What 8 Church Denominations Say About Same sex Marriage READ MORE:

The present chaos which the approval of same sex marriage by the Americans is causing has led to many people wondering what the Christian denominations are saying to their congregations.
A quote on the timeline of a facebook user says “everything has been zeroed down to the US and all curses directed on them and Obama even being referred to as the anti-Christ himself.”
Now, what does the church say?

Married gay couple

1. The Anglicans

For the Anglican Communion, they have been divided over the issue of homosexuality in several ways. The Church of England, the mother church of the Communion, has stated currently that same-sex partnerships are acceptable for laypersons but gay clergy are expected to abstain. For the records, Bishop Gene Robinson is the first openly bisexual clergy to be ordained to the episcopate while Mary Glasspool became first open lesbian suffragan bishop to be consecrated a bishop.

2. The Baptists

On their part, the Baptists believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality. They stated clearly that its members “affirm God’s plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a ‘valid alternative lifestyle.’ It is not, however, an unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ.” Independent Fundamental Baptist churches also view homosexuality as sinful or unnatural.

READ ALSO: Survey Reveals What Nigerians Think About Same Sex Marriage

3. The Orthodox

To them, sexuality is part of the fallen world only. Their theology of monasticism and marriage are paths to Salvation. Celibacy is the ideal path, exemplified in monasticism, while marriage is blessed under the context of true love. The construct to the non-orthodox means inclusive of homosexuality. In contrast a vast majority of the Orthodox see it as exclusive of homosexuality. Traditionally, the church has adopted a non-legalistic view of homosexuality as sin.

4. The Jehovah’s Witnesses

They consider same-sex marriage as sinful, but recognise that some people may be prone to homosexuality, including members of their congregation. They mandate members to desist from such “serious sin”, but should not hate homosexual individuals. They admonish that Christians should not make homosexuals the target of scorn. They believe that God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman. The Witnesses have stated that it “cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability”, and are told to avoid debates about the legality of homosexuality: “Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws.”

5. The Methodists

Up till now however, the Methodist Church of Great Britain has not taken a definitive stance on homosexuality. Although it affirms the traditional belief that individuals should remain chaste outside marriage. In 2006, the Church also prohibited the blessing of same sex unions on or off church property. They have also declared that “homosexual practice is incompatible with Christian teaching.”

6. The Pentecostals

Most churches that are within the Pentecostal Movement view homosexual behavior as a sin. In the US recently, Assemblies of God made its view clear on homosexuality in a position paper stating that “It should be noted at the outset that there is absolutely no affirmation of homosexual behavior found anywhere in the Scripture. Rather, the consistent sexual ideal is chastity for those outside a monogamous heterosexual marriage and fidelity for those inside such a marriage. There is also abundant evidence that homosexual behavior, along with illicit heterosexual behavior, is immoral and comes under the judgment of God.”

READ ALSO: Same-Sex Marriage: Fears Trail Buhari’s Meeting With Obama

Fears have been raised that President Buhari’s scheduled visit to the United States might be used to pressure Nigeria into softening anti-gay legislation, The Punch reports.

