The networks might be leery of the implication that other churches wouldn't welcome gays, even if or especially because it isn't well-founded. How many Christian churches allow gay priests/pasters? Just curious about this whole toleration welcome thingy.
I'm not saying that they are so tolerant as that. And, it isn't the point anyway. I would say there are few churches that allow noncelibate homosexuals in the clergy, some that allow celibate homosexuals in the clergy, many who would welcome them in the congregation, and almost all would have an official position to welcome.
I just wanted to chime in. First, this is a United Church of Christ is a denomination of churches that I don't believe is associated with your typical Church of Christ. Second, I grew up in and attend Church of Christ. I've attended several different COC's and have visited many more and there are MANY differences amongst the COC's. You have to remember this...COC's are a denomination that aren't really a denomination. Each church is completely independent from one another in operation and style. The elders of each church lay the framework of how that church will operate. The only governing authority over the elders in Churches of Christ is the word of God in the form of the Bible. That was how they got started...a group of Christians was tired of all the differences amongs the different denominations, so they went to the lowest common denominator amongst churches...the Bible...and based their church off of that. Just like the first century churches were independent of each other and had different views from one region to another, so do Churches of Christ. You will find more liberal, progressive, and diverse COC's in big cities like Houston...and more conservative, traditional COC's in small towns and rural areas. Since the folks that decide how the church operates are the elders in that particular church, you get a cross section of that particular community in the views that church expresses. In fact, the elders in a church are nominated and elected by the church members themselves, so it is even more representative of the congregation. I go to a COC. It is a large, diverse, progressive COC that is VERY welcoming of EVERYBODY. That is the kind of church that I know and love. That is why I go there. In my opinion, I think that is what Jesus would want...bring em all in. My Grandmother lives in a small town, with OLD people, and it is ultra conservative. Depends on who makes up the congregation.
