In August of 2003, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA ratified the election of the Rev. Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire. The ratification was noteworthy because the Rev. Rob_______________inson was an openly homosexual person who was living in a committed relationship with someone of the same gender. Many in the Episcopal Church USA argued that homosexuality was condemned in Holy Scripture and that the election, ratification, and subsequent consecration of the Rev. Robinson was inappropriate.
After six months of pastoral care to the parish I serve, listening to those who were distressed by the ratification, I led the parish in a series of six church school classes, dealing with various aspects of the issue at hand.
One of those six classes was on Holy Scripture. In that class, I lectured. What follows is based upon that lecture.