| Title: |
The First Stone - Homosexuality and the United Church |
| Author: |
Michael Riordon |
| Published by: |
McClelland and Stewart, 1990 |
| ISBN: |
0-7710-7523-5 [trade paperback, 301 pages] |
Spirituality and sexuality: few aspects
of life provoke such intense reactions as these two. And for much of this
century, the major denominations of the Christian church have tried to
grapple with the explosive point where the Holy Spirit, the human spirit,
and sex converge. In August 1988 the General Council of the United Church
of Canada shocked the nation with its decision not to bar homosexual men
and women from becoming ordained ministers. Ever since, the church has
been in turmoil.
The First Stone is a compassionate
and fair-minded account of the events and debates surrounding this contentious
issue. Drawing on over one hundred interviews with United Church members
from across the country, Michael Riordon places the fears, concerns, and
beliefs of people on all sides of the debate centre-stage in this book,
revealing an astonishing range of opinion and faith within this huge, democratic,
turbulent church. His insights offer food for thought to all Canadians
concerned by one of this country's most emotional issues - the rights of
homosexuals.
