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gay and lesbian members of the CHURCHES OF CHRIST HERITAGE How disappointing it is, then, when we are Scripture in the past has been used to con- rejected not only by the world, but also by the demn and/or justify a wide range of hurnon Churches of Christ are a part of the Restoration Church that has taught and nurtured us. Some- actions based upon the social norms of the Movement, an effort beginning in the early times through open hostility, other times period: slavery, the Crusades, persecution of 19th century to restore New Testament Chris- through 'tolerant compassion', oppression Jews and Cothollcs, the inquisition, and on and tianity and the unity of all Christians. As a part serves to keep gay people in hiding, lonely on. Even today, as mentioned above, there of that movement, churches of Christ have and self-hating. It is difficult, if not impossible, are wide interpretations of scripture in the attempted to be nondenominational and place to fully celebrate Christ in our lives, let alone Church: some refuse to play cards or attend emphasis on congregational autonomy. As a encourage others to know the selfless love of Sunday schools, others encourage Church sup- result, congregations holding to a common Jesus, in a church that rejects, or at best port of orphanages, etc. faith may vary from place to place in the expres- ignores, Christians because of the norms of ~~- sions of worship; we are bound to Christians general society. The Church needs to reassess its attitudes everywhere by faith, not ritual. towards homosexuality in the larger context of Gay Christians seek the opportunity to wor- the full range of issues relating to human sex- HISTORY ship the one God in peace and love supported uality. We encourage further studies on indi- by the Church as we are supported by God. vidual scriptures traditionally thought to be In 1979, gay and lesbian members of the We seek no more, but no less, than accep- anti-gay. We encourage the Church to face Houston area Churches of Christ formed a fel- tance, as does everyone else who believes, in honestly and forthrightly the questions and lowship to provide educational and spiritual the fellowship of those who are striving to do needs of gay and lesbian people, both within support to each other and the Church as whole. God's will. the Church and those who have left it, in light of Since then, additional fellowships have formed the failings of Christians to understand them. in many large urban centers. Named an A Cap- NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS ON pella Chorus because most congregations of HOMOSEXUALITY THE A CAPPELLA CHORUS our fellowship have no instrumental music, the SINCE 1979 organization also serves as a network for gay While our study of scripture leads us to no people in small towns and rural areas. single conclusion regarding homosexuality, it An A Cappella Chorus/Houston publishes a is clear the sin of idolatry is at the basis of the bulletin every other month which is mailed to GAYS AND SPIRITUALITY most explicit condemnations of homosexual gay members of the Church in 27 states, South behavior in the Bible. We recognize that the Most gays in the Church and many gays in the Africa and Micronesia. It is also mailed to non- worship of the creature rather than the creator larger community have the same spiritual needs gays within the Church nationally to enlighten is a mark of some homosexual, as well as and feelings as the whole Church. We believe heterosexual, behavior and is therefore dis- their consciousness. Additional Chorus fellow- in the same one God, have similar spiritual ruptive in the relationship between God and ships have begun in Los Angeles, Nashville goals, similar hopes. We rejoice when friends the person involved. The point is that sexuality and Seattle. Numerous social outings, lun- commit their lives to Christ and join in prayer for itself, while a gift of God through creation, is our oppressors as well as those we love. cheons, homecomings, gospel meetings, sing- an aspect of our humanity that is susceptible ings and clothing drives for the homeless are to exploitative manipulation for selfish ends. held annually. Tracts are available on topics ~tV~~Jl1~ 520 m r- ranging from "About Coming Out" to "Answers west-he/ ,e to a Parent's Questions about Homosexuality". e o. Bo')( <C6734 MORE INfORMATION H()()5.YoA,) I TE' X 11.s While we do not seek to change anyone's sexual orientation, we invite those who share our spiritual goals to write for additional infor- mation such as the tracts mentioned above. r ..Jk. J~ ¥' cV~. ~ ACC/Houston PO Box 66734 ~- IS. 34;}S Houston TX 77266 ~- Ps . SI:/o o~ - .r.,. 14: I~- ACC/Los Angeles PO Box 1716 5M~ - E!*!. 