THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

AND THE HOMOSEXUAL

A Research Project

Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course

0590 Christian Missions

PREFACE

Because of the dearth of any material from Seventh-day Adventist sources on the subject of homosexuality, and because it is a problem to some of the members of the church, the author felt that a study of the available secular material should be made. Along with this he has made a study of the relevant Biblical material, and interviewed men of experience concerning this subject.

The author wishes to thank C. E. Wittshiebe, professor of Pastoral Care in the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary for his valuable guidance in preparing this paper. The author also expresses thanks to the following men who gave him much insight into the problems involved in homosexuality: F. E. J. Harder, Edward Heppenstall, Cecil Gemmell, and a number of other ministers and teachers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

I. INTRODUCTION

II. A DESCRIPTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY

     The Male Homosexual

     The Lesbian

     The Evolution of Homosexuality

     Two Examples

III. GODS WORD AND HOMOSEXUALITY

IV. A FEW SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Why should the topic of homosexuality be studied? Many people feel that such a study is out of place in a church that claims to be the remnant church. Many of these who feel this way also feel that there is no place for the homosexual in the church, or in heaven either, for that matter. In fact they would probably go so far as to say that the homosexual would not even be interested in the church, and thus would be no problem to it. If this were true there would be no reason to study homosexuality. But it is not true.

Many homosexuals have a great deal of interest in the church. In fact, if one only saw the whole picture, he would probably be somewhat surprised to find the number of homosexuals who are members in good and regular standing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. True some of these are discovered from time to time, and then usually ostracized. But the number of homosexuals, both male and female, who remain unnoticed as members, is large enough to warrant a study of the conditions involved, with a view to helping these people to lead a Christ-like life.

The basic problem involved is this: Can a homosexual be an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and be in good and regular standing? If the answer to this question turns out to be "yes," then one must ask a second question, namely: What are the conditions under which a homosexual can be an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

The author was impressed at the beginning of this study by the large amount of material available from secular and some religious sources pertaining to this topic. He was also quite frustrated to find an almost complete absence of any material on this subject from Seventh-day Adventist sources. It would seem that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has not felt free to come out openly with any position pertaining to homosexuals.

The author used the interview as his main source of information for that part of the paper dealing with suggestions for an approach to the homosexual in the church. Because of the informal nature of these interviews, the author will not quote directly from them, but will phrase his findings in his own words, indicating only the source of the main ideas.

As the author describes the general nature of homosexuality in chapter two, he presents two examples of male homosexuals with whom he has been closely acquainted. Because of their continued close proximity to the church, their names have been changed to protect their identity.

CHAPTER II

A DESCRIPTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY

Homosexuality can be defined as the preference of one person for sexual contact with another of the same sex.

Regardless of the mental picture that the term brings to mind, it must be said that there is as wide a divergence among homosexuals as there is among the population in general. There is also a vast difference between male and female homosexuals (called Lesbians hereafter). The homosexuals themselves are quick to point out these great differences, but even their frank discussion of these differences has not visibly changed the picture on the label "homosexual."

As a general rule, most heterosexual people look with mixed emotions upon the homosexual. Men in general look upon male homosexuals with anger and disgust, while they laugh about the obviously masculine Lesbian (called a "butch"). However, this is not the total picture Many men who frequent prostitutes prefer Lesbians to "normal" heterosexual prostitutes. Others, who have discovered that a fiancée or wife has turned to homosexuality, have given up with dispair. Women have about the same reactions toward the Lesbian as men have toward the male homosexual.

What are some of the characteristics of homosexuality? The author does not plan to give an exhaustive description but will here give a few generalities concerning the more frequent types of homosexuals.

The Male Homosexual

Although the image that comes to the mind of most people when homosexuals are mentioned is that of an effeminate man making passes at young boys, this is by no means the total picture. There are men who fit this category, and probably far too many to let the mothers of young boys relax.

The variety of male homosexuals is considerable. A few of the more frequent types will be mentioned here.

