You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32
Introduction

Metropolitan Community Church proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ that God loves every person. There is no condemnation because one is gay or lesbian. Perhaps you are gay or lesbian. Perhaps one of your loved ones or friends is. You undoubtedly know persons who are, whether you are aware of it or not. It may be that the traditional attitude of church and society toward gay and lesbian people causes you concern or pain. You may have become convinced that gay and lesbian people are shut out of Christ's realm and out of the Church.
Many people have been taught that the Bible condemns homosexuality. Metropolitan Community Church believes that this is not the truth. We believe that gay and lesbian people are completely loved and accepted by God.

Deuteronomy 23:17-18
These verses have been applied to homosexual behaviour because of a mistranslation of the Hebrew. The King James Version reads "whore" and "sodomite". The Hebrew actually uses the same noun in its masculine and feminine forms, the words are best translated "temple (or cult) prostitute". These verses have nothing directly to do with homosexual behaviour.
Cult prostitution flourished throughout the ancient world and this fact sheds important light on the other passages in this brochure. Fertility cult worship involved sexual activity in the temple, often with a sacred prostitute who was like a priest or priestess. This sacred sexual activity was believed to encourage the god (s0 to bestow fertility on the earth and its creatures.
Genesis 19:4-11
The sin of Sodom is clearly explained in Ezekiel 16:49-50. It was not homosexual behaviour, but for its deep and general sinfulness, the men in the story may have intended sexual abuse of the divine visitors (the translation of the verb "know" here is not clear). The issue is not that the objects may have been homosexual but that it was to be abuse. This was in character with the whole of their uncaring, greedy and Godless lives.
Leviticus 18:22; 20:13-14
These verses are found in the "Holiness Code" which emphasized to the Israelites that they were to be set apart to God. The context is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech. "Abomination" is a translation of the Hebrew word, which specifically means idolatrous practices (not necessarily sexual). The condemnation here is a reference to the fertility worship which the Israelites were to shun.
The seriousness of this idolatry in Hebrew eyes was compounded by the belief that "to lie with a man as with a woman" violated the dignity of the male sex. Women were property but men were the direct image of God. To treat a man the way a woman was treated was to reduce him to property and, thereby, to violate the image of God. The issue was idolatrous activity, which failed to acknowledge God's creation.
1Corinthians 6:9 and 1Timothy 1:10
At issue are two words: malakee (found only in 1Corinthians) and arsenokeeteh, which is in both verses. Tradition assumes a homosexual meaning of the words. Actual study reveals that in its use there, malakee means "morally weak" or, perhaps, "immoral persons". (The translation "effeminate" in the King James Version was an archaic one and, in any case, did not imply homosexuality in Greek--as it does not today.)
Arsenokeeteh means to refer directly to cult prostitution, again. Such practices were common both in Corinth and Ephesus (where Timothy was). It clearly refers, in this use and later uses in other writings, to prostitutes who engaged in both homosexual and heterosexual cult practice. Neither of these words can possible be translated to mean "homosexual" or any similar distortion of their meaning.
Romans 1:26-27
This is the only passage in Scripture which, apparently, talks about homosexual behaviour among women as well as men. The dangerous, traditional interpretation come from failure to relate it to the whole chapter. Paul talks about idolatrous people who put things or concerns before their devotion to God. As an example, he refers to fertility cult worship prevalent in Rome. The homosexual activity to which he refers is idolatrous. He implies that all of the cult worshippers engaged in it. (The interpretation that he is writing about homosexual behaviour in general would force this to say that all idolatrous people become homosexual--an obviously spurious interpretation.) The final sentence referring to their just reward is a reference to the venereal disease which was epidemic among such cults. This specific reference to fertility cult worship cannot be construed to condemn homosexual behaviour in general.
"Against Nature"
Some argue that God created male and female, as recorded in Genesis, only as a means of procreation. Homosexual behaviour is condemned on the assumption that it does not produce offspring. Since gender difference exists, they say, heterosexual contact is the only way god meant sexuality to be expressed.
Procreation was only one of God's purposes in creation of humanity as recorded in Genesis. The other, equally important, was that God did not wish us to be alone. God gave us relationship with one another. It is dangerous to argue from simple biology when talking about ourselves as the image of God. Jesus told us that "God is Spirit" and we are created in the image of God. Human beings differ from animals in our spiritual nature. We are capable of relationship and this is the context of our sexuality. Our "natural" capacity for sexual expression, homosexual or heterosexual, is given meaning by our capacity for loving relationship.

