Are We an Institutionally Homophobic Church?
by Jayne Ozanne, Via Media:
[ … ] Bishops and archbishops alike have been quick to publicly state that the Church of England has a “zero tolerance” towards homophobia in all its forms. Similarly, the Presiding Bishop of the Church in Wales has also been keen to point out that he made it clear that “neither homosexuality nor participation in a civil partnership were a bar to any candidate either nominated or elected”. But verbal assurances are one thing, and actively ensuring their implementation is another.
I wonder, do those in positions of power within the Church truly understand what “institutional homophobia” really is? Are they aware of their own “Sins of Omission” when it comes to being “thoughtless” or “ignorant” of how they are treating LGBTI people? Put another way, are they able to be aware when they “have done those things that they ought not to have been done”, and more importantly “left undone those things that ought to have been done” – such as reprimanding people for inappropriate comments, or brushing off concerns by LGBTI people that their voice is not being adequately heard or represented?
My fear is that we are so utterly submerged in the impenetrable “bubble”called “Church” that we fail to see what is so plain to those who live outside it – that our practices, our thinking, our ways of working are absolutely riddled with institutional homophobia.
You see, institutional homophobia is not just about an “irrational fear, dislike or prejudice against LGBT people” as some would like to think. It is far more serious than that. It is the naïve and unintentional thoughtlessness in the way that we are talked about. For instance, using pronouns “them” instead of “us”. It is an ignorance of the offense that is so often and needlessly caused by stereotyping “what ‘they’ believe”. Typical examples are “they just want to pander to the culture” or “they don’t take the bible seriously”.
So let me be crystal clear – any teaching that undermines the intrinsic equal worth of LGBTI people is homophobic. Any theology that teaches that LGBTI couples in committed same-sex relationships are immoral is homophobic. Any practice that bars LGBTI Christians from serving in their church is homophobic.
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