Be Not Deceived: The Sacred and Sexual Struggles of Gay and Ex-Gay Christian Men

Chapter 2: Alternate Theologies: Sins and Solutions

The above two mission statements clearly reveal the key difference between MCC and Exodus; MCC works to integrate homosexuality into Christian life while Exodus seeks to purge it. In accord with these contrary missions, the groups are also on opposing sides of the debate over whether homosexuality is innate (MCC) or chosen (Exodus) and split on the issue of whether people can change their sexual orientation. Certainly, each group’s purpose reflects and helps to form the cornerstone of belief within each organization , and these differences are critical aspects of the groups. It can therefore be tempting, as mass media presentations of these organizations have done, to characterize the groups as polar opposites, pitting one against the other and aligning MCC with political and theologiAlternate Theologies Sins and Solutions The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a Christian Church founded in and reaching beyond the Gay and Lesbian communities. We embody and proclaim Christian salvation and liberation, Christian inclusivity and community, and Christian social action and justice. We serve among those seeking and celebrating the integration of their spirituality and sexuality. Mission Statement of UFMCC Proclaiming to, educating and impacting the world with the Biblical truth that freedom from homosexuality is possible when Jesus is Lord of one’s life. Exodus International—About Exodus 2 18 A LT E R N AT E T H E O L O G I E S 19 cal liberalism and Exodus with conservatism. Conceiving of these groups as entirely different and conflicting entities, however, is a mistake . In spite of their obvious disagreement about how homosexuality should be handled within Christianity, these organizations have significant theological and organizational commonalities. In fact, these groups emerge out of and are grounded in similar religious traditions, sharing a great deal more doctrine than might be expected. They also reach out to the same population to cope with the mutual problem of homosexuality within Christianity, and they do so using remarkably similar processes. If we are to grasp how and why individuals who experience homosexual desire and who share similar religious beliefs can resolve a common conflict between their faith and sexuality in such antithetical ways, then we must first understand the groups’ similarities and complexities, rather than just noting their opposing conclusions . Without a full understanding of the theological or ideological context of these groups, we are also likely to misinterpret members’ speech and behavior as bizarre or overtly political, rather than as conformity to a set of religious beliefs. Such misinterpretation would not only preclude a valid examination of these groups and of their functions and consequences, but it also risks ignoring or discrediting people’s experience of homosexuality within Christianity, allowing heterosexuals to fill in the blanks as they imagine. To develop this understanding and to lay the foundation for the subsequent study, this chapter provides an overview of each group’s organizational history, religious roots, existing theology, and approach to homosexuality. Readers will no doubt be tempted to side with one group or the other. My purpose, however, is not to decide which group is “right” or to evaluate which offers a more persuasive explanation of homosexuality. Rather, the intent is to understand the groups on their own terms. Only then is it possible to make sense of how the men were able, through participation in these groups, to resolve their struggles so differently. Doing so also allows for analysis of the larger societal consequences of this struggle. Metropolitan Community Churches In his book Don’t Be Afraid Anymore (1990), the Reverend Troy Perry tells the story of the founding of MCC. It begins on a summer night in 1968 when Perry goes dancing with his friend 20 “ B E N O T D E C E I V E D ” Tony at a large gay dance bar, called the Patch, just south of Los Angeles . At the time, uniformed and plainclothes police were known for infiltrating gay bars and hassling patrons, and this night was no different . So, when another man slapped Tony’s butt playfully, both were charged with “lewd and lascivious conduct,” arrested, and taken to jail. The bar owner, who was fed up with police harassment, organized his patrons into a protest group to go get the two men released from jail. The group stood at the jail wearing or carrying flowers, singing “We Shall Overcome” throughout the night until the men were released in the...