As contradictory as it may sound the November 2 ordination of a practising homosexual, Gene Robinson, as an Episcopalian bishop, offers an opportunity for genuine church unity. Not only the Anglican church but all Christians have the chance to reassess their Christian faith and the basis for universal communion with fellow believers.

It is hardly necessary to quote from the Bible the many clear statements condemning sexual practises outside of a marriage relationship between a man and a woman. The early church consisted of people who had lived in all manner of sexual perversions. Paul speaks of the Corinthian church as being made up of people who were ex-adulterers, ex-thieves, ex-drunkards, ex-homosexuals and the same is true for today's church, no matter what denomination. The Gospel provides hope for freedom from all bondage, heterosexual and homosexual. Those who support the church ordination of persons bound to their sexual perversion are saying "there is no hope of liberty; you are born like this and you can never change." This is the complete opposite to the Gospel of liberty through Jesus Christ.

The true unity of the church is found among those who have received mercy through Jesus Christ and are beginning to experience the new lifestyle that is promised by God.

Recent research agrees with the possibility of changing one's sexual lifestyle. The man who led the charge in the 1970s to remove homosexuality from a list of mental disorders now says that those claiming to be "ex-gay" are telling the truth. Robert Spitzer's finding that some homosexuals can become heterosexuals is sure to re-ignite the debate over the effectiveness of such organizations as Exodus International, which seeks to reach homosexuals with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Three decades ago Spitzer helped lead the charge to take homosexuality off the American Psychiatric Association's list of mental disorders. Spitzer's study, along with critical analysis from peers, is published in the October 2003 edition of the Archives of Sexual Behavior. "This study ... clearly goes beyond anecdotal information and provides evidence that reparative therapy is sometimes successful," Spitzer wrote. "For the participants in our study, there was no evidence of harm [from reparative therapy]. To the contrary, they reported that it was helpful in a variety of ways beyond changing sexual orientation itself."

Nevertheless, whatever current trends of research and discussions might be, there are unchangeable laws which God has established. Being unfaithful to one's spouse will always be adultery. Homosexual lifestyles will always be sinful. Even if a church or government endorses sinful behaviour the moral absolutes remain the same.

Though some habits and lifestyles are difficult to get out of, the Bible remains the ultimate standard for his creation. It is upon this foundation that true unity in the faith is based. God's Word cannot be altered and it never lags behind changes in society. As the evangelist Billy Graham often said, "the Bible is more up-to-date than tomorrow's newspaper."

Schism from those who reject plain Biblical standards may be necessary for the sake of true unity.