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Within Christianity there are a variety of views on the issues of sexual orientation and homosexuality. The many Christian denominations vary in their position, from condemning homosexual acts as sinful, through being divided on the issue, to seeing it as morally acceptable. Even within a denomination, individuals and groups may hold different views. Further, not all members of a denomination necessarily support their church's views on homosexuality. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries the extent to which the Bible mentions the subject, whether or not it is condemned, and whether the various passages apply today, have become contentious topics. Debate has arisen over the proper interpretation of the Levitical code; the story of Sodom and Gomorrah; and various Pauline passages, and whether these verses condemn same-sex sexual activities. ==Christian denominational positions== (詳細はEastern Orthodox Church,〔(On Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life )〕 the churches of Oriental Orthodoxy〔(M. Mikhail, "The Coptic Orthodox Church's View on Homosexuality" )〕 and some mainline Protestant denominations, such as the Methodist churches,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Human Sexuality )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Stances of Faiths on LGBT Issues: African Methodist Episcopal Church )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Christian Life – Christian Conduct )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=British Methodists reject blessing of same-sex relationships )〕 Reformed Church in America〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Summaries of General Synod Discussions and Actions on Homosexuality and the Rights of Homosexuals )〕 the American Baptist Church,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=We Are American Baptists )〕 as well as Conservative Evangelical organizations and churches, such as the Evangelical Alliance,〔(Evangelical Alliance (UK): ''Faith, Hope and Homosexuality'' ) 〕 the Presbyterian Church in America〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=PCA Statements on Homosexuality )〕 and the Southern Baptist Convention.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Position Statements/Sexuality )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Statement on Homosexuality )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Position Paper on Homosexuality )〕 Many Pentecostal churches such as the Assemblies of God,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Homosexuality )〕 as well as Restorationist churches, like Jehovah's Witnesses and LDS Church, also take the position that homosexual activity is immoral.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Same-Gender Attraction – LDS Newsroom )〕 The Seventh-day Adventist Church "recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and seeks to minister to all men and women (homosexuals ) in the spirit of Jesus," while maintaining that homosexual sex itself is "forbidden" in the Bible. "Jesus affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin. He offered caring ministry and words of solace to struggling people, while differentiating His love for sinners from His clear teaching about sinful practices."〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Official Statements - Homosexuality )〕 The Catholic Church states that "homosexual tendencies" are "objectively disordered", but does not consider the tendency itself to be sinful but rather a temptation toward sin.〔(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2357–2359 )〕〔(Criteria for the Discernment of Vocation for Persons with Homosexual Tendencies, 2 )〕 The Church, however, considers "homosexual acts" to be "grave sins", "intrinsically disordered", and "contrary to the natural law", and "under no circumstances can they be approved".〔〔(Catechism of the Catholic Church, § 2357 ); cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2351, 2391, 2396〕 The Eastern Orthodox churches, like the Catholic Church, condemns only homosexual acts. All Orthodox jurisdictions, such as the Orthodox Church in America, have taken the approach of welcoming people with "homosexual feelings and emotions," while encouraging them to work towards "overcoming its harmful effects in their lives," and not allowing the sacraments to people who seek to justify homosexual activity.〔(Orthodox Church in America ) 〕 The Catholic Church views as sinful any sexual act not related to procreation by couple joined under the Sacrament of Matrimony.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Birth Control | Catholic Answers )〕 Certain other Christian denominations do not view monogamous same-sex relationships as sinful or immoral, and may bless such unions and consider them marriages. These include the United Church of Canada, and the United Church of Christ.,〔(NYTimes.com ) "United Church of Christ Backs Same-Sex Marriage"〕 all German Lutheran, reformed and united churches in EKD,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=EKD:Verantwortung und Verlässlichkeit stärken (german) )〕 all Swiss reformed churches, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium,〔(Holebi:Verenigde Protestantse Kerk staat inzegening homohuwelijk toe )〕 the United Protestant Church of France,〔(Radio France: French Protestant church authorises gay marriages )〕 the Church of Denmark, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Iceland and the Church of Norway. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland also allows prayer for same-sex couples.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Church of Finland allows prayer for same sex couples (In Finnish) )〕 The Metropolitan Community Church was founded specifically to serve the Christian LGBT community. The Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals (GAAAP), traces its roots back to 1980, making it the oldest LGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostal denomination in existence.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=GAAAP )〕 Another such organization is the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, currently the largest affirming Pentecostal organization, with churches in the US, UK, Central and South America, Europe and Africa. Some denominations state opposing positions. Various churches within the Lutheran World Federation hold stances on the issue ranging from labeling homosexual acts as sinful, to acceptance of homosexual relationships. For example, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, the Lutheran Church of Australia, and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod recognize homosexual behavior as intrinsically sinful and seek to minister to those who are struggling with homosexual inclinations.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 What about Homosexuality? )〕 However, the Church of Sweden conducts same-sex marriages, while the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America opens the ministry of the church to gay pastors and other professional workers living in committed relationships.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 ELCA Assembly Opens Ministry to Partnered Gay and Lesbian Lutherans )〕 The Ethiopian Mekane Yesus Lutheran Church, however, has taken a stand that marriage is inherently between a man and a woman, and has formally broken fellowship with the ELCA,〔(EECMY breaks with ELCA )〕 a doctrinal stand that has cost the Ethiopian church ELCA financial support. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is also much like Lutheranism in regards to homosexuality. For example, the Friends United Meeting and the Evangelical Friends International believe that sexual relations are condoned only in marriage, which they define to be between a man and a woman.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 History of FUM policy regarding the appointment of homosexuals )〕 However, the Friends General Conference and the Friends in Great Britain approve of same-sex marriage.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Homosexuality and Quakerism )〕 Most of the Anglican Communion does not approve of homosexual activity, with the exception of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada, which is facing a possible exclusion from international Anglican bodies over the issue. LGBT-affirming denominations regard homosexuality as a natural occurrence. The United Church of Christ celebrates gay marriage, and some parts of the Anglican and Lutheran〔 churches allow for the blessing of gay unions. The United Church of Canada also allows same-sex marriage, and views sexual orientation as a gift from God. Within the Anglican communion there are openly gay clergy, for example, Gene Robinson is an openly gay Bishop in the US Episcopal Church. Within the Lutheran communion there are openly gay clergy, for example, bishop Eva Brunne is an openly lesbian Bishop in the Church of Sweden. Such religious groups and denominations interpretation of scripture and doctrine leads them to accept that homosexuality is morally acceptable, and a natural occurrence. For example, in 1988 the United Church of Canada, that country's largest Protestant denomination, affirmed that "a) All persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be or become full member of the Church''; and ''b) All members of the Church are eligible to be considered for the Ordered Ministry."〔(Chronology of Marriage and Equality Rights in the United Church ) 〕 In 2000, the Church's General Assembly further affirmed that "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are a gift from God and part of the marvelous diversity of creation."〔"Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Offers a Win-Win Solution, Says The United Church of Canada," 2005-FEB-01, United Church of Canada, at: http://www.united-church.ca/〕 In addition, some Christian denominations such as the Moravian Church, believe that the Bible speaks negatively of homosexual acts but, as research on the matter continues, the Moravian Church seeks to establish a policy on homosexuality and the ordination of homosexuals. In 2014, Moravian Church in Europe allowed blessings of same-sex unions.〔(Idea: Brueder-Unitatät, Künftig sind Homo-Segnungen möglich (German) )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Christianity and homosexuality」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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