Gay affirmative churches in
Asia, according to Fridae.com
www.fridae.com/newsfeatures/article.php?articleid=1825&viewarticle=1&searchtype=all
December 23, 2006
home for christmas
By Sylvia Tan
Christmas is a time where many gays and lesbians who are or were
formerly Christians return to Church for the obligatory Christmas
service, and some will inevitably contemplate the difficulty of
reconciling their faith with their sexuality amidst the singing of
Christmas carols. Fridae speaks to Rev Yap Kim Hao and highlights
several gay affirmative churches in Asia.
æ: Many Christian gays and lesbians - who after coming out to
themselves - decide to stop going to church and/or feel that they
cannot continue being a Christian because of churches who preach
that homosexuality is unacceptable. Despite the availability of
literature which says that the Bible verses which are frequently
used to condemn homosexuality have been mistranslated or
misinterpreted, they find it hard to let go of what they were
taught earlier. How best do you think they can come to terms to
this?
Rev Yap: We must first of all try to comprehend how the Bible
itself came into existence. Even though we glibly claim that the
Bible is the Word of God, we must readily admit that it was not
transmitted by God to us in a written form and certainly not in
English or any language we know, not even Hebrew or Greek. The
writers of the different books of the Bible interpret their
experiences as individuals or community with God in their lives.
Other interpretations exist but did not get the approval of the
Jewish and Christian leaders who compiled the books of the
Bible.
Each faithful follower has to make his or own interpretation and
which may or may not reflect that of the religious institutions.
The teachings of the institutions themselves change according to
the changing times. Homosexuality is one issue which is in the
process of change and hopefully, the time will come also for more
religious leaders to be gay-affirming.
æ: Some other Christians do not come out as gay in their church
fearing rejection. Do you think gay Christians need to come out in
their church for their own spiritual and mental well being?
Rev Yap: We are always challenged to be true to ourselves and
accept our sexual orientation as from God. If the Church rejects
gay Christians then it is hypocritical to preach that they love all
people. It is certainly good for one to come out and call the
church to question. Otherwise, we are aiding and abetting and
condoning their homophobic stance.
æ: While some churches believe that they have a responsibility to
welcome and be affirmative towards their gay and lesbian members,
these members are in turn expected to be celibate and this is a
major consideration for many. What is your take?
Rev Yap: Affirmation of LGBT members is to affirm also that they
can enter into same-sex relationships as an expression of their
love to one another. To demand them to be celibate is a denial of
that affirmation. It is not only a half-hearted response but also a
faint-hearted one. We do not demand celibacy from the
heterosexuals. Celibacy is a choice but not homosexuality.
æ: The Christian fundamentalist movement which originated in the US
is taking root in Asia such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan
where they are - to borrow their favourite phrase - proving to very
militant in promoting their anti-gay agenda in the public sphere.
And what is the best defence for Christians who disagree with the
anti-gay fundamentalist movement?
Rev Yap: The way to counter-act against the anti-gay agenda is for
the LGBT community and its members to come out as gay and proud.
This will help develop the responsible and positive gay lifestyle
perception to shatter their negative perceptions of the
community.
æ: You have been most open in supporting the gay community by
writing to the press and your autobiography A Bishop Remembers you
wrote: "I wanted the public to know that there are clergy and lay
members who cannot accept the view of their churches in good
conscience and there are those who are willing to declare it
publicly. Many of my friends have joined me in support of the gay
movement and by my action I have forced others to think seriously
and study the issue carefully. At least they cannot be indifferent
and continue harbouring their stereotypes and misconceptions of
homosexuality." In interacting with Christians, what are the most
common stereotypes and misconceptions of homosexuality they
have?
Rev Yap: Christians have difficult accepting the homosexual act. To
them it is unnatural and incompatible. They have the concept that
God created only male and female and the only sexual relationship
they consider normative is with the opposite sex. They perceive the
gay lifestyle to be free and loose without commitment and only for
the satisfaction of their selfish sexual drives. They see the
frequent changing of partners and the breakdown of
relationships.