1. The bisexual: This type of homosexual claims to be able to enjoy sex relations with women as well as with men. During his early manhood he may have frequent girl friends, although he may also have boy friends. He may have illicit sex relations with girls. He is usually dashing in appearance and seems normal enough. He is usually not even suspected of having homosexual tendencies. The bisexual often marries and raises a family. Sometimes he is able to adjust, but more often he has extra-marital relations with men.

Some psychologists claim that there is no such thing as a bisexual. They say that those who claim to be bisexuals are just able to "take their medicine like good boys" for the sake of keeping up a front. According to these psychologists, the bisexual is really only a homosexual who claims to enjoy women too, but who really doesn't. Be that as it may, there are a number of men who claim (either openly or to themselves) to be bisexuals, and they can be a heartbreak to some poor unsuspecting girl who marries them only to find out later that she has married a homosexual.

2. The "standard" homosexual: The term is used by the author to describe the homosexual who makes no claim, nor tries to make others believe, that he has any affinity toward the opposite sex. The author uses the term "standard" for this class because by far the majority of male homosexuals fit into it. For purposes of discussion, this group will be divided into two parts: a. the "loner," and b. the "married" homosexual .

A. The "loner" is the homosexual who lives by himself or in a dormitory. He presents a "normal" front while in society, although he does not seem to enjoy mixing. He has a job, is usually well educated, and seems to live a normal life. (Henry found that 42% of homosexuals in New York City have a college education, while only 11.7% of hetrosexuals have the same.)^l However, he has secret affairs with men. He may have "queer" friends with whom he associates during his off-hours, or he may resort to male prostitutes. Some loners" are "typical" homosexuals, in that they are effeminate and wear homosexual attire. A few even seduce young boys, but their number is relatively small.

B. The "married homosexual (a smaller segment of the whole than the "loner") usually finds a partner with whom he lives. The two usually set up housekeeping and hold things in common as would a man and wife. Sometimes one of the men plays the role of the wife, but more often they are just two bachelors living together for convenience and sexual outlet.

3. The Sadist-masochist: This term is often used to describe the homosexual who derives pleasure from either inflicting injury on someone else, or having injury done to himself. (This term is also used for heterosexuals who have the same desires for injury.) The term is somewhat misleading in that no one homosexual is both Sadistic and masochistic Those who fit into this group are either one or the other. In some places these men form something resembling a club complete with its torture chamber.

4. The male prostitute: The men who belong to this category are often not homosexuals at all. They are men who are in it for the money. Frequently they are drug addicts who have turned to this method of supporting their habit.

The Lesbian

It can be stated quite generally that the majority of male homosexuals are "promiscuous"―they do not stick to one Partner, but go from one partner to another. This, however, is not true with the Lesbian. She invariably tries to find a steady partner and settle down to a daily routine of life together. These relationships seldom last for more than a year or two, at which time they break up and seek other partner.

Lesbian relationships usually take on the man and wife style of marriage. One of the girls―known as the "butch"―plays the male role in the home. She works and brings home the bread to support the "family." She is usually the more aggressive of the two in everything as well as in their sexual relationship. The other member of the "family"―known as the "femme"―plays the female role. She takes care of the house and the other wifely duties. Many times she too works.

Lesbians, contrary to male homosexuals, are not so easy to identify. While it is immediately noticeable when two men pay each other considerable attention, no one takes a second thought at the sight of two girls holding hands, or walking arm in arm. It is not considered in poor taste for two women to live together, as it is for two men to live together .

Because Lesbians can live together without attracting attention and because they are not "promiscuous" as are the male homosexuals, they can many times keep their homosexuality a secret from the world in general. For these reasons, it is difficult to tell whether a girl is homosexual or not. Only a few Lesbians dress in masculine attire or act masculine Most are fully as feminine as any heterosexual girl.

The Evolution of Homosexuality

How does a homosexual get that way? It has been found that the majority of homosexuals, both male and female, come from homes that lack the male image. This does not mean that they had no father, although this is true in some cases. It simply means that the father was passive and did not exert his masculinity. Usually the mother in these homes is dominant. When these early matriarchal influences are compounded by the completely matriarchal Sabbath School, and the largely matriarchal elementary school, the child has little chance to see the masculine image necessary to help him to grow to have a mature outlook on the masculine and feminine roles.²

In some cases, the homosexual was found to come from a home in which the father was tyrannical to the extent that the mother was completely passive. This background is more often found in the Lesbian than in the male homosexual.

