Prediction: within five years, that thing on the left or something similar to it will be the official flag of the Episcopal Organization:The dean of one of the largest churches in the world recently declared during a sermon that homophobia is a sin, while at the same time, making no mention as to whether homosexuality may also be one.
In a sermon delivered Sunday at the Washington National Cathedral, The Very Reverend Gary Hall declared that “much of the blame belongs to our churches” in spreading hatred of gay people.
“Homophobia is a sin. Heterosexism is a sin. Shaming people for whom they love is a sin. Shaming people because their gender identity doesn’t fit neatly into your sense of what it should be is a sin,” said Hall, who is the Tenth Dean of The Episcopal Church’s Cathedral. “Only when all our churches say that clearly and boldly and courageously will our LGBT youth be free to grow up in a culture that totally embraces them fully as they are.”
In an interview with The Christian Post, Hall explained that his sermon was part of a weekend of events and observances meant to draw awareness and acceptance of LGBT youth.
“My decision to preach on the issue arose out of a desire for the church to address the crisis faced by LGBT youth, and the Cathedral hosted those events as a way to address that crisis,” said Hall. “As a highly visible Christian institution, Washington National Cathedral wants to do all it can to let young people know that their sexual orientation is a gift, and the religious question should be about how they responsibly use that gift.”
When asked by CP if he felt homosexuality was a sin, Hall responded that it is “not for me to say,” adding that he felt such a view “is a misreading of the Bible.”
“The scriptures devote little space or energy to sexual relationships, and we have read our own obsession with sexual issues back onto the text,” said Hall. “When I look to Jesus, I see someone who was compassionate, empathetic, and inviting to all people regardless of their status. For me to say that I believe homophobia to be a sin does not mean that I will stop talking to people with a different understanding of sexuality than I have.”
