"I wonder how many of you don't fit in? You don't feel comfortable in your
skin?" he asked the 100-odd members of the congregation, using John the Baptist
as an example of the "odd one out."
The Southeast Asian city-state of 4.2 million considers gay sex as "an act of
gross indecency," punishable by a maximum of two years in jail.
The country also has banned Asia's largest gay-themed party, Nation '05, from
its shores. High-ranking government officials said such same-sex parties may be
the reason for rising HIV infections in Singapore.
At the Free Community Church, however, the attitude toward sexuality is much
different.
"At this church, there are no prejudices, no preconceived notions," said Gary
Chan, who left his old church when its leaders discovered he was gay and asked
him to quit the church band.
"Here, we look at people like they're clean sheets of paper," he said.
The status of the church says something about the place of gays and lesbians in
Singapore.
Though in practice homosexuality is often tolerated, gay sex is illegal here,
and gay groups are unable to register as legitimate organizations.
The church, however, has managed to circumvent regulations by registering
itself as a company, meaning the worship sessions are considered private
gatherings. The group has moved several times, meeting in a pub, a theater and
now at a low-rise commercial building.
Leaders say they still get hate mail.
"They say that this church exists that is going out, reaching out, trying to
make people gay," said Susan Tang, a married housewife with three children and
the only heterosexual on the church council.
Former Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said in a 2003 interview with
Time magazine that the strait-laced city-state was now more tolerant of
homosexuals and the administration was "not going to chase you all over the
place." But Goh, now senior minister, also warned homosexuals in the same
interview not to "flaunt your gay rights."
The Free Community Church is not recognized by the influential National Council
of Churches in Singapore, which represents Anglicans, Methodists and
Presbyterians, among others. NCCS Vice President Robert Solomon said in a
statement that "the practice of homosexuality is clearly incompatible with the
teachings of the Christian faith."
In terms of membership, the church is a mishmash of people from various
Christian denominations and its services have elements from several worship
styles -- there's a Communion service, and also a Christian rock band, for
instance. The congregation has no pastor, so different people preach every
week.
"We cover the whole spectrum," Tang said.
At one recent service, most people in the church were ethnic Chinese, who
constitute around 80 percent of the country's population. Most of Singapore's
people are Buddhist, followed by Christians. The nation's other main religion,
Islam, is also against homosexuality.
Tang acknowledged the church has members who defy Singapore's conservative
culture with a party-loving and promiscuous style, but added the church has
counseling sessions to advise them to "behave responsibly."
The church's chairwoman, Jean Chong, said the church offers a place for gays
and lesbians to finally find acceptance. "It took me a long time to figure out
that it's OK to be gay and Christian in Singapore," she said.
Associated Press