Of course, many children go through these problems and come out seemingly unscathed. It is still somewhat a mystery why one child in a family can become a homosexual and another who has had the same environmental circumstances in his life will emerge seemingly without having been affected in the least.

Some psychologists have attempted to explain this phenomenon by claiming that homosexual tendencies can be inherited. This, however, is not a proven fact, although there may be some light in it.

It would seem to the author that a child who grows up in an environment in which the sex role of either parent is blurred will be retarded to a certain extent in his sexual maturation.

Two Examples

Jack was a principal of a large Seventh-day Adventist church school near a Seventh-day Adventist college. He was well liked by all of his friends and colleagues. He had a winning personality―with a perpetual smile that was not "put on." Jack was always in a good mood. He just seemed to bubble over with the enjoyment of life.

Toward the end of one school year he and one of the older boys in the school planned a camping trip together. They planned to spend nearly a month on this trip―back-packing over the long mountainous trail of the section of the country that they had chosen. All of the parents in the school―in fact everybody―seemed to look forward to their good time. There was much talk of the event, and even a newspaper story of their departure. No one took a second thought about their going together.

No more than a week had passed when they were back. Ugly rumors circled. Jack resigned as principal of the school, and the parents were incensed. What had happened? Jack was a latent homosexual. Even though he was married and had children of his own, he had tendencies that in this situation had gotten the better of him.

Joe was a bachelor whose parents were always trying to get him to marry. He didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, even though he always had a steady girl. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in a large city, and helped out in the music in the church.

Joe had on occasion had relations with women, and had gotten some of them pregnant. In fact it seemed that there were always some women who seemed to be chasing after him and trying to get him to marry them. No one who knew him would have thought that he was anything but a virile man who could not quite control himself.

For a year or more Joe had been rooming with another man in an apartment. No one thought much of it. It was just for economic reasons.

But then one day, Joe ran afoul with the law over some money that was missing from the place where he worked. He was tried and sentenced to nearly a year in prison. Before his entry into the prison, a psychiatrist gave him a test and found that he had homosexual tendencies The psychiatrist listed him as a bisexual, and said that he could go either way. Because of his imprisonment, Joes membership was removed from the books of the church he had attended.

Following his prison term, Joe moved to another large city, to which his former roommate also removed. They again set up housekeeping together, but this time Joes parents knew that he was not "normal."

Joe still attends church and holds the position of choir leader. He has renewed his membership in the church, and he is accepted well by the other members. None of the local members, except for Joe's parents, know that he is a homosexual, and few know of his sharing his apartment with another man.

The above two examples are presented so as to let the reader see the complexity of the problems involved. Should these men be accepted as members in good and regular standing? What should the pastor do about situations such as these that arise in the church? What should be the attitude of the members toward men and women who have homosexual tendencies? In Chapter III the author will discuss the Bible's view of homosexuality, and then probe for answers to the problems set forth here and in the introduction.

^lGeorge W. Henry, ALL The Sexes (New York: Rinehart and Co., Inc.), p. 580

²Cecil Gemmell

CHAPTER III

GODS WORD AND HOMOSEXUALITY

What does the Bible say regarding homosexuality? From the first book of the Bible to the last book of the Bible, homosexual practices are condemned.

Homosexuality first appears in the Bible in connection with the story of Lot and the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.¹ The men of Sodom tried to sexually abuse the two angel visitors and even though they were struck with blindness, they are presented as wearying themselves groping for the door. Ever afterward, in the Holy Scriptures, the sin of homosexual behavior was labeled "Sodomy."

