IT’S all too easy to have strong views about whether or not a “gay” lifestyle fits in with Christianity – that is, until you meet and talk with Christians who are gay.

Rev Dwayne Morgan from the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Bournemouth invited me to tea with members of his Lesbian, Gay and Transsexual Church.

I arrived feeling a little nervous, but could not have received a warmer welcome as I sat down next to Sheila. “Being gay is a very complex matter, especially when you are a Christian,” Sheila told me.

“Most Churches are too black and white. I previously attended a United Reformed Church who gave me counselling and tried to cast out demons when I admitted I was gay. I do feel guilty when looking at some verses in the Bible, so I choose to remain celibate even though I have a partner. I may be celibate, but I am still gay.”

I appreciated Sheila’s honest communication. We were already discussing sex, or rather lack of it, before the tea had even brewed! Barbara had been called by God to go to church ten years ago. “I can be totally open in front of God here,” she said. “If you can’t be open in front of God, you can’t be open anywhere.” Barbara and her partner Jan feel comfortable to worship God at MCC, something which would be difficult in many other churches. As spiritual refugees, the group referred to MCC as a “ghetto church”, but felt sad there was a need to be separate.

Tricia had high hopes that things would change when Roan Williams became Archbishop. “I hoped he would be a leader in this issue, but he has fallen in with the bigots and has a tendency to do what makes others happy,” she said.

“It’s easy to be bigoted towards people you’ve never met,” added Anna, a transsexual.

Ex-Anglican Bob described himself as a churchgoer before. Since attending MCC, he has become a Christian. “I became a Christian because my faith is now real and I feel loved unconditionally by God,” he said.

He also said: “Those who are anti-gay have not moved an inch.” I pointed out that those who have not moved may feel unable to, because of their interpretation of Scripture. “There is always great danger with being literal with the Bible,” Bob replied.

Whatever one’s view or interpretation of Scripture, after meeting the members of MCC, I found myself thankful that this was somewhere they could go, somewhere they feel safe and comfortable to find and worship God.

MCC celebrated its 30th Anniversary this week. An open invitation exists to their Celebration Worship Service tomorrow at 11am at the Church in Hannington Rd, Pokesdown.

See the website www.mccbournemouth.co.uk or call 01202 430888.