Human sexuality: A God-problem?

I hold membership in a Christian denomination threatened by schism over the issues of covenant and human sexuality.  The covenant issue relates to the commitment of clergy to observe denominational polity as prescribed by the Church’s Book of Discipline, more specifically the prohibition of clergy administration of marriage vows to homosexual persons and the willingness of an increasing number of clergypersons to ignore this prohibition.  The human sexuality issue relates to differing interpretations of the thinking of Biblical writers about homosexuality, but more specifically to union of homosexual couples in marriage.  The latter issue is the dominant issue because denominational polity in many other situations is already subject to “blind eye” exception.

I view this as another example of the failure of so-called sacred texts to provide answers beyond human interpretation, and the predisposition of human beings to be guided primarily by personal prejudice, both in their interpretation of sacred texts and their insistence that their interpretation reflects divine will.

I believe that, regardless of the church’s decision regarding division or continuing organic unity, a basic issue will persist, one that eventually may render the church both irrelevant and impotent as an effective agent for spiritual renewal and transformation in society.  That issue is our reliance on differing human understandings of  the nature and character of our God, by whatever name.  God experiences vary from person to person and cannot be effectively regimented.  Yet, religious institutions exist in part to regiment thought and behavior.  Humanity has been accommodating and amenable to such regimentation historically, but younger generations seem much less responsive to the authority and dogma of institutional religion.

Unless institutional religion rethinks its role in society from that of a spokesperson for God and guardian of what it perceives as sacred (not something I envision as a likely course), I believe it will eventually be relegated to history’s dust bins.  That is a sad outcome for me because of my strong perception of the church’s unique potential as an agent for peace and harmony in human affairs.  One step in this direction would be a recognition that human sexuality is a human issue, not a God issue.  If the church has something to say about it, and I believe it should, it should be in the context of an understanding of God as creator, provider, sustainer, healer, lover, and not as dictator, rule maker, behavior monitor, and punisher.  That doesn’t seem to be the way of the Jesus I strive to follow.

Your thoughts?