God, through Moses, gave strict rules concerning the behavior of man toward his fellow man. It is plain from the Mosaic law that God looked with abhorrence upon homosexual practices. They are listed alongside prostitution, and were punishable with death.²

Paul, in writing to the Romans, mentioned both male and female homosexuality. It is interesting that Paul twice mentions in connection with his description of homosexuality the words "God gave them up to a reprobate mind." Does this mean that they have committed the unpardonable sin? The author is loathe to come to such a conclusion. Although all the evidence seems to point to the fact that confirmed homosexuals seem to be incurable―nor do they really want to be cured―the author cannot bring himself to say that they are beyond the reach of the forgiving, healing grace of God. Heppenstall also would like to feel that, although he has never had a homosexual continue to come for help until help was found, a person who is caught in the grips of this vise could be rescued by the living and merciful Savior.

This same idea must have been in Paul's mind as he wrote to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 R.S.V., Paul says "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, . . . will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." (Italics mine)

Evidently some of the Corinthians had been homosexuals, but had been healed―or at least arrested. At any rate they were no longer practicing their homosexuality. Maybe there is hope for the homosexual! Perhaps it is the act of homosexual behavior that is wrong rather than the preference that one has for another of the same sex.

What is meant here by the word preference? A heterosexual person is physically attracted to one of the opposite sex. This physical attraction is not sin, for God made humans to have this attraction. But Jesus taught that lusting after one of the opposite sex was a sin.

The homosexual, usually before he reaches the age of accountability, has grown to be physically attracted to one of his own sex. Simply being attracted to one of the same sex is not sin. The sin comes when he lusts after the one to whom he is physically attracted.⁴

As man cannot judge his brothers thoughts and intentions, he has no way of knowing when a heterosexual or homosexual has committed sin in his mind. The only way for man to judge is by the outward acts of the person in question. As the heterosexual is accepted in the church as long as he does not commit outward acts of sin toward one of the opposite sex, so the homosexual should be accepted in the church as long as he does not commit outward acts of sin toward members of his own sex.⁴

The Holy Scriptures are harsh in their denouncement of sin. As all sinners who do not confess and forsake their sins will not have part in the new earth, so homosexuals who do not control their behavior will not have part there either. The last chapter of the last book shows that all "dogs" (the term sometimes used in place of Sodomite) will be outside of the gates of the New Jerusalem.⁵ They are classed right along side of murderers and fornicators.

Thus it is seen that God has great abhorrence for the homosexual act, and all those who continue in such a course will be condemned to the lake of fire. This does not mean that all those who have these tendencies will be destroyed. Evidently some, according to Paul, can be cured, or arrested, from the sinful acts of homosexuality.⁶

In the following chapter the author will make a few suggestions that he feels will help in arresting homosexuality, and decreasing its instance in the church.

¹Genesis 19:1-11.

²Leveticus 18:22; 20:13.³Romans 1:26, 27.

⁴Frederick E. J. Harder.

⁵Revelat ion 22:15.

⁶1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

CHAPTER IV

A FEW SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSION

The author does not in any way claim to have found a cure for homosexuality. On the contrary he seems to have found from his interviews with men of long experience that there is no cure for the confirmed homosexual short of a direct miracle from God, and none of the men questioned had ever known of any such miracle. The picture looks black indeed. Even if a cure could be found, they said, it would be hard to find a homosexual who would want to be cured. It almost seems that they like their way of life and do not want to be changed. They may want to be rid of the pressures involved in their way of life, but underneath they want to be able to continue in their course.¹

Heppenstall felt that if a homosexual would continue to come regularly for counseling, something could be done. The problem appears to be that they will not come regularly. They usually come once or twice and then stop.¹

Then if homosexuals will not come for help, what can be done for them?

Gremmell said that nothing could be done for a homosexual unless he wanted to receive help. However, he was of the opinion that something could be done to stop the spread of homosexuality.

Since homosexuality seems to be caused by a lack of a strong masculine role in the home, it stands to reason that homosexuality could be prevented, to a certain extent, by helping parents to adjust to each other, and to present a well-balanced home life for their children. Further, the Sabbath School organization could be reworked so that it would include more men in the pre-primary rooms so that a male image would be included there. Also, more men could be trained to teach the primary grades in our school system. These steps, Gremmell felt, would go a long way to help in preventing homosexuality's beginning in a child.

