Big Australian church seems to go liberal on sexuality

An influential Pentecostal church in Melbourne, Australia, appears to have taken a significant step towards liberalising its views on same-sex relationships.

Bayside Church, located in the southern suburb of Cheltenham, says it has ‘listened to the Holy Spirit and… studied Scripture’ prior to releasing a new statement about inclusivity.

However the church’s pastor has also appeared to indicate they have no plans to offer same-sex weddings in their services at the moment.

The new church statement says that ‘all are equally worthy of respect, dignity, and love, regardless of gender, sexuality, age, ability, race, or ethnicity.’ It adds: ‘Everyone is invited, welcomed, and supported to grow in their relationship with God and each other. Everyone is encouraged to use their gifts and abilities to serve God and others.’

Bayside pastor Rob Buckingham seemed to imply this represented a change in the church’s underlying theology on the issue saying: ‘We have also listened to the broader community, understanding that the Holy Spirit can speak through other people. We witness this in the Arc of Scripture and throughout history. In times past, we see that the church has changed its mind on things like slavery, women’s rights, single-parent families, children born out of wedlock, interracial marriage, separation, divorce, and many other things.’

Speaking to his congregation he said: ‘Society has changed, and the church needs to change with it.’