Introducing a UK Bill of Rights would be likely to undermine the existing protection afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998. At the least, it could cause confusion about the applicability in the UK of the rights and freedoms identified in the Convention, and create the impression that fundamental rights for which the UK has helped to win international recognition no longer carry the same weight. Instead, rights and freedoms might be seen as being within the gift of the UK government, so that successive governments could restrict or remove these.

For many Christians, human rights are of great importance, because of the belief that all persons are made in God’s image and precious, and that no state should be given absolute power over all aspects of human life. For many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, the Convention and European Court of Human Rights have been important in advancing basic rights. The Human Rights Act has also played a part in advancing LGBT equality and the attachment to it of the full text of the Convention, thus incorporating it in our own law, is a vital guarantee of our freedoms and our common adherence to a code which stretches across all Europe.

Over the years a body of case law has built up, and understanding developed. It would be better to promote wider public knowledge of existing human rights laws and international standards, and support for people seeking to use these to protect their rights, than to bring in a new Bill of Rights. Human rights law has a valuable part to play in protecting the most vulnerable, from asylum-seekers who have been victims of torture to frail older people at risk of abuse.

Any moves that negatively affect or place in doubt existing human rights legislation applicable to the UK would also be likely to damage the UK government’s credibility in promoting human rights internationally. Many people experience throughout the world experience persecution on grounds of religion, sexuality or other factors. It is important to promote good practice through example as well as words.

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It is now time to recognise that this is part of a wider, radical social and political agenda to re-define marriage and force this re-definition on the public, whether they want it or not.

In addition, there are not sufficient protections for those who object, on the grounds of conscience, to providing such a service, even though the measures being introduced are being presented as “voluntary”. It is clear what will happen: churches will be coerced into performing these ceremonies, and the many that won’t will be vilified. Individual pastors may have to choose between their job and their conscience.

Nobody will seriously believe the Government’s assurance to the contrary, given the way in which previous assurances on civil partnership have been shattered.

ANDREA WILLIAMS
CEO, Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre

On Friday 4th November 2011, this letter from Andrea Williams of the Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre appeared in The Times.

Michael Egan, Chair of LGCM’s Board of Directors responded with the following letter:

Andrea Williams’ letter on ‘Civil partnerships’ is alarmist. In reality, as section 202 of the Equality Act 2010 (Civil partnerships on religious premises) makes it clear, no faith groups will be obliged to host civil partnerships on their premises. However those that very much want to do so will be permitted, an advance in religious freedom. 
 
Equalities legislation has long allowed certain exemptions in view of religious beliefs. For instance, some faith groups do not allow women to preside at religious ceremonies. The law has not forced them to change. There is no reason to suppose that the situation with regard to civil partnerships will be any different. Of course, some religious leaders may be uncomfortable about the pressure from within their own faith communities to adopt a more inclusive position towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. But that is a different matter. 

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It is worrying that such an important funder for the voluntary sector is partnering with such a bigoted and phobic newspaper and consequently LGCM along with many other LGBT organizations have sent in letters to the Lottery to highlight our communities’ concerns over this. There is a real fear that issues of diversity within this fund will be marginalised and lost because of the partnership.

In our letter to Peter Wanless, the Chief Executive for the Big Lottery, we point out how the Daily Mail has consistently shown itself to be homophobic and transphobic and to enjoy playing off Christianity against homosexuality. Furthermore, we list several points where this partnership goes against the Big Lottery’s own Equality Principles published in ‘Equality Matters – A Good Practice Guide’.

Consequently we have urged the Big Lottery Fund to reconsider its decision to partner with organisations that continually promote discrimination.

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Sharon also presented a double workshop with Christina Beardsley on Gender, Sexuality and Spirituality on the Thursday as part of the Health Summit. Again this was well attended with the group engaging fully and sharing deeply from their personal experiences. Many different faith perspectives were represented by the group and the expectations were varied. Due to the extent of the sharing from the group it was impossible to complete all that we had hoped in the time frame.

During the Summit several local papers and television crews were interested in finding out more about marriage equality and the Equal Love Campaign. Consequently there was a press conference after lunch on the second day.

