Q&A: Gay marriage and the Episcopal Church

Joungbin Lim (photo from Troy University)

The Episcopal Church was given a three-year suspension last week by the worldwide Anglican Communion for its position on same-sex marriage.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry told the Associated Press that the church is going to work toward Anglican unity despite different points of view on the divisive issue.

Joungbin Lim, assistant professor of history and philosophy (Western philosophy and thought) at Troy University answered some questions pertinent to the issue.

What does the suspension of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion actually mean for the followers of Protestant religion in Alabama?

Assuming that most Protestantists in Alabama are conservative, the suspension of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion means a victory for them.  Conservatives generally believe, as the primates affirmed in their statement, that 'the traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union.'  They believe that the Bible condemns the same-sex marriage.  In this respect, the suspension is good news for conservatives.

This suspension, however, could end up with merely a temporary victory.  Perhaps conservatives are already aware that there will be a more fundamental and serious issue about same-sex marriage: the interpretation of the Bible.  Most conservatives - but not all - endorse a literal interpretation of biblical verses: what the Bible tells us is literally true.   And they reject same-sex marriage on that basis.  But the literal interpretation of the bible is theologically and philosophically controversial, even among conservatives.  Some conservative theologians, for example, believe that the traditional doctrine of hell is based on a wrong exegesis of biblical verses, without reasonably considering God's benevolence.  Some conservatives also say that the Bible does not confirm the existence of the human soul; according to them, the Bible does not affirm such a platonic view but a holistic view of human nature.

Given the agreement with some core doctrines of Christianity (e.g., the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of Salvation, the doctrine of the Resurrection), theologians, whether conservatives or not, have attempted to interpret biblical texts in various ways and correct wrong exegesis (for example, the literal interpretation has been used to justify slavery and the domination over women, which is not endorsed by any reasonable theologians). The same goes for same-sex marriage.  Protestant proponents of same-sex marriage appeal to biblical world-view, which they think justifies the non-traditional marriage.

As the General Convention of the Episcopal Church declared in 1976: 'homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church.'

Many people believe that the hermeneutical issue about same-sex marriage (What is the correct biblical definition of marriage?) will be getting more important and serious among Protestantists.  The current suspension of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion might trigger such an issue.  And it will be a great and unavoidable controversy.

Does the Episcopal Church's position to authorize same-sex marriage help or hurt the religion in the short- or long-term?

I think the Episcopal Church's position to authorize same-sex marriage will hurt the Protestant religion.  That position will create a great controversy  among Protestantists regarding the definition of marriage, equal treatment of same-sex couples and its relation to church membership, and more fundamentally, the inerrancy of the Bible (Does the Bible condemn or allow same-sex marriage? Does the Bible correctly say about same-sex marriage?)  This could cause schism within a denomination, as we see in today's Anglican Communion.  And the split between conservative believers and liberal believers will deteriorate sharply.

On the positive side, however, the current same-sex marriage controversy could promote a rational conversation between Protestant proponents and opponents of same-sex marriage.  This could force religious leaders and theologians to articulate and sharpen doctrines about marriage and sexuality so that what they believe can be testified and exemplified.

Does same-sex marriage, in general, get a boost from this issue?

I think same-sex marriage will get a boost from this issue.  Many agree that the major motivation for rejecting same sex marriage comes from religious doctrines.  Christians typically believe that one of the most important purposes of marriage is procreation and propagation of the human race; as they often cite Genesis 1, in which God told the first couple to "be fruitful" and "to fill the earth and subdue it."   And they believe that the Bible teaches that marriage must consist of one man and one woman.

The Episcopal Church's adoption of same-sex marriage implies that the traditional concept of biblical marriage is not universally true. (After all, same-sex couples can have children through adoption or (for lesbians) artificial insemination.  So, if procreation and propagation are the criteria of marriage, same sex-marriage can pass the test).  And many expect this trend will be getting more popular among other denominations.  Once same-sex marriage is consecrated in a conservative Christian denomination, it will be a tsunami to other denominations and religions.  This will reinforce the justification of same sex marriage, not only legally but also religiously.