President Buhari and President Obama

The scheduled visit comes just after the US Supreme court legalised same sex marriage in all states of the federation. Although Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari is said to be meeting Obama to discuss political and economic issues as well as the fight against terrorism, there is speculation that same-sex marriage might be discussed.
Before the then President Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act into law in January 2014, Obama had threatened to cut off foreign aid to Nigeria. All these highlight the supposed intent of the scheduled meeting.
READ ALSO: Survey Reveals What Nigerians Think About Same Sex Marriage
Eniola Akinkuotu of The Punch has examined the implications of the United States Supreme Court judgment on the foreign policy outlook of President Barack Obama.
Although President Buhari has kept mute about same sex marriage, dwindling oil prices and insecurity in the country are bargaining chips for the US to put pressure on Buhari to relax anti-gay legislation. The US has already pledged $5m to help Nigeria fight Boko Haram. The US could demand something in return.
During the election campaign in March, Jonathan’s campaign organiser Femi Fani-Kayode claimed Buhari was getting support from the world’s most powerful country because he had promised to legalize same-sex marriage. He said:
“The proposition and offer was that if he was prepared to support a legislation in Nigeria to allow same sex marriage and if he was prepared to repeal the anti-gay laws in Nigeria, they (US) will, in return, endorse, support and fund him, initially covertly and eventually publicly, at the right time.
“Instead of rejecting these offers and spurning this proposition, to our utter shock, Buhari apparently refused to rule it out and has put the matter under consideration. Instead of him to say no, he assured them that he would consider these two things.
READ ALSO: Obama Celebrates Gay Marriage Ruling
“We believe that this is a matter that ought to be brought to the attention of the Nigerian people as a matter of urgency. The APC are so desperate in ensuring that Buhari becomes the President of this country that they are actually prepared to consider the scrapping of all anti-gay or anti-homosexual legislation and at the same time, endorsing and supporting a fresh legislation that would allow same sex-marriage in our country.
“We are using this occasion to challenge Buhari to come clean and to tell the Nigerian people whether this is true and whether, in the unlikely event of his being elected President, he is seriously considering scrapping the anti-homosexual laws in our country and pushing through a new legislation which would allow same-sex marriage.”
A senior lecturer of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, Dr. David Aworawo, said it was very possible that Obama would want to convince Buhari to ease the law on homosexuality.
He said:  “They will try to make Nigeria approve same sex-marriage but Buhari must not give in. Whatever America has to offer Nigeria should not be predicated on throwing away a vital part of our culture because of small bread and butter. We expect that Buhari and all those who will go with him will stand their ground because it is also in the interest of the US that a growing terrorist group like Boko Haram is dealt with. So, I am sure that they will look beyond Nigeria’s stance on same-sex marriage.”
READ ALSO: TB Joshua, Femi Fani Kayode React To New Gay Law
 “We know that these values that the US tries to spread around the world are not consistently maintained in their interactions. National interest also comes to play. For instance, Egypt is one of the most repressive countries in the world today but Egypt still gets extensive assistance from the US because of the interest of the US in the stability of Egypt and by extension, the stability of the Middle East.
“Yet, one of the core values of the US is the protection of human rights and the defence of freedom. So, I will be surprised and disappointed if the Nigerian delegation led by Buhari fails to stand its ground on what is core to our values.
“The US may use homosexuality as a condition for some of the countries that they want to give aid to but if we stand our ground, the US will reflect and choose between our non-acceptance of same-sex marriage and the escalation of Boko Haram which may also affect their own national security. I am sure that if we stand our ground, we will still get everything that we, otherwise, would have got.”
Also, a former minister of state for the interior, Chief Demola Seriki, urged the US not to use the needs of Nigeria as an avenue to demand same-sex marriage. Seriki said:
“You cannot import democracy, neither can you export it. All politics is local; policies stem from democratic ethos. There are some countries that have monarchs like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and they have no prime minister. America cannot force such countries to adopt democracy.
“I don’t see Nigeria allowing homosexuality to reign supreme. If you consider the most religious people in the world, Nigeria will be among the top three.
“This is a country where there are churches and mosques everywhere. Nigerians are not into homosexuality unlike America, which has been into it since the 1960s. Even in America, homosexuality has not generally been accepted.
“Buhari and Obama’s meeting should have nothing to do with same-sex marriage because that can cause a diplomatic row between the two countries. The meeting is a state visit and it is very important. It is the type of visit that was not extended to Jonathan in his five years in office.”
Charles Dokubo, a professor of history and strategic studies and research fellow with the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, told The Punch that if Buhari rejects US aid on account of same-sex marriage, Nigerians will defend him, adding that same-sex marriage is the least of the country’s problems.
READ ALSO: Group Urges Buhari To Cancel Anti-Gay Law
 “The US can’t arm-twist Nigeria because Nigerian culture is different. Here, homosexuality is not part of us. So, we do not need to approve same-sex marriage. Even if some people are doing it, they are not doing it publicly. Homosexuality is not our problem. We have more fundamental issues.
“I doubt if Buhari will dance to their tune. If the US insists on Nigeria approving same-sex marriage on the condition of aid, Nigerians will reject the aid. As a sovereign nation, we have the right to make laws that suit our country and homosexuality does not threaten our stability. The real threat is Boko Haram and this is what Nigerians are concerned about, ” Dokubo said.
Nigerians await the outcome of the July 21 scheduled meeting.
There was jubilation in the USA recently, following the announcement by the Supreme Court that the country had legalised same sex marriage throughout the federation. In the wake of the legalized gay marriage in the USA, Zimbabwe’s 90-year-old president, Robert Mugabe, publicly proposed marriage to President Barrack Obama.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/478105-same-sex-marriage-between-buhari-and-obama.html

 

7. The Presbyterians

Moreover, on June 19, 2014, the Presbyterian Church in USA voted to change its definition of marriage and allow its pastors to officiate same-sex ceremonies in states where gay marriage is legal. By a vote of 429-175, leaders of the 1.76 million-member Church voted during the biennial General Assembly in Detroit to change the denomination’s Book of Order to describe marriage as being between “two people”. It had approved the ordination of non-celibate gays on July 8, 2010, when, by a vote of 373 to 323, the General Assembly voted to propose to the presbyteries a constitutional amendment to remove the restriction against the ordination of partnered homosexuals.

8. The Roman Catholic

Lastly, appealing to the traditional values of Filipino Catholic families, Pope Francis, the head Catholics earlier in 2015 made one of his strongest calls as pope against movements to recognize same-sex unions as marriage. However, the largest Swedenborgian denomination in North America, the General Church of the New Jerusalem, does not ordain gay and lesbian ministers, but the oldest denomination, the Swedenborgian Church of North America, does.
On a general note, the world is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family. As it is, families are now threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage.
There have been mixed reactions from all over the world ever since the Supreme court in America legalised the marriage with the same gender

NEWS 18:06