New Website - Under Construction: Please come back regularly
Welcome to the cyber home of CourageSCOTLAND - a LGBT Inclusive Christian network that stretches across Scotland and is linked with Courage UK and Courage Ireland. It has been sometime since our website has been running so hopefully we'll get the old articles back on and have a much more user-friendly and useful resource.
We understand that the Bible is the Word of God - in common with the historic teachings of the Church - and the ultimate rule for faith and life. We believe all people are created in God's Image - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Straight - and that our sexual orientation and gender identity are gifts from a loving God, even in a confused and damaged world. For whatever reason, some of us are born predisposed to be attracted to persons of the opposite gender, whilst some - the minority - are attracted to persons of the same gender and still others may be more or less attracted to both. Still others are born with a disparate gender identity to their biological gender identity. We believe that such predisposition - or orientation - is morally neutral - one is not better or worse than the others. What is certain - from our own experiences and the overwhelming understanding of the evidece - is that such orientation/identity is not a choice, though we may not understand why one is gay and another straight or another transgender. The myth that orientation is a choice and that "gay" is a psychological/spiritual affliction has caused untold damage to society in general and the LGBT community in particular.
Sadly, whilst vast tracks of society now recognises this - lawmakers, scientists, medical professionals, educators and the normal folk on the street - the Church is often the last bastion of opposition to the full inclusion of the LGB and T community into society. The Church, well meaning and with right intentions, peddles a misunderstanding of both the science, psychology and theology of the place and purpose of sexual minorities. Under the banner of biblical orthodoxy, and historic continuity the Gospel message has been withheld from LGBT people and instead a message of hatred, exclusion and judgement is preached, declared and lived out before them. Instead of the Prince of Peace, most LGBT people hear a corrupted counterfeit that offers no Peace and can give no Love. To this one group of humanity the Church in the 21st Century seems intent on saying "Jesus is not for you".
Of course, LGBT persons are not the 'enemy out there' for the Church. Very often, they are the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of everyday Christian families. They sit in the pews, stand in the pulpits, sing in the choirs, make cups of tea, run missions, play instruments, put out the chairs, put out the praise books Sunday by Sunday and teach in the Sunday Schools. Some of them are married, some single. Some are celibate, whilst others have illicit sexual encounters as the only release to the secret they bear. Still others of us have been able to embrace both our faith and sexuality and - despite what many within the Church say - and some are in relationships which are monogamous, committed and loving; marriages by any definition and as life-giving and God-honouring as any traditional marriage.
CourageSCOTLAND exists primarily to be here for the LGBT Community - those within the Church and outwith. For many people "struggling with their sexuality" in the Church, the options seem to be to embrace their faith or their sexuality. Courage understands this to be a false choice. We believe it is entirely consistent with the Scriptures and the call of discipleship to Jesus to have both our vibrant faith and a loving relationship with someone of the same sex, as much as it is to have a relationship with someone of the opposite sex that the traditional Church so values. We believe that the traditional reading of Scripture is simply wrong and stands in the same light as when the Church taught slavery was biblical or any of the other errors the Church has slipped into over the last two thousand years.
CourageSCOTLAND therefore wants to offer support and a safe place for people in the Church to explore questions of sexuality and faith. We will never force a conclusion on anyone, nor encourage someone to do what goes against their conscience. We believe that same-sex relationships are as blessed by God as mixed-sex relationships. That does not mean every person must or should be in a relationship; some folks - whether gay or straight - are called to singleness and we are here to support folks in that path too. Nor is Courage only for those who agree with our theological conclusions on the matter; though we will always defend and protect Courage being a safe place where everyone is respected, no matter where they are on their journey with faith, sexuality or gender identity.
The flip side to support for those within the Church is the support for those in the LGBT community who currently have no active faith; whether they have abandoned a past adherence or who have never had a faith life. As Christians, who have experienced the love and joy that being in a real relationship with Jesus Christ, we want to share him with our fellow LGBT folks. Very often people reject a Christian faith because of how the Church has responded to them personally and corporately. We don't want to 'shove our views down someones throat' but we do want to apologise for the pain, hurt and damage that has been caused in the name of Jesus by his followers. Instead of showing that Jesus loves the LGBT community and everyone in it, the Church has done the opposite. CourageSCOTLAND believes this has been one of the greatest sins of the Church and has completely missed the point of the Good News of Jesus. We want to introduce people to the Jesus of the Bible; the loving, inclusive and gracious Jesus who wants us all to know him and be in relationship with him.
Lastly, the role of CourageSCOTLAND is to offer an alternative voice within the ongoing debate in the Church on the question of sexuality and faith. Whether as a resource for those already convinced of the Affirming and Inclusive position that accepts LGBT persons, or those who follow the Traditional understanding that human sexuality can only be expressed in the confines of a mixed-sex marriage. We want to open - and keep open - the lines of communication between both sides and are willing and ready to discuss in a loving and respectful manner - as befitting followers of Jesus - the issues at stake with those who take the opposite line to ourselves.
Rev Ruairidh MacRae, March 2011
NEWS:
The next Courage Edinburgh will be held on Saturday 20th of August at 7pm. If you are interested in coming along - or any other information - please fill out the Contact Form or e mail couragescotland@hotmail.co.uk
Courage Edinburgh has also started a monthly cell group/fellowship group. Please contact for further information.
The next Courage meeting will be held in Inverness on Monday August 22nd at 7pm. If you are interested in coming along - or any other information - please fill out the Contact Form or email couragescotland@hotmail.co.uk
Courage Glasgow is currently not meeting however, if you are in Glasgow and interested please get in touch. We have a few folks in Glasgow and if there is demand we will get the Glasgow meetings back up and running.
