that so many Mormons, who know as much as any other group
what it means to be marginalized and ridiculed, championed en masse
to eliminate the rights of gays and lesbians to marry;

that so many Adventists, who have long warned against religio-political tyranny,
have joined forces with the very groups that are using overtly religious arguments
to not only make marriage the exclusive domain of heterosexuals,
but also to take away the existing rights of homosexuals;

that so many African-Americans, who know more than any others in the U.S.
the pain of discrimination and oppression,
voted by the 70-30 margin in favor of Proposition 8,
insisting that what gays and lesbians are experiencing today
is fundamentally different from their historical plight –
when, in reality, gays and lesbians are being subjected
to the same bigotry, hatred, and resistance,
though by different names.

This is an outrage.

II.

Sure, I recognize that there are real disagreements among Christians
on the interpretation of Scripture’s passages on homosexuality
and on the appropriate role of religion in governmental affairs.

Homosexuality as we know it
might very well be a consequence of sin and a deviation from the divine ideal,
just as heterosexuality as we know it might very well be.
I do find the Edenic ideal of Adam and Eve as pointing to the norm for families. 
But it’s not easy to ascertain
which of the post-Edenic characteristics were there from the beginning
as potentialities
and which as consequences of sin. 
Different races, nations, ethnicities, languages, temperaments,
and other traits that shape our unique identities
were not obviously present in Eden. 
And, in the case of languages, Scripture depicts them as a result of sin – 
in fact, as a punishment from God at Babel. 
Nonetheless, we who live between the two Edens are quite comfortable
with working with and through all these traits
(consequences of sin and deviations of God’s ideal though they may be).
Holding these traits does not disqualify us
from fully participating in God’s kingdom.

Whether for biological/procreative reasons or for relational/sociological considerations,
I recognize that heterosexual unions are the norm. 
But gays and lesbians can also express their identities fully
and participate in the divine gift of marriage –
just as a myriad of personal characteristics and qualities that I uniquely hold
(all of which are deeply flawed and impacted by sin)
do not disqualify me
from fully participating in God’s kingdom and divine plan for humanity.

Fundamentally, I read the passages of Scripture on homosexuality
much the same way I read those on genocide, slavery, and subservience of women.
Scripture provides noble ideals and timeless principles
of human dignity, equality and peace 
to which many of Scripture’s own passages and admonitions fail to fully adhere.
On biblical grounds, I can disagree with specific teachings of Scripture,
as clear as they may be, including the injunctions against homosexual practices.
In short, homosexual orientation is not sin, nor is homosexual practice –
though both are condemned in Scripture,
reflecting apparently the Hebrew understandings of the times
that produced those passages.

Hence, while I continue to uphold heterosexual marriage as the societal norm,
I hope to see that norm expanded to include homosexual unions
if they exhibit the same mature commitment and self-sacrificing devotion
that are the hallmarks of the ideal marriage as instituted by God.

III.

I am outraged that so many Christians, Adventists in particular,
have advocated for Prop 8.
But I understand why — and respect them for what they believe.

I think they are profoundly wrong,
but I recognize that they think the same of me and others
who have opposed this Proposition.

What I love and appreciate about the Adventist church is that
there is a commitment to the "present truth" –
that the truth as we know it
is that which we believe to be true for the present,
yet may not be so in the future.
This leads all of us constantly to be humble and open to each other –
and, of course, to the Holy Spirit.

The same has to be true on this issue –
as outraged I am,
as convinced I am of the rightness of my position.

What I love and appreciate about the Adventist church is that
there is a commitment to the common Advent experience –
that we can come from different cultures, backgrounds and ideologies,
disagree profoundly and dispute sharply,
yet we can still be family and call each other brothers and sisters.
This leads all of us constantly to profess love toward one another –
love that transcends theological differences.

As outraged I am at those who disagree with me on Prop 8,
I am committed to loving them 
and not castigating them as being somehow "un-Adventist,"
for they are indeed my brothers and sisters,
my cousins, my uncles and aunts,
my father and mother,
my grandparents,
my own.

I pray that this church, my family,
grow further toward becoming a truly "Adventist" community
– one that celebrates and lives out the Kingdom which has already advent-ed
– one that continually "adventizes" to the world the Kingdom of love and grace
– one that sees Jesus in every gay and lesbian and ministers to each unconditionally.

If we can have utterly broken people
such as the patriarchs and matriarchs of old,
the prophets and kings of our heritage,
and the apostles and pioneers of our faith,
then certainly we can go far beyond just tolerating gays and lesbians.
We can celebrate Adventism with them
and recognize God’s calling in their lives
as fathers, mothers, and fellow ministers in God’s Kingdom,
as our elders, pastors, teachers, counselors, administrators, and spiritual leaders.

This will not be an easy journey,
just as the past 40 years have been fraught
with seemingly insurmountable challenges for African-Americans.
When King fell in 1968,
all hope seemed lost —
and certainly no one could predict that within their lifetime,
an African-American would be elected to the U.S. presidency.
But a generation later, it has happened.
What seemed like an outrageous idea
became a beautiful reality today.

The bittersweet irony of the past week reminds me
that progress is a process and
that justice is a journey – a humble walk with our God.

Beyond irony and outrage,
I am urged to hope — and act.

Read more on his blog at: http://progressiveadventism.com