Homosexual Law Reform 40 years on.
In preparing this service I revisited many of the biblical passages that were part of the Christion debate at the time.
I was disappointed to find on line that many of them are still the centre of discussion and debate, that two sides still seem to be talking past each other.
What is clear to me now, which was not clear back then, nor during the Civil Union and Marriage Equity debates alongside Presbyterian churches ongoing, unresolved, debate on leadership, is that none of us can approach scripture with an open mind. We all bring our assumptions, hopes, judgements etc….
Two passages which were important to me in my late teens and early 20’s and are still part of the debate around homosexuality.
The first is Luke 17: 26-36
As a young Pentecostal Christian I remember was listening to an evangelical service in which the ‘gospel of personal salvation’ was being preached. The central text was from Luke 17 looking at the end times, the second coming of Jesus and our need to be ready to drop everything and be taken up in the rapture.
The preacher made special mention of the man and woman in bed together. He emphasized that this is most intimate time of a relationship. Yet if one of them was not saved they would be left behind. We were told we would not make it through a wife or husband’s faith. We had to have a personal relationship with God through inviting Jesus into our lives.
I, with my sexuality well suppressed for Sunday, was sitting looking at the bible that I had been given by my home parish when I ended Sunday school. – The New English version. And, instead of a husband and wife in bed, it read ‘two men in bed together’. The preacher had introduced to my mind what bedroom intimacy might look like. Hope started to rise.
After the service and alter call I found the preacher and asked him about what my bible said. He said my bible was not a good translation and to make the point he said single men in those days would have slept in men’s accommodation. Nothing sexual!!!
In this exchange I learnt a lesson in exegesis, in interpreting the scriptures understanding the cultural context is important. His understanding of the time indicated that nothing sexual was happening. The preacher made it clear his understanding of the cultural context was the right one and being gay was not OK.
I have since looked at many translations and most have no issue with two women at the grindstone, but leave the gender out when it comes to two men in bed – a clear inconsistency in translation. Some even go as far as making them husband and wife. Homophobia is so entrenched in parts of the church that it influences the way the scriptures are translated into English.
One good version is the Jehovah Witness Bible which gets it right – two men in bed together.
The second reading Luke 7:1-10 was another that gave me hope as a young Christian that my sexuality may not be a problem. The Roman Centurion has a young male servant, highly valued, precious, loved, very dear, and most beloved. Biblical translators seem to be struggling to find the right word in English to show the specialness of this relationship. But special it was.
From what I had read about low ranked Roman officers, I knew they were not allowed to be married and they were not to have sexual relationship among themselves. But it was acceptable to have relationships with slaves and locals, who would be the receptive partner in such encounters. In the social construct then, it was important that there was a power imbalance. That did not mean that the relationship was necessarily abusive, it could be one of mutual affection and respect as in story of the Roman Centurion,
When I raised this possibility that the Roman Centurion and his most beloved servant were in a relationship I was assured that the elders of the synagogue would never have helped in this situation if homosexual sex was taking place. At the time I did not know Jesus loved challenging Jewish attitudes to marginalized groups like Samaritans, traders, Canaanite women and women and children in general.
Both these stories are still debated hotly on line and nothing has changed in what is being said on either side. And I suspect if truth be known we will never know what was going on in these bed rooms. And maybe what happens in bed rooms should stay in bedroom as personal celebration of intimate love.
However with these hopeful passages denied me I stayed in the closet, married in hope of a cure, and entered the ministry. I have two daughters. I endured the church debates on sexuality and leadership until my wife said I needed to come out or my spirit would die. I was losing my compassion and empathy, the gifts of my ministry.
I lost control over my coming out. Within a couple of weeks the whole of the Hauraki Plains parish and community knew I was gay, and I experienced something profound.
I experienced Manaakitanga/ hospitality. I was welcomed. Yes a few people left the parish but the majority chose to stand with me. One retired farmer said to me, ‘I don’t know much about homosexuality and I wouldn’t have chosen to have a gay minister, but I could not call myself a Christian and turn my back on you.” This was the sentiment of most of the parish. One woman said “I’m standing with you now but if you move a man into the parsonage that would be a step too far.” A year later she offered me the use of her holiday home if I wanted to get away for a few days. If I had a special male friend I was welcome to take him too. It was a simple batch. It had only had one double bed. The bed she and her husband used when they were there. Manaakitanga.
