I find it odd that you sweep away probably the most central and difficult argument to overcome, Biblically, to the idea that practicing homosexuals can and should be ordained. When, in fact, it's that argument that most specifically HAS to be addressed when making that decision.

Yes, sin is sin. We are all equally sinful beings. Yes, there are some sins that carry greater social/civic stigma/repercussions that should prevent people from being ordained ministers. Homosexual sex is not one of those acts. Legally and socially this is not, or should not be, a factor for anything at all.

The issue then is one of sin, salvation, and grace. The Bible does proclaim homosexual sex to be a sin. I've read much on both sides of this argument. I've read the Bible, over and over, and I've read many different works focused on the translation of the original texts. Without any further revelations it seems pretty obvious to me that the Christian Bible considers homosexual sex a sin. It considers a lot of things a sin. Sin is why we can't be in a relationship with God.

Then comes in Salvation and grace. In the death of Christ, a sinner can be redeemed, have their sins forgiven, to be given grace. According to the Bible, that forgiveness is given with belief in Christ, and his sacrifice, and in asking for forgiveness for your sins, turning your life to a pursuit of Christ and God.

So we have forgiveness of our sins, and the grace of God to be considered holy through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Okay, so it is here where we have our issue. Sex is considered a sin in the Bible in almost all contexts except in Marriage, which is defined in both testaments, one being by Jesus. Homosexual sex is considered a sin.

The question is, can a person who is a 'practicing' (ugly term for a person just living their life) homosexual, and by thus admitting to making a sinful act a regular, expected, and normal part of their life, be a ordained minister? How is this different from a person who is prideful, lustful, who lies, etc.?

I don't think you can be so cavalier with your response here. The very essence of forgiveness and grace is the honest desire to have your sins forgiven, to at least strive to turn away from your sins, to live differently. That is the same for all sins. Now, don't get me wrong, I think that there are a great many people who embrace certain sins in their lives, and don't see them as such. For that very reason, there are a lot of people who probably shouldn't be ordained, or otherwise, official ministers.

From there, there are the somewhat related questions. Does the Bible mentioning only marriages between a Man and a Woman, really mean that a same sex union can not be blessed by God? It wasn't a cultural reality at the time of the Bible, so the argument is that it makes sense that nothing else is mentioned. Or, conversely, just because the Bible mentions sex in the context of marriage, does that mean that a married person can be a priest even when Paul seems to suggest that it is not an ideal spiritual arrangement? There is, and always has been, a lot of questions around married clergy. One thing that doesn't seem to have any questions about it is that the Bible does not address same sex marriage in any way. It certainly doesn't offer a context in which homosexual sex would be considered not sinful, either as an act itself or as an act outside of marriage.

These are really tough issues. I believe that same sex couples should be given every legal and social right that man and woman couples get. Same sex couple should be able to be married under the laws of nations and states. Still, according to the Bible, I don't believe that a practicing gay person should be an ordained and official minister.

A side question for you Danny, if you would permit me? Do you still believe, or lean toward, as you previously claimed, that a person does not necessarily need to believe in Jesus to find salvation? You talked about this at some length a few years ago, and I'm curious if you still hold to this. If so, do you believe, that people get salvation and forgiveness, whether they believe in Jesus or not, because of Jesus' sacrifice and death? Or, do you believe that Christ is immaterial to salvation and a person's life and good heart is what really matters? You never really explained what you thought about the nature of salvation if belief in Christ is not necessary, as the Bible, most prominently by Jesus himself, claims to be true.

I ask these things mostly to get a sense of where you stand on both the authority of the Bible and salvation through forgiveness as it is rather central to understanding your position on the original topic and the Bible's place in that discussion.