「迎向同性婚姻之衝擊」公開座談會

「迎向同性婚姻之衝擊」公開座談會

Open Forum: “Confronting the impacts of same-sex marriage

2015年7月11日 3:30pm

面對這不能隱瞞、不可逃避的社會風氣，及思想開放的新一代，華人教會如何堅守聖經的真理呢？梁永康主教及以馬内利堂誠意邀請波士頓區内各教會牧者、領袖、及信徒參與本公開討論。
Facing this undeniable and unavoidable social trend and an “open-minded” new generation, How do Chinese churches strive to uphold the Biblical truth? Bishop Stephen Leung and Emmanuel Anglican Church cordially invite all Chinese pastors, church leaders, and fellow Christians in the Boston area to this open discussion.
美國聯邦最高法院於6月26日通過歷史性的裁決，裁定全國同性婚姻合法化。部份傳統主流及獨立教會已經有不少同性戀牧者事奉及容許同性婚姻。美國聖公會 (The Episcopal Church) 亦於6月29日的總議會，以壓倒性票數表決更改教會婚姻法 (marriage canon law)，刪除婚姻僅限於一男一女的定義，並容許同性戀者在教堂內舉行婚禮以及使用新的同性婚姻禮文。

同性婚姻合法化步伐之快，連同性戀支持者也感到詫異。現在既成不能再隱瞞、不可再逃避的事實，信徒以及他們的下一代要生活在婚姻制度已改變的文化潮流裏面，相信對眾多教會，將會造成一定的衝擊。無論是屬於不同宗派抑或獨立的基督教會，亦相繼地面對著同樣的問題，無可避免。北美的華人教會情形更甚，因為他們既有價值觀比較傳統保守的第一代移民，亦有土生土長、浸淫於西方主流文化的第二代。華人教會如何在這價值觀不停銳變的時代裏堅守聖經的真理呢？

早於 2004, 麻州成為美國第一個發出同性結婚證書的州政府。一年後，加拿大成為全球第四個允許同性婚姻的國家。溫哥華聖公會牧愛堂的主任梁永康主教 (亦是波士頓以馬内利堂的植堂主任)與麻州牧者幾乎同時經歷同樣的社會環境改變，也經歷了加拿大聖公會體制因同性平權運動所帶來的衝擊，與牧愛堂為持守真理而付出了沉重的代價。

梁主教於本週末到臨波士頓，將在本堂主持主日聖餐崇拜，亦渴望於下午崇拜後與眾教會牧者及信徒見面交談，分享過去十多年的神學反思和親身經歷，作為教會如何面對不停鼓吹自由、道德敗壞的社會風氣，以及教會內部體制上所面對的矛盾與衝擊。

聚會於本堂舉行，歡迎任何教會牧者、領袖、及信徒參加。
561 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176
(First Baptist Church in Melrose)

The US Supreme Court passed a historic decision on June 26, effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Many traditional and independent churches have already allowed openly-gay clergy and same-sex marriages. The Episcopal Church also overwhelmingly voted to pass amendments in the marriage canon laws on June 29, removing all references of marriages between a man and a woman, and making trial rites available immediately for performing same-sex marriages.

The fast pace of legalization surprised even the supporters of gay marriage. Now that it has become an undeniable and unavoidable fact, Christians and their next generation are living in a popular culture where the system of marriage has been altered. It is bound to have an impact on all church leaders and members. All churches, denominational or independent, will have to confront the same issue. It is especially evident for Chinese churches in North America, with the conservative first generation and the second generation that grows up and immerses in the popular Western culture. How do Chinese churches strive to uphold the Biblical truth when the value system around them continues to evolve?

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the Union to issue same-sex marriage licenses. A year later, Canada became the fourth country that legalized same-sex marriages. Bishop Stephen Leung (vicar of Anglican Network Church of Good Shepherd in Vancouver and Emmanuel Anglican Church in Boston) shared the same impact facing Massachusetts pastors almost at the same time. And he experienced first-hand the damage inflicted on the Anglican Church of Canada. He and Good Shepherd Church paid a heavy price for upholding and proclaiming the authority of the Bible.

Bishop Stephen Leung is coming to Boston this weekend to preside and preach in our Holy Eucharist this Sunday (7/12). After the service in the afternoon, he would also like to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with local pastors, church leaders, and members of the congregations. He will share the lessons learned over the last decade. And he welcomes discussions on how the churches confront the influences by the personal freedom and the deteriorated morality preached outside the church, and and stresses imposed on the structure and teaching inside the church.

This discussion is conducted in Cantonese, and it is open to all pastors, church leaders, and fellow Christians.

561 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176
(First Baptist Church in Melrose)