I don't personally know the people who read this column every week. Perhaps some of you are homosexuals. Or maybe you are straight, but you're pro-homosexual. Either way, perhaps you wish your denomination would ordain homosexuals. If so, then this article is for you, because it tells you how to accomplish your goal. Here is how to get your denomination to ordain homosexuals.
1. Make Homosexuality an issue of constant discussion.
At gatherings of ministers, in your publications, at coffee breaks, and on the floor of all legislative sessions keep bringing it up. It doesn't even matter which way the discussion goes. Just bringing it up helps your cause. In any discussion or debate there is always someone who will take the 'other side.' This other side will agree with you, or at least be closer to you. Inflexible positions erode gradually. No position changes without discussion. The more you discuss it, the sooner the change. In fact, even this article may help you.
2. Recruit a prominent ally.
Try to get a prominent evangelical to speak out for your side. Not a homosexual, but someone who will speak up for the homosexuals. This creates two clear positions in the evangelical church, enabling people to move a bit toward your side and look like they are on middle ground. They will say, 'Well, I wouldn't go as far as Tony, but still...'
3. Confuse terms.
Use 'Homosexual' interchangeably to mean both *practicing* homosexual and the homosexual *orientation*. Don't let people know which you mean. With such confusion, church people will eventually accept terms like, 'gay minister' or 'homosexual pastor.' Initially in publishing and speaking this will mean ministers with a homosexual orientation. However, eventually it can come to include also people who practice homosexuality. Even Dobson uses the term 'Homosexual Christian.' It is not that big a leap from there to 'gay minister' or 'homosexual pastor.' This confusion of terms is your doorway to change.
4. Make 'Gay bashing' politically incorrect in the church.
While this term originally meant only physical attacks it can be made to mean much more. All terms are elastic. Stretch it to encompass verbal condemnation of homosexuality. Reject 'gay bashing' in all conversations and publications so much so that people fear being called a gay-basher. You will know you have succeeded when your opponents begin statements on homosexuality with, 'Now I don't want to be guilty of gay-bashing, but...'
5. Equate homosexuality with racism.
This will make people think it is only a matter of time until enlightened society moves forward and accepts homosexuality as normal and rejects our narrow-mindedness. Use the term 'prejudice' often. Tell horror stories of how homosexuals are treated unfairly. If you can make this a civil rights issue you will eventually win. There are plenty of folk in the church who remember how wrong much of the church was on slavery and later on civil rights. By making this a civil rights issue, you will win these people over to your side and softe