4;'32 Pomona CA 91769 ~- /c.; 13 fJ wt.L - ~.5'; s ACC/Seattle 73~ - 1(0W! JO;IO PO Box 23108 Seattle WA 98102 CREATE IN ME, 0 GOD ~ a ~II~~ r:t-JAe4ttWt£. ~~~.A?l-f (fSI/ ~/;1D) FEBRUARY 1, 1981 ---Welcome to our services at 12:30 pm each Lord's Day. Join us in worship to God in spirit and truth. Help us support a cause for GOOD, lift your voice with ours in praise to God, open your mind to God's Word, .:~~1n your heart with us in offering spiritual sacrLfices. INPUT ABILENE ~ assemb l y vof Gay men & women within the maLn Ld ne re! 1. Joua bodies of Amterrica February 20th Friday 9:00 p s rn , - 11:00 p.1U, registration and housing a saLgnme nr s at the walnut St. Pub 4th &. Wa 1nut Streets- Abilene, Tt"x~'J February 21st Saturday 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 a.m. Getting Acquainted a) What each organization is doing «n local, statewide, and national levels. (establish identity among cities) b) recognize efforts among d enom ln.s t I .ms 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Strategy Planning a) define needs and goals b) recognize problems 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Luncheon and key note speaker Mr. Ray Hill, manager KPrT Radio ~ Houston 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m •. Divide into small groups of 6 to 10 a) communications b) publicity c) Gay Pride Week 1981 d) resources and support for new forming organizations 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Rap - up 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. supper 8:00 p.m. * Movie * "Gerty, Gerty, Gerty, Stein is back, back, back." staring Pat Bond 9:00 p.m. - Itill ? Saturday night live, Walnut Street Pub February 22nd Sunday 10:00 a.m. Devotional service ~~~~JI1~L 52-0 West-he/ mer, p. O. Box <06734 H!){)s,oA), TE X /f ~ r /J I .'. r . .;tk. /~ ¥' a> .~}'7../ ~- 15, 34;JS ~- Ps . .')1:/0 O~ - -1""..,./4: 1.1;- 5-M~ - EpJ]. 4;'32- ~- IfCJI" /3 ;J~ - ~£;g 73~ - 1(0W! 10:/0 CREATE IN ME,O GOO ~ I. a ~fI~~ ,pJ./lUtfWEb ~4f1~~.A>f-.f (t'SA /:/;10) FEBRUARY 1, 1981 ---Welcome to our services at 12:30 pm each Lord's Day. Join us in worship to God in spirit and truth. Help us support a cause for GOOD, lift your voice with ours in praise to God, open your mind to God's Word, ":~"'.';. vcur heart with us in off er+ng spi ri t.uaI sacrlfices. ·~nu@©JuDD[f@nuC0f1~ rim <jV~'<--'>~ ~~J'--J 'salutes you Church of Christ in Montrose P.O. Box 66734 Houston, Texas 77006 OLD VALVES ~ hE. (;lfIDE American congregations are guided more by ancient values appearing common to all humanity than by Christian teaching, reports an Emory University researcher. He says the church must shatter that pattern with the gospel •. Although the general assumption is that denominational doc~ .trine"determines a congregation's values and befiefs, "internal signals" among its own members actually set the congregation's tone, says James Hopewell, director of Emory's Rollins Center for Church Ministries. None of this necessarily is preached about in sermons or implied in statements of faith.. Hopewell said in an interview, "eather , it is the informal type of communication that goes on, underneath what the minister says in sermons, communicated almost unconsciously by teachers and youth group leaders." Hopewell and his colleagues have identified four ''world views" held by congregations which apparently have more profound effects on their outlooks tOan doctrinal precepts.· The views can be -expressed in literary terms as comic, romantic, tragic, and ironic. The comic world view holds that "things are going to work out regardless, that all we have to do is find the c1ues(and) keep looking for the underlying patterns," Hopewell said. >' "Some congregations have a more romantic understanding of reality, that life is much more of an adventure- that there must be a girding of one's religious life to go out and en- counter the world, and (;ad gives you special strength. You meet forces of evil, forces of good, and through great battles, the good will triumph." Other congregations have a tragic outlook, that civilization is in decline; life fatally flawed. "The only thing you can do as an individual is to be obedient to divine law and to follow that law, and through the mercy of Cod •••even in that tragic ending, you escape, brought to salvation." The fourth category, the ironic, believes "that the world is all too human, that life continues as you and your five senses perceive it to be." They see "no outside force that is going to save you; the best thing you can do is have a good heart, work along with your fellow human beings (and) fight for the integrity of yourself and the human race." The things we look at are ~uestions of reaction to death, what is found to be holy, what are seen to be crises ••••• what sort of chaos it tries to avoid, how it fights, what it fights over.