Church asks pastor to resign after change in LGBT beliefs
The elders at Southwest Church in Indian Wells requested Lead Pastor Gerald Sharon to resign.
Dick Williams, chairman of the board of elder’s at Southwest Church, notified the congregation during services on Saturday and Sunday that Sharon changed his position on homosexuality and human sexuality.
“Gerald was no longer able to state that marriage should be defined between one man and one woman,” Williams said.
Southwest posted on its website it does not believe being active in same sex attraction is right in the eyes of God. Southwest believes sexuality is God given and gender is God assigned. However, the church will always be a place where everyone is welcome to attend worship services.
“We strongly stand against those who have used the Scriptures as a means to do harm or cause bias towards members in the LGBT community. We believe we can disagree, while not being disagreeable. We believe in civility and healthy dialogue,” was written on the website.
In Gerald Sharon’s resignation letter,he wrote, the elders affirmed the church’s position with documents on homosexuality and human sexuality.
“My heart sank realizing that no homosexual person who would read these documents would truly feel welcome at Southwest Church,” Sharon wrote.
Paula Marvin, a member of the church for seven years, said the church’s decision wasn’t right.
“I feel deceived by Southwest Church,” said Marvin. “That’s where I found my strength and love. I don’t feel the church is as accepting as they say there are and welcoming to everyone as they say they are.”
“(Gerald Sharon) is a hero in my eyes. I think there should be more pastors that speak up in favor of the rights of LGBT people and youth,” said Palm Desert resident and LGBT member Lorraine Salas.
Marvin said she and Salas plan to host a peaceful protest at the church.
“I would like to reach out to the elders, if the elders would like to communicate with me and other like-minded people. We still want to be attending church. We still want to be included. We still want to follow Jesus,” said Marvin.
Sharon will officially submit his resignation July 8. Read full resignation letter
“The reason I have not taught the past four weekends is because the Elders would not permit me to, nor did they want Gesa and I even attending services. However, I don’t want there to be any doubt that my heart and Gesa’s heart intensely longs for you every day,” the pastor wrote.
Southwest Church encourages discussion and questions regarding its decision, here.
