I’ve been reading about these Christian parents who believe they have somehow failed as a parent because their child is gay. These are inevitably the parents who have disowned their child for being gay.

Christian parents who disown their children do so because they are told that homosexuality is an abomination, and Scripture does permit parents to have a wayward son put to death by stoning and for simply being a drunkard or immoral. (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21). This whole stoning thing isn’t allowed in the 21st century, at least in the western world, so the parents disown the child.

Imagine a faith community where your gender and sexual orientation is seen as a blessing and not a stigma. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline American protestant denomination with just over one million members. Over the past 15 years, this progressive faith movement has developed an inclusive theology and polity that welcomes the LGBT community with enthusiasm and gratitude.

LARKSPUR, Colo. — The pastor of an independent Presbyterian church in suburban Colorado Springs told a local television station that he equates homosexuals to child molesters, cannibals and rapists.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The percentage of Americans who believe homosexuality is a sin has decreased significantly in a year, according to a survey released Thursday by LifeWay Research, a Christian-oriented firm.

The November 2012 survey of adults in the United States found 37% affirm a belief that homosexual behavior is a sin – a statistically significant change from a September 2011 LifeWay Research survey asking the same question. At that time, 44% answered, “Yes.”