A Statement on Homosexuality

Signed by the delegates of the Western Hemisphere Consultation on Theology in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, August 2003

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).

Sin is the breaking of God’s laws revealed in the Bible. All sexual sins are condemned by God, including heterosexual adultery, homosexual sex, lesbianism, and bestiality. All sex outside of monogamous, heterosexual marriage is immoral.

The Bible claims that no one has a right to call himself a Christian who chooses a lifestyle which includes these sins or any other sins including murder, stealing, perjury etc.

To ordain men to the Christian ministry and place them in leadership in God’s Church who deliberately and regularly commit such sins as kidnapping, rape, theft, perjury, or any of the sexual sins mentioned above would be an extreme foolishness that tramples on God’s commandments and holds God and His honor in contempt.

The recent elevation of an unrepentant homosexual to the holy office of Bishop is an aberration; it is both dishonoring to God and a betrayal of the historic Faith of Christianity. The ordination of a practicing homosexual to any church office contradicts the clear mandate of the first Jerusalem council (Acts 15) led by the original leaders of the Church, Christ’s Apostles. We urge the churches to remove from office, all practicing homosexuals, to call them to repentance and then accompany them on the difficult road of restoration.

The Bible declares that homosexuals must repent of and forsake their homosexual practices and turn to Jesus in order to be saved. The Bible describes the good news of Christ as the gift of His grace. He gives His children the power to turn away from sin. As sinners we know that perfect goodness is found only in Jesus Christ. We welcome as brothers and sisters all who call on the name of Christ and repent of their sins and homosexual practices. We are compelled by God’s love to extend an extra measure of compassion to people wounded by any form of sexual addiction.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

Also history shows us that every Christian society of the past has condemned the practice of homosexuality. Every state of the United States of America outlawed sodomy until recently. The history of Greece and Rome shows that the acceptance of homosexual practice is one of the last steps before the collapse of civilized societies.

We exhort pastors to read from their pulpits, and heads of families to discuss in their homes, this statement and the relevant Bible passages. We exhort all mature Christians to show compassion toward the sexually broken and actively demonstrate the love and compassion of our Redeemer God.

The Bible, which is the Word of the Living God, speaks clearly regarding homosexuality:

Romans 1:24-28; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Jude 7; Exodus 18:20;
Leviticus 18:22-25; 20:13; 1 Kings 14:24