Dear Claire,

I thought your article on the problems in mainline Protestant churches was interesting; especially since I live in that tension every day.

However, giving Jesus a vote on the debate over homosexuality may be more challenging than you suspect. What is said in the Bible about homosexuality is contextual and can't be transplanted into the 21st century without great difficulty. The same New Testament author who condemns homosexuality also says that women should not speak in church. Good luck selling that one.

The same Old Testament passages that prohibit homosexuality also prohibit or growing tomatoes and lettuce in the same garden. Cotton polyester shirts are right out, and dogs of mixed breed are suspect. Good luck convincing anyone who has a cockapoo or a spoodle.

Stroll down Elizabeth St. some summer evening and you can smell the unbiblical behaviour on any number of backyard barbeques because a nice medium-rare steak for dinner is banned in Leviticus, the same book that condemns homosexual behaviour.

Even so, only male homosexuality is condemned in the bible. Shall we make this a gender debate? Good luck again.

What Jesus did was welcome into relationship and table fellowship those who were on the fringe of society and those who were shunned. He spoke out directly about divorce and ignoring one's aging parents. Before we condemn those who are trying to walk in the same direction as Our Lord (like Bishop Colin Johnson) perhaps we could work with those who clearly oppose His words.

On the other hand perhaps a good chunk of us have come to the conclusion that faith In Jesus Christ has a place in our word but that human beings are beginning to grow up and leave behind some prejudices of the past in favour of peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. St. Paul said those words, but I think Jesus would approve.

Father Kevin Bothwell,

Orangevillian Emeritus

- - o- - I'd like to express my appreciation for what Claire Hoy wrote about what is going on with churches.

I think it is a realistic true analysis but is at the same time very sad.

It is about blessing same sex "marriages" by the Church.

I'd like to quote I Cor. 6:9-10 (NKJV) which makes it abundantly clear what God has to say about it.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived. Neither fornicators (premarital sex) nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals (passive homosexuals), nor sodomites (aggressive homosexuals ), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor revilers, not extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God." Then verse 11 adds " . . . and such were some of you.

Then comes these beautiful words " . . . But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." So thee is a way of escape . . . and that is by repentance.

Bishop Johnson, however, says there is nothing wrong with same sex marriage and therefore there is no need for repentance and forgiveness. The Bishop becomes an instrument of Satan by withholding the Good News that there is forgiveness by the blood of Christ for sinners.

On the day of Judgment Bishop Johnson will have to give an account for these lost souls (Ezekiel 3:18).

R. Bosman Orangeville