Lesbian/Gay Clergy

The issue of homosexuality is one of the most controversial and debated topics in religious contexts, with a particularly contentious question being whether homosexuality should prohibit access to formal roles in religious leadership. These issues have received the most attention in Western societies and almost exclusively in relation to Christianity and Judaism, both of which accept women clergy, albeit not in all denominations nor at all levels. The issue of lesbian and gay clergy is a significant one, bringing together two of the most polarizing issues in contemporary Christianity and Judaism: the ordination of women and attitudes toward homosexuality. Within these faiths, therefore, lesbian women seeking clergy positions must surpass the barriers of both their gender and their sexual orientation. The 21st century has witnessed ...