Gay Apostolic Pentecostals
Encyclopedia
Gay Apostolic Pentecostals are people who adhere to the beliefs and theology of the Oneness Pentecostal
churches, but who identify as LGBT
, which is unacceptable in mainline Apostolic churches. Gay Apostolic Pentecostals first began to organize separately from mainline Apostolic churches in 1980 in Schenectady, NY. The concept of Gay Christians is still very controversial in the church world. The existence of Gay Apostolic Pentecostals is considered by some to be an oxymoron. This article briefly examines the history and theology of such churches.
-affirming Apostolic or Oneness Pentecostal
churches began in 1980 in the city of Schenectady, NY. The movement to create gay-affirming churches had begun in 1968 with the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church
. The founders of the affirming Apostolic movement envisioned an international network of affirming Apostolic churches, including the more fundamentalist theology inherent with such churches. They began what was known as the National Gay Pentecostal Alliance (NGPA). The organization opened its first church in Omaha, NE.
Although NGPA was an Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal
organization, due to the lack of affirming Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, NGPA originally welcomed all affirming Pentecostals to belong to their churches. Once Trinitarian Pentecostals began to organize their own churches, NGPA became fully Apostolic.
Early in the 21st century, NGPA merged with a smaller organization, Apostolic Intercessory Ministries (AIM), under the new name Apostolic Restoration Mission (ARM). In March 2010, ARM merged with the larger Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
(GAAAP) under the GAAAP name. In recent years, other affirming Apostolic Pentecostal organizations have come into existence. These include the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, which is currently the largest such group, operating churches around the world, Reconciling Pentecostals International and Covenant Network.
-affirming Apostolic Pentecostals share the same basic doctrinal beliefs as other Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostals
. These include the Oneness of God, the plan of salvation consisting of repentance, water baptism by immersion in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of sins, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. One major area of difference is the belief that homosexuality is not sinful, and that God blesses same-sex marriage
. Affirming Apostolics maintain that scripture in the original languages did not condemn homosexuality, but did record same-sex marriage. This view is disputed by mainline Apostolics, who view homosexuality as sinful and satanic in origin.
Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
churches, but who identify as LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
, which is unacceptable in mainline Apostolic churches. Gay Apostolic Pentecostals first began to organize separately from mainline Apostolic churches in 1980 in Schenectady, NY. The concept of Gay Christians is still very controversial in the church world. The existence of Gay Apostolic Pentecostals is considered by some to be an oxymoron. This article briefly examines the history and theology of such churches.
History
The movement to create LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
-affirming Apostolic or Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
churches began in 1980 in the city of Schenectady, NY. The movement to create gay-affirming churches had begun in 1968 with the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church
Metropolitan Community Church
The Metropolitan Community Church or The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Protestant Christian denomination...
. The founders of the affirming Apostolic movement envisioned an international network of affirming Apostolic churches, including the more fundamentalist theology inherent with such churches. They began what was known as the National Gay Pentecostal Alliance (NGPA). The organization opened its first church in Omaha, NE.
Although NGPA was an Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
organization, due to the lack of affirming Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, NGPA originally welcomed all affirming Pentecostals to belong to their churches. Once Trinitarian Pentecostals began to organize their own churches, NGPA became fully Apostolic.
Early in the 21st century, NGPA merged with a smaller organization, Apostolic Intercessory Ministries (AIM), under the new name Apostolic Restoration Mission (ARM). In March 2010, ARM merged with the larger Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals
The Global Alliance of Affirming Apostolic Pentecostals is an LGBT affirming, Oneness Pentecostal denomination, headquartered in Thonotosassa, Florida....
(GAAAP) under the GAAAP name. In recent years, other affirming Apostolic Pentecostal organizations have come into existence. These include the Affirming Pentecostal Church International, which is currently the largest such group, operating churches around the world, Reconciling Pentecostals International and Covenant Network.
Theology
LGBTLGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
-affirming Apostolic Pentecostals share the same basic doctrinal beliefs as other Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostals
Oneness Pentecostalism
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
. These include the Oneness of God, the plan of salvation consisting of repentance, water baptism by immersion in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of sins, and receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. One major area of difference is the belief that homosexuality is not sinful, and that God blesses same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. Affirming Apostolics maintain that scripture in the original languages did not condemn homosexuality, but did record same-sex marriage. This view is disputed by mainline Apostolics, who view homosexuality as sinful and satanic in origin.