Adventist Online

LBGTI members in Netherlands

I have seen suggestions on this board suggesting that the Adventist church conduct gay weddings, and other that gays not be allowed to attend Adventist chruches.  Neither of those are going to happen, so its important to discuss what role gays do have in the church. 

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Church in The Netherlands Commits Itself to Being a Safe Place for LGBTI Individuals

24 April 2014 | Netherlands Union Conference
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The Netherlands Union Conference has advised all churches in the Netherlands to "fully commit themselves to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church." In addition, NUC leadership says it would "strongly advise against any steps to revoke the membership of LGBTI people, given the unsafe environment this would create in churches."
 
This statement was agreed after the recent General Conference vote to adopt guidelines for "responding to homosexual and other alternative sexual practices." 
 
A vote was taken at a recent meeting of the Netherlands Union Conference Executive Committee to publish the statement, which follows in its entirety (translated here):
 
"There is a great deal of discussion about sexuality, and specifically LGBTI individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersex), at this moment. The General Conference recently held an international conference on this topic in South Africa, and last week the board of the world church voted on guidelines regarding LGBTI individuals.
 
In the Netherlands the topic of sexuality has been under discussion for quite some time, and in 2012 the delegates of the local churches voted the following: 
 
Following the example of the ‘Safe Church’ initiative, the delegates, gathered together in committee, charge the Executive Board in the coming administrative period to consider the problems of and concerning people with a non-heterosexual nature, so that they can feel safe in the church.
 
Following this vote, the Executive Committee has committed itself to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church. In taking this decision to heart, the Netherlands Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church would like to respond to the General Conference’s recently-voted guideline.
 
Although we acknowledge the biblical ideal of a monogamous, heterosexual relationship, we continue to emphasise that it is an ideal. The basis of Christianity is that all people fall short of God's ideal; this is why we require God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. This leads to the conclusion that we, as Christians, must welcome all children of God – who all fall short of God’s ideal – into our churches with love.
 
We advise the churches in the Netherlands to fully commit themselves to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church. We would strongly advise against any steps to revoke the membership of LGBTI people, given the unsafe environment this would create in churches."

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Heisenberg on May 2, 2014 at 4:00am

If that is the model we re to embrace are we to make sure that adulterers, fornicators, the incestuous, polygamists, polyandrists, and those prone to bestiality comfortable as well?  Are we to embrace them, or is it only the "trendy" sexual sins that are to be embraced?  

Permalink Reply by Elijah on May 2, 2014 at 4:44am

Indeed Heisenberg once we step outside of what the bible says we are on the slippery slope. God Bless and Happy Sabbath 

Permalink Reply by RICK on August 1, 2018 at 9:18am

VERY TRUE ELIJAH, HOW MANY CONCESSIONS IS THE SDA ORG WILLING TO MAKE TO STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF SOCIAL ISSUES IN ORDER TO AVOID SCRUTINY? SDA ORG IS VERY WEALTHY AND RESOURCES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND MEDICAL CENTERS, ALL OF WHICH PRODUCE LOTS OF MILLIONS.     

Permalink Reply by Jill on May 2, 2014 at 5:29pm

How many polyandrists do you know?  That is probably not the most pressing issue of our time.  If the parent part of an incestuous relationship showed up in my church it would not be comfortable for him or her, I would call the police and tell them where to pick up the offender.  Adulterers and fornicators, they show up in church every week.  I don't know any polygamists, but they are not compounding their sins by lying like the adulterers usually are.

Permalink Reply by RICK on August 7, 2018 at 2:41pm

TRUE AND AT LEAST IN THE BIBLE RECORDS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD DID NOT PUNISH MEN WHO HAD MULTIPLE WIVES SO LONG AS THEY WERE LEGITIMATE WIVES.  DAVID GOT PUNISHED FOR THE ONE HE HAD WHICH BELONGED TO ANOTHER MAN, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS ANOTHER WOMAN ADDED ON TO COLLECTION. 

Permalink Reply by Simon Hutgebirge on May 2, 2014 at 6:27am

What means safe or unsafe environment?

Permalink Reply by Dan on May 2, 2014 at 9:11am

Exactly. What has changed? Was there a time people (sinners and saints, keeping in mind Rom 3:23) were unsafe in Adventist churches? Mark you, I'm not talking about "feeling" safe. There was nothing in the SA conference that suggested people had been unsafe in Adventist churches, unless there was more that happened at the conference than was reported.

