Every Christian denomination in Britain, bar one, actively discriminates against people with same-sex partners, fuelling suicide, concludes an Oasis Foundation report.
A report by Oasis warned that churches must take a "disproportionate share of the blame" for the mental health issues of people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. The charity found that every denomination of the Christian church in Britain, except for the United Reformed Church, held positions which actively discriminate against people with same-sex partners.
Reverend Steve Chalke MBE , founder of Oasis, said: “It is no secret that the negative stance taken by the Church, and so many individual local churches, has a hugely distressing impact on large numbers of lesbian, gay and bisexual people and leaves countless numbers of them living lives of forced secrecy and dishonesty.
“Tragically, it is also common knowledge that the resultant anguish and distress often leads to spiritual, mental and physical harm, and in the worst of cases to people making the desperate decision to take their own life.
“We will take a long hard looking the mirror and see the consequences of what we have said and done staring back at us.”
The report concluded that local churches are ‘one of the biggest organises discriminators’ of gay people.
The charity called for the Church of England to fund more research into the issue and also give more money to mental health charities. It also said that liberal members of congregations must do more to ‘make their position heard.’
The report said: “Churches that are inclusive to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, need to find effective ways of presenting this to local communities. We would encourage people in every church group and denomination to be as courageous as possible in championing the position that they believe in.”
Chalke added: "Any doctrine, any policy, that causes destructive hurt and alienation cannot be born of a theology that reflects the God of the Bible."
Inclusive churches were urged to sign up to the Open Church charter which commits to welcoming gay people into their congregations.
The report said: “Churches that are inclusive to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, need to find effective ways of presenting this to local communities. We would encourage people in every church group and denomination to be as courageous as possible in championing the position that they believe in.”
Chalke added: "Any doctrine, any policy, that causes destructive hurt and alienation cannot be born of a theology that reflects the God of the Bible."
Inclusive churches were urged to sign up to the Open Church charter which commits to welcoming gay people into their congregations.
The Oasis Foundation report says: “Through pastoral ministry, proactive outreach and the personal testimonies of team members, volunteers and church attendees, Oasis has become increasingly aware of how the Church’s traditional narrative around sexual identity and same-sex relationships has been destructive to the lives, wellbeing and mental security of people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual.
“In the past three decades, a growing body of research has demonstrated that people of sexualities other than heterosexual are significantly more likely to experience poor mental health ranging from depression and anxiety to self-harm and suicide. Similarly, researchers have been able to link these problems to a sense of ‘societal discrimination’ and a perception of inferiority.
“This report however, is the first of its kind to explicitly make the link between local churches’ pastoral practises of discrimination and its substantial contribution to negative attitudes in society, to a reduction of mental health and quality of life in lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
“The research presented in this report has made stark observations about the role of UK churches in contributing to poor mental health in lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The consequences of this can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm and even suicide.
“However, there are things that the Church and local churches can do to contain the damage caused by their theological conversations, adopt a more positive pastoral position and influence positive perceptions of same-sex relationships in society. Given this report is released against the backdrop of the Bishops Report of February 2017, these recommendations will first discuss what the Church of England can do before moving on to address considerations for the wider Church in the UK.”
The report said: “Recommendations for the Church of England are to commission and fund further research – this report captures significant insights into attitudes within the UK Christian church and the impact of its teachings and pastoral practises on LGB people. However, a vital next step in the progression of this conversation is an in-depth piece of research with a strong quantitative and qualitative dimension. The Church of England should look to fund or part-fund a project of this nature in order to take the understanding of these issues to new levels; grant funding to mental health support services, particularly those working with LGB people; dissenting local churches need to make their position heard; churches must be bolder in hosting an open conversation; inclusive church members must speak up and be heard; and acknowledge the issues raised in this report and pursue the conversation with greater urgency.”
[link url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/02/10/church-driving-gay-people-suicide-warns-christian-charity/"]The Daily Telegraph report[/link]
[link url="https://oasis.foundation/sites/foundation.dd/files/In%20the%20Name%20of%20Love%20-%20FINAL_1.pdf"]Oasis Foundation report[/link]