The decision will likely prompt a schism in the churches, as it did in the new nation by chasing colonial Tories into Canada. But in the long view of things schism, on the whole, has been cleansing and renewing. Cranmer, Zwingli, Luther, Wesley and Calvin. Fear not schism. Fear only continued infidelity to the call of compassion and justice in Jesus Christ by straining the patience and long-suffering of our homosexual sisters and brothers.
Current understanding is that sexual orientation is innate.
The church can now form a sacramental structure amongst gays for the expression and protection of the Christian sexual ethic of monogamy, fidelity and life-long intent. When Paul writes of gifts of the Spirit, first on his list is love - love of God and love of neighbor. Eventually we are going to express that love by a decision of servanthood to the faithful homosexuals among us. It is a plain matter of justice. Visit the index for all my writings on theology and human sexuality or visit my homepage .