Rev. Gregory Dell, a pastor at Chicago’s Broadway United Methodist Church, spoke Nov. 16 at Illinois Wesleyan University on the topic, ‘The Church’s Fear of Sexuality.’
The pastor, a 1967 graduate of the university, said that sex can be abusive and addictive—but that, first and foremost, it can be wonderful, according to The Pantagraph. He spoke to a gay-affirming audience during chapel hour at Evelyn Chapel. The occasion of the talk was the Annual AIDS Chapel, a service devoted to those living with AIDS. Dell also said that the church and state try to instill fear of the joys and benefits of sex—and that they are bothered because sex is beyond their control. In addition, he stated a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible cannot work because there are too many outrageous contradictions; as an example, he cited that the book Leviticus says that disobedient children should be executed.
Dell was convicted of disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church by the denomination’s regional Committee on Investigation in 1999; the decision took place after he conducted a service of holy union for two gay men who were members of his congregation. His duties were suspended indefinitely unless he signed a pledge promising to perform no more such services. Refusing to sign the pledge, Dell appealed the suspension, which was reduced to one year. In 2000, Dell returned to his position at the church.