What is wrong with our world? How can religious leaders profess that God is love, yet deny people that love based on beliefs and interpretation? Bishop Ronald B. Warren of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's South Eastern Synod is trying to discipline Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling of St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta because he is in a same-sex relationship, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Episcopal Church USA, the American branch of the Anglican Church, is sending six bishops to New York next month to address concerns within the church about ordaining gay bishops. Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori is an outspoken supporter of gay relationships, according to www.christiantoday.com. She was selected by the General Convention to lead the church, and seven conservative dioceses, including Pittsburgh, PA, and Fort Worth, Texas, have rejected her leadership. Christian teaching, by definition, is Christ's teaching. Where did Christ say that gays should be excluded from the church? He said a lot about forgiveness and love, but I don't recall reading anywhere that he said gay people should be banned from leading the church. I understand people don't want to have a leader who doesn't live up to their expectations, but we have a president who doesn't live up to many people's expectations, and individual states aren't seceding. Ministers and religious leaders aren't flawless. They aren't above everyone else. They're human representatives of Christ. The key word here is "human." Humans are flawed. Humans are diverse. Homosexuals, like heterosexuals, are the same. Homosexuality does not equal pedophilia. It is not constituted as a sickness, except in 1950s-era programs. If the Episcopal Church is so determined to live by God's law and obey every single word of the Bible, then where is the stoning and the "eye for an eye" part? Why is homosexuality singled out every time? What about racism? Hatred is hatred, whether it is based on sexual preference or the color of your skin. These churches might not think of it that way. They might not want to be led by a sinner, in their view. But how is it a sin to love another? How is it a sin to want to form a close relationship with God? Someone defined sin to me as anything that takes you farther from God. So how are homosexuals or bisexuals wanting to be ordained as a minister, bishop, reverend or pastor taking themselves farther from God? Am I that far from God, being bisexual? Suppose I want to become an ordained pastor in the Methodist Church. Despite my immoral tendencies, such as lying and judging people, I probably would be accepted, but would I be denied due to something I can't control? Some churches have tried to place restrictions on their clergy, stating that they can be homosexual or bisexual, but not have same-sex relationships. That's unfair in that the same restrictions aren't placed on heterosexual clergy. They aren't told they can't marry, except Catholic priests. Churches all over the United States are having to adapt to accept those who are used to hiding and being denied the community that is offered. Maybe the Episcopal, Lutheran and other churches eventually will realize that acceptance and love is what Christ truly was teaching.

Lola is a senior in mass communications. Comments can be sent to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.