A Rector in Central Florida Writes Integrity Regarding the Believe Out Loud Recruitment Effort

from Stand Firm by Sarah
[Received via email]

Kudos to Father Lewis.
Dear Mr. Bradley:

I appreciate your correspondence to our church regarding the "Believe Out Loud" program. I am not willing to register the Episcopal Church of the Advent because of the following reasons:

1. It is my policy to love and honor all persons, regardless of their sexuality. I welcome them into my church as I would any fellow human being, but being homosexual is not inherently commesurate with acting on homosexual tendencies.

2. In my former parish, I was a contact for Exodus International. I support those who wish to leave the gay lifestyle. I do not believe that anyone save God Himself can "convert" sexual orientations, but God, through His mercy does grant the spiritual gift of celebacy.

3. 2000 years of tradition and seven biblical injunctions prohibit homosexual sexual activity, therefore I cannot call wholesome that which God calls sinful. We are to love the sinner, but hate the sin.

4. I am not singling out homosexual, or transgendered persons, I also regard as equally sinful heterosexual sex outside of the context of marriage as well as a host of other non-sexual sins such as slander and idolatry. Sin is sin, none the greater, none the less.

In His love and light,


(The Rev'd) Robert M. Lewis
Rector
Church of the Advent