UFMCC: The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
UFMCC is a Christian church which directs a special ministry within, and on behalf of, the homosexual community.
Founded in 1968 in Los Angeles by the Reverend Troy D. Perry, the UFMCC has member congregations in most countries.
Theologically, the Metropolitan Community Churches stand within the mainstream of Christian doctrine, being "ecumenical" or "interdenominational" in stance (albeit a "denomination" in their own right).
The Metropolitan Community Churches are characterized by their belief that: a) the love of God is a gift, freely offered to all people, regardless of "sexual orientation" or any other dimensions of human variation, and that b) no incompatibility exists between human sexuality and the Christian faith.
The Metropolitan Community Church welcomes inquiries and has an E-mail address UFmccHq@aol.com
Sin and the Sodomites
An examination of homophobia, fact, and faith

I think it's time to call the fundamentalist right on their claim that the Sodom story gives proof of God's wrath against homosexuality. Let's start with what their own primary authority -- the Bible -- says about Sodom's sins.
Examining the Bible:
Following is a list of every verse in the Bible that refers to the sins of Sodom (King James Version). Perhaps they can now point out every time that homosexuality occurs in this list:
Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

(Nope, no homosexuality mentioned there)
Genesis 18:20
And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.

(Nope, no homosexuality mentioned there)
Genesis 19:13
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord.

(Nope, no homosexuality mentioned there)
Deuteronomy 29:17-26
And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them...And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning...like the overthrow of Sodom...which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath...Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers...For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them.

(Just idolatry and false gods; nope, no homosexuality mentioned there.)
Deuteronomy 32:32-38
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter...And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.

(Idolatry again; but, no homosexuality mentioned.)
Isaiah 1:9-23
Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah...How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of judgement; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

(Hmm... murder, greed, thievery, rebelliousness, covetousness; nope, no homosexuality there.)
Isaiah 3:8-15
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. For ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?

(Mistreating the poor. Still no homosexuality...)
Isaiah 13:11-19
And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible...And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Haughtiness, yes, but no homosexuality.)
Isaiah 3:8-15
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. For ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?

(Again, the mistreating of the poor is mentioned. And again, mention of homosexuality.)
Isaiah 13:11-19
And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible...And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Haughtiness again, but no homosexuality.)
Jeremiah 23:10-14
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth...For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord...And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

(Adultery, lying by priests and prophets; nope, no homosexuality in there.)
Jeremiah 49:16-18
Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart...Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.

(Evil and pride, but still no homosexuality...)
Jeremiah 50:2-40
Declare ye among the nations...say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces...thou hast striven against the Lord...for she hath been proud against the Lord...As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

(There's that idolatry and pride again, but still no homosexuality.)
Lamentations 4:3-6
...the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them. They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

(Cruelty, failure to tend the young and the poor... Homosexuality appears to be a "no show".)
Ezekiel 16:49-50
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

(Well That’s pretty clear, huh? But what are we missing in that list? Oh yeah...homosexuality.)
Amos 4:1-11
Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

(Oppression, mistreating the needy...still no homosexuality)
Zephaniah 2:8-9
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah...This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

(There's that pride again, and the intimation of inhospitality, but still no homosexuality.)
Well, so much for the Old Testament's linkage of Sodom with homosexuality. Maybe the fundamentalists were referring to something in the New Testament? Let's see...
Matthew 10:11-15
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it...And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet...Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for that city.

(Jesus said these words; they draw a comparison to inhospitality, but there's still no homosexuality mentioned...)
Matthew 11:16-24
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? ... For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners...Then began Jesus to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes...And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day...But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, than for thee.

(They ridiculed Jesus and treated him with the utmost inhospitality, and refused to repent...but still no mention of homosexuality.)
Mark 6:10-11
And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for that city.

(Jesus repeats the warning of what shall happen to villages that treat his people inhospitably, but still doesn't mention homosexuality.)
Luke 10:10-12
But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say. Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

(Jesus repeats the warning of what shall happen to villages that treat his people inhospitably, but still doesn't mention homosexuality.)
Luke 17:26-29
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

(Jesus still fails to mention homosexuality.)
2 Peter 2:6
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.

(Ungodly? Is that idolatry again? It sure isn't homosexuality.)
Jude 1:7-8
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

(Awww... this one comes SO close, but no cigar; the Greek word translated here as "fornication" is "porneia" and had a distinctly heterosexual connotation; and the "strange flesh" was a reference to angels, or "sons of God," that WOMEN had sex with [see Genesis 6:1-4] according to Jewish tradition; still no mention of homosexuality.)
Well, except for brief mentions of Sodom in Revelations 11:8 and Romans 9:29 (where there are no reference to the city's supposed sins), I'm afraid we've covered them all.
So, what is their reasoning? Why is homosexuality assumed to be the reason behind Sodom's destruction? I haven't a clue. Let's examine the "rules and regulations" of that period's cultural values and belief systems. Perhaps we'll find the answer in there... (Then again, maybe not... )