Statement on Gender and Sexuality

wedding ring ceremony
We believe:

1. That homosexual desires and actions are a result of the Fall and are sinful.

2. That homosexuals who give in to these desires and actions or who argue their legitimacy, like all sinners, must be clearly called to repentance and faith. The unrepentant must be disciplined by the church. Those who practice or advocate homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle must not be ordained to ecclesiastical office.

3. That Christians must provide loving support and care for those struggling against homosexual temptations, encouraging them to seek forgiveness and grace to overcome their temptations.

4. That the church acts contrary to love for God and its neighbor when it declares morally neutral anything which God has declared sinful.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; Genesis 19

We reject:

1. The teaching of those who declare that there is no accountability for the church beyond the local congregation so that each church can believe what is right in her own eyes.

2. The teaching that denominational unity is more valued than unity in the truth of the Word of God. This erroneous argument creates a false dichotomy between unity and truth, and is commonly advanced against those who would oppose a denomination’s drift from Biblical authority on a variety of issues.

3. The teaching of those who declare that people do not have to repent of homo­sexual desires or actions because these actions and desires are not sinful, or because such actions and desires are morally neutral (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; Genesis 19).

4. The teaching of those who would ordain to ecclesiastical office those who practice or advocate homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle.

(Source: a Reformed church)