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What Kinship Is
Seventh-day Adventist Kinship is a diverse, worldwide community of individuals who have participated in the Adventist community and have felt ostracized by church leaders, administrators, or members because of their sexual orientation or gender variation, their support for family or friends, or their convictions about equality and justice. Kinship welcomes and encourages straight allies to join us in showing that God loves all His children equally and unconditionally and we can love unconditionally too.
What Kinship is Not
Seventh-day Adventist Kinship is not a church or new theological system. Many Kinship members still worship in local Adventist churches on every continent, despite the fact that some of them must be silent about who they really are. In addition, members who are Adventist Christians represent all facets of the church’s theological spectrum and have learned to have vigorous, mutually respectful discussions about their beliefs. Others are no longer associated with Adventism at all, but members respect each others’ conscience and conformity is not required. Kinship is also not a change or reparative ministry designed to pressure members into suppressing or reshaping their sexual orientation or gender identity. Instead, Kinship encourages members to form a healthy sense of self and harmoniously blend their identity, spirituality, and social relationships.
What Kinship Has Learned
Since we formed more than 30 years ago, we’ve come to know thousands of people around the world. We’ve learned from these people that gender, attraction, and love are not simplistic issues, and that each person needs to learn how to interact with others responsibly and with integrity. Kinship encourages and advocates for members’ freedom and responsibility to express themselves in ways they believe match the truth about themselves, their relationship with God, and their understanding of what God requires of them. Kinship provides a safe space for members to explore these questions, discuss research relevant to their situation, and live out the convictions they come to. We do not force members into specific conclusions about themselves or their relationships, and members respect one another’s views and privacy. Knowing that not every member is safe disclosing outside the organization, Kinship has a firm confidentiality policy to protect vulnerable members. Kinship also supports members’ decisions to be celibate or to form age-appropriate relationships; we’ve learned that these important and deeply personal decisions should not be mandated by anyone other than the individual(s) involved.
How You Can Get Involved
If you would like to help make a difference, encourage and learn with other people, and promote God's unconditional love for all His children, please join us as a member. If you would also like to support our work with members around the world with your resources or time, please contact us and we will coordinate the best opportunity for you.
Survey Explores Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Among Adventists
Submitted: May 23, 2013
By Carrol J. Grady—AdventistToday Blog
Attitudes among Americans regarding various issues related to homosexuality are changing. What do Seventh-day Adventists in the pews really think about this topic? Do most Adventists side with the official church statement [1] that condemns “homosexual practices and relationships” as sinful, while affirming the “dignity of every human being,” including gays and lesbians? How many have found their understanding of homosexuality changing as new information is made known?
Up until about 40 years ago, Adventist opposition to homosexuality was no different from that of most other Christians, indeed from American society in general. However, as continuing scientific research has brought a growing understanding of homosexuality, the consensus of experts shifted and it is no longer included in the list of mental disorders by professional organizations. [2] Today, polls show that a majority (53%) of the American public favors gay marriage. [3] Currently, 12 states, the District of Columbia, and two Indian tribes legally recognize gay marriage, and it is possible that next month the Supreme Court could overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. Full article...
The Summer of Support Starts This Thursday: May 9, 2013
Keisha McKenzie, Director of Development
How do you live your values? By choosing where to volunteer? Which causes to promote to relatives and friends? Where you contribute funds? As a Kinship member you are part of a community that lives to support equality for all regardless of gender or sexuality. How can you demonstrate your commitment this summer? Find out more about the Summer of Support!
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WORD OF THE DAY— Gender dysphoria