Q: What message do you have, as a national religious leader, for LGBT people ”” especially young LGBT people?
A: There are a lot of us who want to make sure they are treated with respect ”” that they’re given every opportunity to live their full lives, that they’re as precious in the eyes of God as anyone who has ever been made. That would be the bottom line I want all people to understand, but specifically those who are going through this kind of struggle or this kind of cultural transition right now.
Q: Do you think the LGBT community in Orlando feels comfortable at your church and other conservative evangelical churches?
A: I hope so. We have several gay couples and gay people who go to our church, but we specifically don’t address a lot of sexual issues in the worship service. We talk about vulnerable populations, we talk about service, we talk about following Christ. I would hope they would be comfortable in a congregation like ours ”” but I don’t know. You’d have to ask them. We certainly want them to be.
Q: Do you believe there will be any reassessment or rethinking of positions on doctrine or theology in light of this tragedy?
A: We won’t in all likelihood change the way we interpret Scripture.
Read it all from RNS.
Joel Hunter on Orlando nightclub shooting: ”˜I’ve got to go back and examine my own heart’
Q: What message do you have, as a national religious leader, for LGBT people ”” especially young LGBT people?
A: There are a lot of us who want to make sure they are treated with respect ”” that they’re given every opportunity to live their full lives, that they’re as precious in the eyes of God as anyone who has ever been made. That would be the bottom line I want all people to understand, but specifically those who are going through this kind of struggle or this kind of cultural transition right now.
Q: Do you think the LGBT community in Orlando feels comfortable at your church and other conservative evangelical churches?
A: I hope so. We have several gay couples and gay people who go to our church, but we specifically don’t address a lot of sexual issues in the worship service. We talk about vulnerable populations, we talk about service, we talk about following Christ. I would hope they would be comfortable in a congregation like ours ”” but I don’t know. You’d have to ask them. We certainly want them to be.
Q: Do you believe there will be any reassessment or rethinking of positions on doctrine or theology in light of this tragedy?
A: We won’t in all likelihood change the way we interpret Scripture.
Read it all from RNS.