We understand that the Bible is the Word of God - in common with the historic teachings of the Church - and the ultimate rule for faith and life. We believe all people are created in God's Image - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Straight - and that our sexual orientation and gender identity are gifts from a loving God, even in a confused and damaged world. For whatever reason, some of us are born predisposed to be attracted to persons of the opposite gender, whilst some - the minority - are attracted to persons of the same gender and still others may be more or less attracted to both. Still others are born with a disparate gender identity to their biological gender identity. We believe that such predisposition - or orientation - is morally neutral - one is not better or worse than the others. What is certain - from our own experiences and the overwhelming understanding of the evidece - is that such orientation/identity is not a choice, though we may not understand why one is gay and another straight or another transgender. The myth that orientation is a choice and that "gay" is a psychological/spiritual affliction has caused untold damage to society in general and the LGBT community in particular.
Sadly, whilst vast tracks of society now recognises this - lawmakers, scientists, medical professionals, educators and the normal folk on the street - the Church is often the last bastion of opposition to the full inclusion of the LGB and T community into society. The Church, well meaning and with right intentions, peddles a misunderstanding of both the science, psychology and theology of the place and purpose of sexual minorities. Under the banner of biblical orthodoxy, and historic continuity the Gospel message has been withheld from LGBT people and instead a message of hatred, exclusion and judgement is preached, declared and lived out before them. Instead of the Prince of Peace, most LGBT people hear a corrupted counterfeit that offers no Peace and can give no Love. To this one group of humanity the Church in the 21st Century seems intent on saying "Jesus is not for you".
Of course, LGBT persons are not the 'enemy out there' for the Church. Very often, they are the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of everyday Christian families. They sit in the pews, stand in the pulpits, sing in the choirs, make cups of tea, run missions, play instruments, put out the chairs, put out the praise books Sunday by Sunday and teach in the Sunday Schools. Some of them are married, some single. Some are celibate, whilst others have illicit sexual encounters as the only release to the secret they bear. Still others of us have been able to embrace both our faith and sexuality and - despite what many within the Church say - and some are in relationships which are monogamous, committed and loving; marriages by any definition and as life-giving and God-honouring as any traditional marriage.
CourageSCOTLAND exists primarily to be here for the LGBT Community - those within the Church and outwith. For many people "struggling with their sexuality" in the Church, the options seem to be to embrace their faith or their sexuality. Courage understands this to be a false choice. We believe it is entirely consistent with the Scriptures and the call of discipleship to Jesus to have both our vibrant faith and a loving relationship with someone of the same sex, as much as it is to have a relationship with someone of the opposite sex that the traditional Church so values. We believe that the traditional reading of Scripture is simply wrong and stands in the same light as when the Church taught slavery was biblical or any of the other errors the Church has slipped into over the last two thousand years.
CourageSCOTLAND therefore wants to offer support and a safe place for people in the Church to explore questions of sexuality and faith. We will never force a conclusion on anyone, nor encourage someone to do what goes against their conscience. We believe that same-sex relationships are as blessed by God as mixed-sex relationships. That does not mean every person must or should be in a relationship; some folks - whether gay or straight - are called to singleness and we are here to support folks in that path too. Nor is Courage only for those who agree with our theological conclusions on the matter; though we will always defend and protect Courage being a safe place where everyone is respected, no matter where they are on their journey with faith, sexuality or gender identity.
The flip side to support for those within the Church is the support for those in the LGBT community who currently have no active faith; whether they have abandoned a past adherence or who have never had a faith life. As Christians, who have experienced the love and joy that being in a real relationship with Jesus Christ, we want to share him with our fellow LGBT folks. Very often people reject a Christian faith because of how the Church has responded to them personally and corporately. We don't want to 'shove our views down someones throat' but we do want to apologise for the pain, hurt and damage that has been caused in the name of Jesus by his followers. Instead of showing that Jesus loves the LGBT community and everyone in it, the Church has done the opposite. CourageSCOTLAND believes this has been one of the greatest sins of the Church and has completely missed the point of the Good News of Jesus. We want to introduce people to the Jesus of the Bible; the loving, inclusive and gracious Jesus who wants us all to know him and be in relationship with him.
Lastly, the role of CourageSCOTLAND is to offer an alternative voice within the ongoing debate in the Church on the question of sexuality and faith. Whether as a resource for those already convinced of the Affirming and Inclusive position that accepts LGBT persons, or those who follow the Traditional understanding that human sexuality can only be expressed in the confines of a mixed-sex marriage. We want to open - and keep open - the lines of communication between both sides and are willing and ready to discuss in a loving and respectful manner - as befitting followers of Jesus - the issues at stake with those who take the opposite line to ourselves.
Rev Ruairidh MacRae, March 2011
NEWS:
The next Courage Edinburgh will be held on Saturday 20th of August at 7pm. If you are interested in coming along - or any other information - please fill out the Contact Form or e mail couragescotland@hotmail.co.uk
Courage Edinburgh has also started a monthly cell group/fellowship group. Please contact for further information.
The next Courage meeting will be held in Inverness on Monday August 22nd at 7pm. If you are interested in coming along - or any other information - please fill out the Contact Form or email couragescotland@hotmail.co.uk
Courage Glasgow is currently not meeting however, if you are in Glasgow and interested please get in touch. We have a few folks in Glasgow and if there is demand we will get the Glasgow meetings back up and running.