as Baptist, Apostiolic etc.
518921
why would a gay person go to an organisation which openly preaches intolerance and bigotry....people only go to church when they need others to do their thinking for them or they need a crutch...most gays i know are pretty well balanced, thinking people so what they need a church for...?
806676
I think it depends on the pastor marrying them, the church, and the denomination sometimes. There isn't a set of rules like that that goes for every church. They should maybe look at some other ones?
827624
Sounds dangerous.  The apostles appointed deacons so they wouldn't have to attend to the day-to-day business of the church.  Without checks & balances, human nature can cause problems, to say the least.  For the worst, look at PTL, Enron, WorldCom... CEOs who don't have internal controls over their organizations get in trouble with this.  The pastor could be considered the CEO for the local church, so the same rules should apply.