Charley's Story

(as printed in the Arizona Republic, October 15, 2000) By The Rev. Charles Coppinger, Chaplain of the Arizona State Legislature
Oct. 15, 2000

There is a saying I have always loved: "The will of God will never call us where the grace of God cannot sustain us!" I am a Christian; I come from a conservative evangelical background; I am a minister; I was appointed chaplain to a conservative legislature; I was appointed by conservative leadership.

And I am gay.

There are some people of faith who will find it difficult to reconcile those statements. There was a time when, in fact, I would have. Now I understand that people of faith can hold both their faith and homosexuality precious simultaneously.

My position as chaplain to the Arizona State Legislature requires that I be nonpolitical, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. Therefore, I am not making a political statement or promoting a political agenda.

Rather, as a person who has journeyed into a deep awareness of God's inclusive love, I am sharing my story and my understanding. I do so in the hope and with the prayer that it will help those who have been told that God hates them to know that not only does God not hate them, God loves them . . . fully!

I have been aware of feelings of same-sex attraction since I was very young. Like so many other of God's gay and lesbian children I had an internal feeling of being "different" from others. I heard the words as a child. You know the ones I mean: fag, queer and others. My heart broke inside as I heard my friends use these words because, deep inside, I knew they were talking about me!

During my young adult life, I did date a young lady. When we broke off our relationship, I was devastated not only because of my deep love for her, but also because I had hoped that our relationship would "cure" me of these feelings. It didn't.

I have, in the last year, spoken to many gay and lesbian people who entered into relationships, even marriages, hoping beyond hope that it would cure the problem of same-sex longing and attraction. It doesn't.

The grace of God accepts us and loves us unconditionally. In scripture, the eighth chapter of the Book of Romans is one of many passages that speak to the issue of the love and grace of God. Toward the end of the chapter, St. Paul asks an important question: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

He answers: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, often referred to as the Old Testament, the thread of God's love and grace runs clearly, offering forgiveness and unfailing love to the children of Israel.

In the Christian Scriptures, often referred to as the New Testament, the thread of God's love runs, offering forgiveness and unfailing love to all people, both Jew and Gentile.

Understanding the grace of God gave me the theological foundation and emotional courage to look at myself. "If God accepts me and loves me unconditionally, how is it that I don't love myself in the same manner?" I asked.

The answer resounds like thunder in me to this day: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself!" The love and grace of God allow me to know that God loves me unconditionally; therefore, I can love and accept myself on the level God does.

Unconditionally! What liberty!

I sent a letter to the members of the Arizona State Senate and the House of Representatives, and within hours I was surrounded by the love, support and friendship of many of our legislators, even some that I did not expect. I have prayed for our elected lawmakers every day since I became their chaplain, and now they were promising to pray for me and reminding me of God's love. I cannot begin to describe to you the joy of being a shepherd and having the love of those you serve.

I cannot say that I will be able to remain in the position of chaplain. I leave that to those who appoint the position, namely the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives. Although I hope it won't, my honesty and openness about myself may cost me my position.

However, if I keep my integrity and lose my position, I have retained that which matters most! Sometimes the call of God seems difficult, and when it does, I rely on what I know . . . that God is good, and that is enough!

Throughout history the Bible has been used in inappropriate ways to "beat up" on people. The Bible was misused during the Inquisition to put "heretics" to death; the Bible was misused during the national debate over slavery to keep black people in chains; the Bible was misused during the Holocaust to justify the killing of Jews; the Bible was misused in recent years to keep women silent in church and out of positions of leadership; and the Bible is being misused today to tell God's gay and lesbian children that they are an abomination to God.

There are more than 2,000 verses in the Bible that deal with money. There are only six references that deal with homosexuality, and an objective look at these leads a person to the conclusion that if the Bible is to be taken literally, every homosexual must be taken to the edge of the city and killed.

There is another way of reading the Bible: with a historical and critical approach. Looking at the Bible from a historical light means that we look at the historical context of a passage. What was the purpose for the writing? When did it take place? Why was the passage written? What were the sociological implications? What was the culture of the time?

Looking at the Bible in this way leads a person to the conclusion that the Bible nowhere condemns loving, monogamous, committed relationships of two people of the same sex.

As one who knows that God created me as a gay man, I cannot express the gratitude in my heart for members of the clergy who lead the way in speaking a message of God's love, mercy and justice. I have received the support of a group of clergy called No Longer Silent. These precious ministers have risked much to join together to say: "The time has come to share an alternative religious perspective on the issue of homosexuality."

Conservative political and religious rhetoric condemning homosexuals has monopolized public perceptions of the stance of religious persons on the issue. We disagree with these views of condemnation and judgment. We believe that homosexual persons are people of wholeness and worth, entitled to a complete and full life. We are convinced that the Jewish and Christian scriptures make clear God's unconditional love and acceptance of all people.

We believe that homosexual persons are no more sinful and are of equal character and personal integrity as any other group of people. We hope for a renewal of meaningful discourse and look forward to genuine dialogue with all persons regarding this issue.

Finally, my journey, although bumpy, has also been joyful. In spite of the critics, I know the love of God. I echo that message to everyone, as I always have as chaplain to the legislature.

That is the essential message of faith and of salvation: "God loves you beyond your wildest dreams!"

Reverend Charles Coppinger

[Ed. note: I emailed the Phoenix PFLAG chapter to ask about the result, and received this answer:
"The Arizona Legislature did not renew the position of State Chaplain, so Charley's position simply "expired." He's now affiliated with a group called Justice for Peace which works towards ending bigotry towards others in a non-violent manner."]