The Metropolitan Community Church is shocked and saddened to hear of the decision of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand to not allow openly homosexual persons and heterosexual people in de-facto relationships to serve in positions of authority. Rev Nancy Wilson, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, says “all this will accomplish is to drive homosexual people in the Presbyterian Church deeper into unhealthy closet, or drive others away from the church entirely.” Metropolitan Community Churches has two congregations in New Zealand, MCC Auckland, and All Saints MCC in Christchurch, which include people from a variety of church backgrounds, including Presbyterian. All persons are welcome to be members, and to serve in positions of authority, if they meet all other qualifications. To the question, “Would Jesus Discriminate,” Metropolitan Community Churches answers an emphatic “No!” “Homosexual people are God's people – and God is the one who calls people. Sometime the church stands in the way of God's urgent mission in this world – to reconcile people to God, to encourage positive and healthy relationships, to stand for justice and peace.” The church's stigmatization of homosexual people contributes to their continuing stigmatization in society, and to homophobic violence. “The day will come when the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will reverse this decision, and understand and appreciate the full humanity and spiritual gifts of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.” Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 4th October 2006 - 12:00pm