I was still invited to events at the RSA but in person now not by phone. I was asked if I would host the Masonic Lodge, in person not by phone. One member of the rugby club offered to ‘do over’ one of the men who had left the parish. I declined the offer.
I was invited out to dinner by parishioners and people in the community. I discovered that many had gay sons and lesbian daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren who were gay.
I reflect back with gratitude to Homosexual Law Reform Act, When the bill was passed in 1986 it set our nation and this small community of the Hauraki Plains on a path of acceptance and inclusion.
I’m sure it was because of the public debate around Homosexual Law reforms, that the people of this rural Waikato community were able to take my sexuality in their stride. Of course, hospitality is a key feature of rural New Zealand, but the active support I received was more than most would have expected in rural Waikato
Hospitality is at the heart of the much of the Hebrew Scriptures. At least when they were not out killing each other. Welcoming the stranger, inviting them into your home and offering shelter was important.
Jesus gave the highest praise for faith to the Canaanite woman and the Roman Centurion.
The reading about the Roman Centurion deserves a second look.
We will never know what the relationship he had with his most beloved servant was. It is lost as to whether it was a sexual relationship or a close bond between an officer and his servant. Luke was not focused on that. What Luke was concerned with was the relationship this Roman, a leader of an occupying army, had with the local community.
When his servant become sick and close to death he asked for help and the elders of the village willingly agreed. They, in Matthews gospel, run to Jesus. Elders do not run. But they did. They beg Jesus to help. And their key reason they beg for help? This Roman loves our people. He built a synagogue. He had reached out to build bridges. He did not exploit the power he had as the leader of the occupation forces. He built a relationship. He showed Manaakitanga and it was returned.
It is looking to the disadvantaged, the marginalized that is at the centre of the Christian message for me It is at the centre of the Christian message for the people of St Andrew’s, before, during and after the bill was passed into law..
This was a place where gay men were welcome. Where they could find sanctuary and a nurturing place during fiery debates in parliament, on the streets and in homes. A place where compassionate discussions could take place, where openness was welcomed. Support was given to gay men in accepting themselves and to their parents. This hospitality, this Manaakitanga was key in the personal lives of those who sort refuge here.
But St Andrew’s was more than that. It was a strong voice countering the conservative Christian voice, by supporting reform of the law. The St Andrew’s submission is available for you to see today if you wish to have a copy.
So what was the meaning of Homosexual Law reforms? It is a community seeing a marginalized group and reaching out to them.
A community asking; why do we marginalize them? Why have we turned them into criminals? Then the majority of parliamentarians concluding, there being no good reason, homosexual activity was decriminalized.
And that gave release to men to start to be the people they were born to be. To experience celebration and give back to the communities the fullness of themselves.
We have four current members of the congregation who will share a few words of what law reform has meant to them. Two older. men, one born since the bill was passed and one Mum.
Paul Franken, Tony Pears, Hamish Dick and Pauline Patchett
While the Homosexual Law Reform Act was a justice issue, it was also being driven by the Aids epidemic. The bill once passed paved the way for HIV prevention. Education workshops were available and articles in gay magazines about safe sex appeared, as they were no longer promoting an illegal activity.
The result is we had one of the lowest infection rate in the western world and that has carried on to today. Recently I was talking to the former HIV nurse in Wellington and he said that 1 in 5 homosexual men in Australia are HIV positive. In New Zealand it is 1 in 20. The Homosexual Law Act saved lives.
With the law changed not only could men receive safe sex messaging but also with sex between men being legal, the shame was reduced. Lower shame meant an increase in self-esteem and the ability to be clear about boundaries and strong enough to insist on safe sex.
Remember the pride and hero parades – pride in being who we are? Increasingly young men can come out as gay, without fear of rejection. They can talk openly with their doctors about sexual activity and get the appropriate information and medication.
And we say thank you to the people of Saint Andrew’s and progressive Christians throughout this country who helped to make this possible.
During Reflective Music, photos will be shown on the Power Point of some of the men who benefited from the Law Reforms. They are from my partner Mark Beehre’s book “Men Alone – Men Together.”
Thank you.
Rev Ross Scott
22 July2026
Audio of selected readings and reflections
Audio of the complete service
THANK YOU