One reason, the author feels, that homosexuals will not come for help, is that they fear rejection by their friends―the church members. There is good reason for this. The church as a whole seems to look with such abhorrence upon the homosexual act that anyone who has tendencies in that direction is distasteful to the members of the church. If a man or woman is found to be homosexual, he or she is almost certain to be ostracized if not disfellowshiped.

In the light of the discussion thus far, it seems to the author that a homosexual can be accepted into the church under certain conditions.

As discussed in Chapter III, there is much similarity between the homosexuals relation to others of his own sex and that of the heterosexuals relation to others of the opposite sex. As a heterosexual is accepted into fellowship in the church as long as his behavior is above board, so a homosexual should be accepted into fellowship in the church as long as his behavior is above reproach. As an unmarried heterosexual person must desist from any sexual contact with members of the opposite sex, so must a homosexual desist from any sexual contact with members of his own sex.

On the surface there seems to be little difference between the requirements just mentioned. However, it must be noted that the unmarried heterosexual, in most cases, is unmarried by free choice, whereas the homosexual often has no choice in the matter. He became a homosexual before he was accountable (in most cases) and is just stuck in this condition.²

It would seem to the author that for the homosexual who really wants to follow the pathway of truth, there is a way. Paul gives the promise that no temptation is greater than a man can bear―there is always a way of escape.³ It the homosexual wants to be free from his burden, Jesus can be his way of escape and give him help and strength in time of need.

The reader will see by the forgoing discussion that a lot of work has yet to be done on this subject. While the author firmly believes that there is an answer to the problem of homosexuality, he has been unable to find it in this small paper. Indeed many men have spent their lives looking for the solution to homosexuality without finding any.

It is of note that some psychiatrists claim to be able to cure the borderline cases of homosexuality. But it almost seems that the confirmed homosexual should be classed along with alcoholics and drug addicts whose diseases seem to be humanly incurable.⁴ It will be noted that some people who have been in the latter two diseases have seemingly been cured―by the power of God. Perhaps this can happen to the confirmed homosexual also.

Much more could be done in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to help to bring about a better understanding among the people of the church and homosexuals. The author feels that a group of theologians, psychologists, and psychiatrists who are members of the Seventh-day Adventist church, should meet to discuss this and other related problems. Such a meeting would be difficult, to be sure. Many in the church would misunderstand, and would be quite vocal in their misunderstanding. It might even be that such a meeting would cause some of the members of the church to lose faith in the church.

But are not homosexuals children of God? Should not a discussion of their problems be as important as the discussion of the problems of the alcoholic or the drug addict? The church cannot turn its back forever. It will have to face the issue sooner or later. It would be better for the church to meet the issue before an emergency arises at which time it would be difficult for the members of the committee to make wise decisions because of the stress of the situation .

¹Edward Heppenstall, F. E. J. Harder, Cecil Gemmill, Charles E. Wittschiebe.

²Charles E. Wittschiebe.

³1 Corinthians 10:13.

⁴Dr. Charles Anderson, psychiatrist

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bergler, Edmund, Homosexuality: Disease or Way of Life? New York: Hill and Wang (1956) 302 pages.

Cappon, Daniel. Toward An Understanding Of Homosexuality. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall (1965), 302 pages .

Cory, Donald W. Homosexuality: A Cross Cultural Approach. New York: Julian Press (c1956), 440 pages.

Henry, George W. All the Sexes. New York: Rinehart and Co., Inc., 599 pages.

Marmor, Judd. Sexual Inversion: The Multiple Roots of Homo-sexuality. New York: Basic Books (c1965), 358 pages.

Rees, John Tudor. They Stand Apart. New York: Macmillan (1955), 220 pages.

Ruitenbeek, Hendrik M. The Problem of Homosexuality In Modern Society. New York: Dutton (1963), 304 pages.

West, Donald James. The Other Man. New York: Whiteside (1955), 224 pages.

Wood, Robert W. Christ and the Homosexual. New York: Vantage Press (c1960) 221 pages.