But Jill raises an interesting question. Although I first came across her statements in regard to the gay agenda in the context of the WOPE debate, she has been consistent in saying the Adventist church will not conduct gay weddings. I see her question differently. Church membership or attendance in my understanding is not so much to do with feelings as with the knowledge that we're following Christ. For me, I'll stick with the SA conference and the implications of the Netherlands statement that gays should feel safe in Adventist churches. It's not so much about feelings as the peace that passeth all understanding coming from the knowledge that we are following Christ.

The only role I see anybody playing in church is to come to Christ for salvation (Redemption and re-creation as in this week's Sabbath School lesson). Should we meet certain conditions, we may (not MUST) be chosen to serve in church. Such conditions are as set in I Tim 3 for elders and deacons, or as set in Acts 6:3-6. 

Permalink Reply by Bart on May 2, 2014 at 5:48pm

It's another way of saying we are going to kiss up to worldly things to be acceptable to the world.  I want to be accepted to heaven, not by the world. 

Permalink Reply by Jason M. on May 2, 2014 at 9:41am
 The Netherlands Conference said:
"Although we acknowledge the biblical ideal of a monogamous, heterosexual relationship, we continue to emphasise that it is an ideal. The basis of Christianity is that all people fall short of God's ideal; this is why we require God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. This leads to the conclusion that we, as Christians, must welcome all children of God – who all fall short of God’s ideal – into our churches with love.
 
We advise the churches in the Netherlands to fully commit themselves to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church. We would strongly advise against any steps to revoke the membership of LGBTI people, given the unsafe environment this would create in churches."
.
After reading such blasphemous statements one can appreciate why the Netherlands is the most God-forsaken place on the earth.  This is a statement an Antichrist would utter: 'although the bible says so and so we say thus'. 
This last statement is a loaded one.  They want those with all kinds of evil vices to 'feel safe in church',  to accomplish this ungodly environment the bible and Jesus will have to be discarded...
Permalink Reply by Jill on May 2, 2014 at 5:34pm

"the Netherlands is the most God-forsaken place on the earth"?  Right.  That must be why so many Dutch spend several years of earnings to hire mules and make the harrowing journey across Western Europe; then get on crowded leaky boats and attempt to evade the Coast Guard so they can start over in a peaceful place like Somalia.

Permalink Reply by MFG.. GOD is our LOVER! on May 2, 2014 at 9:41am

Following this vote, the Executive Committee has committed itself to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church. In taking this decision to heart, the Netherlands Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church would like to respond to the General Conference’s recently-voted guideline.

.............................................................................................................................................................................

PRAISE GOD!

# a safe place!

...........................................

"Although we acknowledge the biblical ideal of a..........."

well actually the BIBLICAL IDEAL is  a monogamous, heterosexual relationship where the husband loves his wife like JESUS loves(not proud or rude or self seeking ect -only self sacrificial,serving  ect) the church and 100 purity of his eyes and heart are devoted to his wife entirely-nothing else!

and only one wife for life ect ect ect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oops non here are there?

most?

many?

then why do any of u dictate or legislate or lord  over anyone who doesn't follow   the  ideal?

 GOD bless you all sinners

#its easier to form a committee/church/mob/club/legislation (dwell) to take the speck out of someone else 's eye than to take the 2by 4 lumber out of yours :)

Permalink Reply by MFG.. GOD is our LOVER! on May 2, 2014 at 10:39am
Reply by Gerald Umraw 1 minute ago

are you still a practicing homosexual?

if you think this question is too forward or personal please report my post and I will gladly remove it.

...........................................

 i dont need to practice anymore

...ho hum

well...

i mastered it

and GOD changed my heart

cause HE LOVES me where i am then  and where im at now at this very moment

GOD loves and saves homosexuals even when practicing ?

(are all your sins conquered? addictions? hurts... hangups, habits?.. and still be called SAVED? or CHRISTIAN?)

miss the mark in all thoughts and words and deeds?

why different rules apply to gays?

hmmmmm....

no offense taken

its a good question to ask on a gay thread to a gay person

(but always be respectful if the prerogative is not to answer - some here lynch people who wear jewelry! imagine what happens when a gay guy admits to________________. and __with a little ___________________ ..and glitter is included! )

most christians use it as a litmus test

not as relational thing

i live with my good gay christian buddy of 25 years this month

we used to be torrid passionate lovers of the best and worst kind

we are celibate for many years now

(gotta look GOD in the eye when in devotions -even though GOD always looked at me and him with noncondemnation at our worst)

 GBU Gerald Umraw

#GOD is MIGHTY

but it looks different on different people and there are good gay christians who practice.. or ... errr.. mastering it

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