Sex and the Church

Now that we have had Sex and the City, perhaps the time has arrived for another series (and a film) called “Sex and the Church”. After the resounding silence of centuries, the ongoing frank and open discussion on the troubled relationship between the church and the sexual practices of those who work for it creates endlessly screaming headlines in the UK. But as society becomes more liberal it is perhaps only natural that issues which were once suppressed are brought into the open and sorted out in full public view. Reformation only takes place through an open debate. In this Internet age, anyway, it is extremely difficult to keep a cloak of secrecy on anything. Appreciably, most of this discussion is taking place at various levels and in all the different kinds of churches which exist in the UK, the Roman Catholic, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland…
The debate is fuelled partly by those who feel that ministers of the various churches are public figures and therefore everything they do must conform to the views of their congregation and the Bible as they understand it... At the same time there are others who feel that there is a pressing need for transparency throughout each church and its organisation. Almost every week ushers in a new controversy, especially as the sexuality of the ordained priests comes increasingly under the scanner. A few months back the child sex abuse scandal had rocked the Vatican, and put even the Pope in a terribly difficult spot, angering many of the victims who felt justice had not been delivered. Another furore which refuses to go away is on the issue of homosexuality amongst ordained men and women.
But should the sexual orientation of a priest or a minister make any difference at all to the community? Despite the emphasis on a more progressive lifestyle in all walks of life in the UK, there has often been a backlash from among the “fundamentalists” who find it very difficult to accept that “men and women of God” can have a gay orientation. In a nation where the law is very tough on discrimination against anyone on the basis of their sexuality, religious organisations lie somewhat outside the purview of the law. And this has made life very difficult for gay men and women who also want to be church leaders.

This week I encountered this debate, once again, during a trip for a book event to Aberdeen, a historic coastal town in Scotland. That pretty and idyllic environment was the last place which I would have associated with a heated debate over a newly-appointed gay minister. It seemed like such a well-knit, thoughtful community that I assumed they would all be progressive and liberal in their views. However a few fundamentalists can be found everywhere on earth! Thus at the Presbyterian Queen’s Cross Church whilst I was really thrilled to have a wonderful discussion on my book, I was also quite sorry to find that, recently, the youthful and enthusiastic minister, Rev. Scott Rennie, has been literally undergoing a trial by some fundamentalists who feel that his gay leanings make him unfit to be a minister.
It must also be a particularly galling period for him as he is a local lad — and therefore could have expected some sympathy and understanding on that score, at least. Fortunately, the majority in his congregation is supporting him. And that gives one hope that, as time goes on, individuals will be accepted for who they are.
Rev. Rennie’s tribulations may now put Aberdeen on the map (it is certainly creating a storm within the Church of Scotland) — but let me tell you that there are many reasons to visit the city. In fact, the journey from London is completely enchanting, as the train chugs along craggy hills and dramatic cliffs, as well as large expanses of sea with the seagulls wheeling above. There are also lush green farmland, picture postcard countryside with the right number of gambolling fluffy sheep and cattle. This experience was completely unlike my dismal Indian train journeys where I only usually see enormous garbage dumps and scrawny naked bums.
Aberdeen itself is an oil-rich city, with offshore pipelines and underwater oil rigs. (Shades of BP!). It has meant that the city has always had a huge importance for the British economy, and the wealth of its oil barons is more than evident in some of the sprawling granite mansions and the number of golf courses which dot the place. It was also in the news recently because Donald Trump wanted to buy a piece of it and set up another golf course and a mini-city along the beautiful coastline. There were angry local protests, but now most residents are resigned to the fact that Donald Trump’s money power will probably win in the end.
The residents of Aberdeen, many of whom I met in a very intense evening of interaction, during my book discussion at the church, seem to be immensely community-driven. Their warmth and hospitality was quite overwhelming. The entire church seating was sold out (the money was going for a charity back in India), and they very efficiently even set up a screen for a documentary I wanted to screen. The thoughtful question and answer session at the end was so moving that one point I almost burst into tears, wondering how people so very far away from India can still find themselves engaged in the problems of marginalised women in India which really do not concern them, directly, at all. The fact that more than 200 copies of my book were sold on the basis of this one event shows the extent to which they allowed themselves to be engaged. Since the topic of my book is female foeticide, many in the audience bought the book specifically for their daughters and their mothers. It was an emotive and thoughtful evening — ending with wine and cheese at the gracious home of my hostess.
Before I reached Aberdeen, even my Scottish friends were unable to tell me about the city, as it seems to be Scotland’s best kept secrets: people talk about the golf courses of Gleneagles or the cultural life in Edinburgh. But I found that Aberdeen proved to have a good mix of strong intellectual liberal links (evident in their brave support for Rev. Rennie) and wonderful restaurants… I can vouch for the fabulous fresh fish and red succulent strawberries, especially if they are consumed surrounded by a panoramic 360 degree view of green hilly terrain. What more can anyone want?

The writer can be contacted at kishwardesai@yahoo.com [2]