Sexuality
We welcome people of all ages, ethnic groups, differing abilities and sexualities in the Iona Community. We believe in the sacredness of all human relationships, that they should therefore be characterised by the practice of loving our neighbours as we love ourselves; ‘do as you would be done by’ is the old-fashioned way of stating it. This is not contingent or conditional. Our practice does not depend on how others treat us. To love others as our neighbours means to act towards them with justice, mercy, humility, integrity and that quality which Jesus commended, loving kindness.
About 10% of our membership and staff are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. They are fully and openly part of our common life, part of our body. When one member of the body suffers, all the others suffer too, when one member is honoured, all the others rejoice together. They are part of our common prayer, and we pray equally for their chosen partners and respect their choices. We rejoice to share in the blessing of their civil partnerships.
In the Christian marriage service, those entering into marriage make vows of love, fidelity and loyalty, and promise to honour and cherish one another. These promises are made on the basis of people freely and thoughtfully, as adults responsible for their own decisions and actions, entering into this covenanted relationship. But Christian marriage is not the only form of covenant relationship in which people are committed to honour and cherish one another on the basis of love, faithfulness and loyalty. Covenant relationships exist between people who are not legally married, including those of the same gender; they exist between parents and children, between siblings, between friends.
We agree with a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland who said: “Traditionally, Christianity strengthens human frailty by encouraging people to undertake vows as a demonstration of their commitment. In a pluralist society, we would expect other forms of covenanted relationships to arise. If these prove successful in providing stability and fostering faithfulness, it would be mean minded to deny their benefit". The Iona Community recognises and respects all the covenant relationships of its members and is committed to working to combat discrimination on all grounds, including sexual orientation.
The Sexuality Working Group has engaged in this work, and in promoting publications and programmes which affirm the integrity of human sexuality and spirituality. While recognising that committed Christians hold radically different views on these issues, we try to persuade people positively and credibly of what we believe in, and to share in a mature debate that expresses passionate commitment to the common good.
