Sean Major-Campbell | Blessing gay unions

LAST SUNDAY saw the Annual Human Rights Service held at Christ Church Vineyard Town, on the Sunday closest to World Human Rights Day (December 10 every year). The Sunday Gleaner carried the headline, ‘No Vote on Gay Union Blessings’. Not surprisingly, people were reaching out to me to ask if I saw the headline and what my thoughts were.

The Gleaner’s one pager observed that:

1. “Boulevard Baptist Church membership last month voted down a proposal from its pastor, Reverend Devon Dick, to add to the agenda of its monthly business meeting a discussion and vote on whether same-sex unions could receive ‘blessings’ at the church.”

2. Members voted “not to vote on the question”.

I note the following:

1. In a free and democratic society, it is considered wholesome to encourage conversations, discussions, and voting.

2. People from across the spectrum of gender and sexual diversity are members of the Church.

3. Prayers and Bible verses are not sufficient in presenting knowledge about what we now know and understand about human sexuality in 2025.

4. People are intelligent beings and are therefore capable of thinking and processing and using the gift of reason that leads to informed decisions and voting.

5. The Bible has over the years been weaponised to silence necessary conversations regarding the ordination of women, matters of racism and segregation, and the evils of the transatlantic slave trade.

6. The Bible has been used by Christians to discriminate against children born out of wedlock.

7. It is understandably difficult for church congregations to have discussions on the blessing of gay unions, since many have not yet comfortably engaged the broader subject of human sexuality. (There would be wisdom for congregations in general, to make plans to facilitate a broad conversation on the subject of human sexuality).

8. It is noteworthy that it would have been cause for concern if the members wanted to place an item on the agenda for discussion, and the pastor autocratically shut down the discussion.

9. A blessing of people is not necessarily a blessing of their sexual orientation, skin colour, nationality, how they love or choose to express their love to each other.

10. One of the things about silent spaces where matters around sexuality are avoided, is that they provide convenient hiding places for those who may be uncomfortable dealing with their own sexual identity, feelings, and struggles concerning gender and sexual diversity.

11. While chairman of the Global Council of the Baptist World Alliance, the Rev Karl Johnson’s safe and truthful declaration may be comforting, the necessity for discussion remains. He declared: “It is not a matter on the denomination’s agenda locally. It is not a matter on the Baptist World Alliance agenda. I know of no JBU congregation that has this on its agenda.”

CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL

At last Sunday’s annual human rights service, the Rt Rev Leon Golding, Bishop of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands affirmed in his message: “Love allows others to exist, to live, even though they are different from us. We are all different. All are called into the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who are different from us should not be bullied, victimised, enslaved, and marginalised because of their disability, gender, sexuality, colour or nationality. We are all created in the image of God and loved by God. Every human being has a right to life and to be treated fairly, justly, regardless of their colour, status, gender, sexuality, politics, religion, or no affiliation to any group. The media can play an important role in highlighting the abuses met out to people, especially those different from us.”

A TIMELY REMINDER

While using Isaiah’s text in Chapter 11: 1-10, the bishop gave the call for climate justice as he noted: “Then we are given a picture of harmony and peace. The picture of peace is not simply among humans, but with all creation. How we care and live in harmony with our natural environment is important. Among the sins of humanity is our failure to be good stewards of the gift of creation. We in small island states are experiencing the effects of this. We need no reminder that global warming, climate change, is real with the devastation caused by the recent hurricane, Melissa. There is a case for climate justice. In the meanwhile, we must play our part in changing our behaviour in how we dispose of our waste among other things.”

It is rather strange how many Christians who are quick to condemn others, are often slow to being good stewards of creation. Many have the unwholesome habit of burning refuse just before leaving for church or upon returning from church.

In this season of Advent when we celebrate hope, the “stump” or “stock of Jesse” in Isaiah, presents us with an image of life and possibilities, springing forth from the seemingly daunting images of decline and decay in the aftermath of Hurricane extreme monster Melissa.

The Church would do well with taking seriously, Bishop Golding’s admonition, “Our sins of commission and omission, we need to confess. The sin of silence in the face of evil, injustice, and corruption, we must repent of and embrace the kingdom of heaven. The prophetic voice calls us to embrace a world where all people live in freedom, love, harmony, and peace, that reflects the reign of God, the kingdom of God.”

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com