At the closing plenary Sharon chaired the discussion on Equal Marriage and short talks were presented by Erick Hou (legal), Peter Tatchell (Human Rights), Christina Beardsley (Trans), Su Knan (Judaism), and Tony Green (Christian). This was followed by questions from the conference attendees. This session was streamed live and will be available on the conference website shortly. (lgbtec.org.uk)

Rev Sharon Ferguson

At our Annual Conference and AGM in June 2011 the Board of Trustees informed everyone present of the current financial situation and the measures we are taking to be able to continue to fulfil our objectives and meet our commitments.   LGCM is and has always been a membership organisation dependent for its existence solely on the membership fees and generous donations of members and supporters.  This has been one of our strengths in that we are free to campaign and speak out on whatever issue you deem to be appropriate as we are beholden to no one other than yourselves.  However, it is also a weakness as during times of economic recession people are unable to be as generous as they would like and consequently our income falls.

In 2010 we were able to attract our first ever external funding which was for a specific project. Whilst we are hoping to find further funding for other projects and to continue to develop the Faith and Sexuality Project, this money does not provide for our core costs or to support the much needed grass roots work.

For example, the vital work of:

• Campaigning against the implementation of draconian laws around the world such as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda.
• Challenging governments to act against discrimination and oppression as with the imprisonment of the gay couple in Malawi.
• Communicating with the government regarding the implementation of anti-discrimatory laws such as the conducting of Civil Partnerships on religious premises. Imputing into discussions on equality legislation through the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
• Bringing together diverse lgbt faith groups to have a united presence within the lgbt community as with Christians Together at Pride.
• Liaising with other lgbt faith groups to have a stronger voice in society and the Church, especially within the Church of England.
• Supporting the lgbt groups within different denominations to bring about positive change. Campaign against faith based discrimination to bring about true equality such as with marriage equality.
• Support the setting up and running of local groups to provide direct contact and support for lgbt Christians across the country. Providing educational resources for use in schools, churches, home groups and youth groups etc. to provide opportunities for people to discuss the issues of human sexuality.
• And much, much more…

Our membership levels are remaining constant and we do not want to increase the membership fee as we feel it’s important that all people are able to join regardless of their financial situation. Consequently we are asking those who are able to do so to join the 1 in 10 Campaign.

The facts are these:

• We currently have approximately 1000 members
• We currently have a shortfall of about £1000 per month

Therefore we are looking for 1 in 10 of our members or other supporters to commit to giving an extra £10 per month to generate the extra income that we need.  We fully appreciate that not everyone will be able to take on this commitment and that you are probably getting fed up with being asked for financial assistance but I would like to encourage you to commit to whatever you can as the work of LGCM is still as much needed today as it has ever been.

Please use telephone or internet banking or download and fill in this form and return it to the office to set up a regular payment (standing order) to LGCM. Our bank details are:

Sort Code: 40-52-40, Account No: 00003356
Bank: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ.

Please contact the office to let us know that you’ve done this, telling us how much we should expect to receive and how often. Please let us know if you are a UK tax-payer so that we can claim Gift Aid on your donation.

Find out more about donating or joining LGCM.

James’ metaphor suggests, in graphic terms, the impact of God’s bursting forth upon the world in the shape of Jesus Christ who comes to overturn the established way of looking at the world – a world shaped by laws which condemn and which convict us of sin. James continued by offering us the idea that sin is not only that from which we can be forgiven, but also that from which we are being forgiven. He drew comparisons between Catholic culture and Puritan culture, suggesting that Puritan culture oscillates between Nice but Naughty, and Boring.

Original sin, James maintained, is the ‘out-of-kilter’ starting point for all human beings. We are being drawn from our unstable, out-of-kilter starting place into the exciting train of the new star passing by. We were being sucked into a black hole (original sin), but Jesus promises us the Spirit who will break the power of cancelled sin and set us free.

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
John 16:7-11 New International Version (NIV)

We were wrong about sin, about judgement, about righteousness but it is a radical step forward and Jesus informs us:

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
John 16:12 New International Version (NIV)

The promise of the Holy Spirit is a growing awareness of the extent of our error concerning sin: we need to understand how to accept forgiveness and the new life which follows from this understanding. We don’t need to worry about ‘getting it right’ – God wants us as we are, “As I love you.”

James further suggested that sin is the resistance to being creative and that this resistance always culminates in the search for goodness. The search for goodness stifles the creative drive. We must undo the patterns of desire for goodness: they will be fruitless. The real problem, however, is false goodness. We grab at false goodness, instead of allowing goodness to be created in us. When we allow this creative process, we can relax (“you cannot bear it yet”), but the struggle for goodness stifles our enjoyment of the real goodness, flowing from the Love of God. The call to be creative requires a step away from the comfort which is provided by rules which condemn us as sinners. Original sin is the resistance to being created; to the real danger of being creative. So, how should we deal with this discomfort?

