Homosexuality
Contents
The Teaching of the Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church understands homosexual behavior to be contrary to God's will. The options for the homosexual Christian in this regard are the same as every other Christian's--marriage or celibacy. A few people have attempted to make a third way by suggesting that adelphopoeisis was a version of marriage, but it is clear from historical studies that was not at all the meaning of the rite.
Official Orthodox Statements
- SCOBA's Statement on Homosexual Unions
- Statement from the Coptic Orthodox Church
- On Same-Sex Unions - Epistle of the Clergy of the Western Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (2004)
- The Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops Speaks Out on the Issue of Same-Sex Marriage
Articles from an Orthodox Perspective
- The Homosexual Christian - by Fr. Thomas Hopko
- Gays and the Orthodox Church: Can I still join the Church if I'm a homosexual? - Fr. Ted Stylianopoulos
- Homosexuality and the Church - by V. Rev. William Caldaroni
- Orthodoxy, Homosexuality, the NCCC and the UFMCC - From Holy-Trinity.org
- Homosexuality and the Church - by H.H. Pope Shenouda III, also available in PDF format (495k)
- Christianity and Homosexuality: Russians Speak Out by Srdja Trifkovic, August 17, 2000
- Gay ... But Not Funny by Fr. Joseph Huneycutt
Personal Testimonies
- "I was in Hell" - A light-bearing post from Huw Raphael
Non-Orthodox Sources
- Considerations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition To Unions Between Homosexual Persons - from the Roman Catholic Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Recommended Books
- Straight & Narrow: Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate by Thomas E. Schmidt. InterVarsity Press: 1995. (ISBN 0830818588)
- Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic by Elizabeth R. Moberly. James Clarke Company: 1997. (ISBN 0227678508) (Orthodox author)