Last modified: Friday, February 15, 2008 3:48 PM EST Lenten series in Mansfield explores sexuality BY GLORIA LaBOUNTY / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF MANSFIELD - As issues surrounding homosexuality are heatedly debated in virtually every denomination, two Mansfield churches have decided to open up the discussion. St. John's Episcopal Church and Orthodox Congregational Church are jointly sponsoring a five-week Lenten series called "Bear with One Another: Loving Conversations on Human Sexuality," which will explore the topic and consider the perspectives of scripture and of church tradition. The Rev. Ted Newcomb of Orthodox Congregational said Christians come from many different places on this issue, and the intent is to look at where these attitudes come from, why people feel the way they do, what the Bible says, and how scripture provides insight. The goal is not to arrive at any conclusions, he said, but to provide people with resources and information, and an opportunity for discussion. The sessions are being held on Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. John's Parish Hall on High Street. The series opened Friday night with the showing of a prize-winning documentary, "For the Bible Tells Me So," that looks at the experiences of five families of faith and how they handled the realization that they have a gay child. The film includes commentary by such well-known individuals as Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Rev. Peter Gomes of Harvard University. The film will serve as a basis for discussion in future sessions, along with other resource material that includes the perspectives of New Testament scholars. Although the five-week Lenten series was set up for members of the two Mansfield congregations, anyone can attend, Newcomb said. This will be the second program jointly sponsored by the two churches. Two years ago, they collaborated on a series on the Christian response to terrorism, and because of the success of that effort, they decided to embark on another joint venture for the current Lenten season. The topic was chosen, Newcomb said, because homosexuality is a front-burner issue in both denominations. The Episcopal Church in the United States, which is part of the global Anglican Communion, is embroiled in controversy over its support of gay clergy and the appointment a few years ago of an openly gay bishop. A number of conservative parishes, including All Saints Anglican in Attleboro, have broken away from the national church and aligned with other like-minded orthodox Anglicans in a divide that could lead to a formal split. The United Church of Christ, the denomination of most congregational churches, has taken a position in support of same-gender relationships and the ordination of gay individuals, but leaves the decision of hiring clergy and performing marriages up to the local congregations. Some churches in the Attleboro area have taken a stand while others are still in conversation. Orthodox Congregational has not made any decision, and Newcomb said the current series is not intended to arrive at one. Instead, the sessions will encourage study, discussion and reflection. A key to understanding the issue, he said, is to explore how individuals and churches interpret the bible, and whether or not scripture is intended to be absolute for all time based on information available when it was written, or if it should be seen in light of the knowledge and awareness that is acquired and expanded over time. "My sense is that we always have to adapt," he said. GLORIA LaBOUNTY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at glabounty@thesunchronicle.com.