æ: What do you say to Christians who believe that the Bible
incontrovertibly condemns homosexuality? How easy or difficult is
it for you to make a Christian who believes that homosexuality is
disallowed by God to change his or her mind?
Rev Yap: My advice to them is to really study the Bible and see the
teachings relating to homosexuality in the context of those olden
days. It is extremely difficult to change the mind of the
homophobic person. But even though these persons once had no reason
to challenge their assumptions, they are now forced by gays who
have come out and straight people who are gay-affirming to
re-examine their views on the issue of homosexuality.
æ: Why do you think so many people are unwilling to question the
idea that the Bible condemns homosexuals?
Rev Yap: This is because it is a majority view and was never
challenged to the extent that we do today, and by the people who
are brave enough to come out.
æ: Coming back to Christmas, what would be your parting message to
gay and lesbian Christians who have not reconciled their sexuality
and spiritual lives?
Rev Yap: Gay and lesbian Christians in confessing their belief in
God must come to accept that God has given them life and this
includes the same-sex orientation. God has created all things
different and all life in its variety is according to God's plan
and purpose for our existence. At Christmas we are reminded of
God's love. God loves you when you are specially and uniquely
created. It is for God's purpose that gay and lesbian Christians
were created and they legitimately belong to human family of God.
Take courage and be proud and gay. God bless you all. Merry
Christmas to you. Celebrate God's love for everyone.
æ: Fridae wishes Rev Yap and all readers a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
Last year, Fridae published Rev Yap Kim Haos transcript of his
talk on same-sex relationships from a Christian perspective. Click
on the related article links below to read.
Gay affirmative Churches in Asia
The following are churches that are openly LGBT affirmative and
have dedicated ministries for LGBT members. Please check with
individual churches regarding location and details of its Christmas
service.
Hong Kong
Blessed Minority Christian Fellowship
The group was formed for fellowship between gay and lesbian
Christians as well as to promote understanding and respect of Hong
Kong religious organisations towards homosexuality.
Address: Hennessy Post Bos 20516, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2834-6601
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bmcf.org.hk
Christmas service/celebration: Dec 24, 8pm and Christmas party till
1am.
Singapore
Free Community Church
FCC is the only church in Singapore to have a gay-affirming
ministry for LGBT Christians called Safehaven.
Eu Tong Sen Street, #04-02 Yangtze Building
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.freecomchurch.org
Christmas service/celebration: Dec 25, 5pm at The Lee Foundation
Theatre, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Campus 3, 151
Bencoolen Street.
Taipei
Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church
First established in 1995 as Jonathan Fellowship by Rev. Yang
Ya-hui of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan (PCT) and 2 gay
Christians, it evolved to become Tong-Kwang Light House
Presbyterian Church a year later although it is independent from
the PCT.
Website: www.geocities.com/tongkwang_church (in Chinese only)
Email: [email protected]
Christmas service/celebration: Dec 23 at 6.30pm
Kaoshiung
Jesus Rocks Harvest Church
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jesusrocks.org.tw (in Chinese only)
Philippines, Australia and New Zealand
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)
is an international fellowship of Christian congregations with 250
member congregations in 23 countries and a specific outreach to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
MCC Philippines
Telephone Number: 632-251-3402 or 632-302-4205
Mobile Number: 0920-738-3778 or 046-851-1576
Contact Person: Regen Luna
Website: mccph.tk
Email: [email protected]
Worship Time: Sunday, 4:00pm
Meeting Location: TLF Office 2580 A. Bonifacio St.
Brgy. Bangkal Evangelista, Makati City, Philippines
MCC Sydney
PO Box 1237
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
Telephone: 612 9569 5122
Fax: 612 9569 5144
Website: www.mccsydney.org.au
Email: [email protected]
Worship Times: Sundays, 10:00am and 7:30pm
Meeting location: Crystal Street Cathedral
96 Crystal Street, Petersham NSW 2049
Community Centre: Heffron Hall
Corner of Burton and Palmer Sts, Darlinghurst
For full list of congregations in Australia and New Zealand, please
visit www.mccchurch.org