Referring specifically to the LGBT audience, James repeated his helpful description of Gay people: we are a regularly-occurring, non-pathological, minority variant within the human condition. We want to love and that love is a configuration of desire. We do not know what shape this will take since all previous ideologies of what is ‘natural’ are collapsing. “The shape of the humanising of desire” (Pope Benedict) is emerging….can we stay long enough to see what comes?

Finally, James offered a view of those virtues by means of which our fear of openness to The Spirit and His transforming power might be reduced.

By Faith: a belief in God’s love for us – not falling back into the ‘goodness-drive’ – eschewing boundaries and limits. God believes in us so that we may believe in Him.

By Hope: living in the tension of the ‘not yet’. Allowing God to build in us – not getting scared of the uncertainty of life.

By Love: because God loves me I do not need to seek approval of others.

Self control – as identified by St Paul as one of the fruits of the Spirit – is simply that ability to regain control of our true selves once we have set ourselves free from compulsions.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7

James urged us to avoid the temptation to regard people now as what they are (homophobic). What they can become is the far more exciting and creative option. Unlike Islam and Judaism, Christianity doesn’t see law as the main structure; it’s a help, but Jesus the victim of the law puts us beyond that. We should not presuppose God as essentially a Lawgiver; we are loved and forgiven.

Compiled from notes taken at the conference by Nicholas Coulton and Michael Donovan

For more about James Alison visit jamesalison.co.uk

For more information about Brighton LGCM, visit their page.

James, a founding theological inspiration for the Soho Masses’ LGBT Catholic community, will lead a reflection session, “Looking back, growing up, growing out – some reflections on our Eucharistic Community” on Sunday 3rd July 2011 at 7pm. He will offer a kind of theological ‘stock-take’ of this community’s experience, 12 years after the first Masses began in 1999.

This will follow the Pride London weekend Mass welcoming LGBT Catholics, parents, families and friends, at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption & St. Gregory, Warwick Street, Soho, London W1B 5NB. The Mass begins at 5pm, followed by refreshments. ALL ARE WELCOME

Further information about Soho Masses visit www.sohomasses.com, email: info@sohomasses.com or call: 020 8986 0807. ]]> http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/07/looking-back-growing-up-growing-out-%e2%80%93-some-reflections-on-our-eucharistic-community/feed/ 0 http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/06/lgcm-welcomes-the-united-nations-resolution-on-the-rights-of-lgbt-people/ http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/06/lgcm-welcomes-the-united-nations-resolution-on-the-rights-of-lgbt-people/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:46:16 +0000 admin http://www.lgcm.org.uk/?p=2776 The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM)welcomes last Friday’s decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution to document discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.

A statement by the United Nations said that the Council requested the High Commissioner initiate a study to be completed by December “to document discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, in all regions of the world, and how international human rights law could be used to end violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The resolution was passed narrowly by 23 states to 19 with 3 abstentions. The motion expressed “grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive of LGCM, said: “This is very good news indeed for people around the world whose sexual orientation in itself is enough to put their lives at risk. Obviously it won’t end discrimination and the very real threat of death that many LGBT people face but it draws a clear line for the first time and says that the world is watching.”

LGCM notes with deep concern and sadness however that the nations that voted against the resolution did so very largely from religious convictions about homosexuality, whether these be Christian or Muslim beliefs.

Rev Sharon Ferguson added: “We cannot deny the deeply worrying, though entirely expected, rejection of the resolution by nations whose attitudes to LGBT people are based on religious understandings of human sexuality and relationships. We continue to work and pray with other LGBT faith-based organisations to challenge such hatred and bigotry which is not in accord with the deepest principles of either Christianity or Islam.”

Rev Sharon Ferguson said: ‘We are really excited for Will and Kate and wish them every happiness for their future life together as a married couple. However, it just brings home to us once again that Franka and I are not able to celebrate our love in the same way.’

LGCM invites everyone who believes in equality, even if you don’t agree with marriage, to join us outside the main gate. The prohibition on marriage for lesbian and gay couples is homophobic and should be overturned. We should all have the right to choose if we want to get married or not. We should also have the freedom of religious expression to celebrate our union in a manner appropriate to our faith belief.

Peter Tatchell from Outrage commented: “We urge Kate and William to support marriage equality: the right of same-sex couples to get married. Their support would mean a lot. They take for granted the right to marry. Marriage is something that many lesbian and gay couples want but cannot have. Gay marriage is a simple issue of respect, equality and fairness. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law. This means an equal right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation.”

For more information about the event and to let us know you are coming visit the Facebook event.