Heather Taylor believes in the Bible.

The senior journalism major from St. Clairsville, Ohio, and the other members of her church believe in the literal word of God and the healing power of prayer. She goes to church at least once a week, and twice if she can.

She and five others started the Master’s Commission New Covenant Church, because they felt the metropolitan community church they attended was too liberal about the meanings of God’s word.

The church, which she described as close to a Pentecostal but not exactly, has a charismatic style, with its members praying over the sick and speaking in tongues.

She was married last year in downtown Columbus by the church’s pastor – to another woman.

“There are a few straight people who come to the church, but most of us and all the founders are gay. I would say 95 percent of the people are gay or bisexual,” Taylor said.

With politicians in recent years using sexuality and religious values as wedge issues, it can be easy to forget these issues are something people deal with privately.

According to 2006 Gallup polls, 57 percent of Americans view religion as very important in their lives and 40 percent believe homosexual relations between consenting adults should be illegal.

Much of the anti-gay backlash comes from religious beliefs, and Taylor mentioned “clobber passages” used to explain anti-gay sentiments. For instance, Romans 1:27 states, in part, “men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another.” This passage is used as a condemnation of homosexuality, but Taylor and her fellow members of the Master’s Commission New Covenant Church disagree with that interpretation.

“They’re not talking about homosexuality but they’re talking about people who are having temple prostitution basically. (The passage) wasn’t referring to homosexual sex or a homosexual relationship,” Taylor said.

However, others in the Christian community disagree with Taylor’s assessment. Jamal Jivanjee, a pastor for New Life Church, said the relationship between one man and one woman is expressly defined throughout the Bible as the one God planned for humans.

“Marriage is a picture. I think it was created so God could give us an image. Male and female’s uniqueness represents different aspects or sides of God,” he said. “This is the kind of relationship he wants for us.”

Chris Meekins, a Joshua House pastoral coordinator for campus ministry, agrees marriage was created for a man and a woman.

“Any type of sexual relationship outside of marriage is less than what Jesus would have for us,” he said.

Taylor also believes in God’s plan, but disagrees that marriage was created for only a man and a woman. She said her church looks at the original languages of the Bible, studies the histories of the cultures and then comes to conclusions as to the passages’ meanings. For example, she said many of the passages used to condemn homosexuality refer actually to pedophilia or pagan fertility rituals.

Not all Christians follow the Bible literally, and the same is true for gay Christians. Aaron Thomas, a senior in comparative American ethnic studies, says he is gay and a non-denominational Christian but has not been to church for a few months.

“I don’t feel accepted necessarily in the actual walls of the church, but I do feel accepted by Christians who are here at school,” he said.

Thomas said he sees many aspects of his life reflected in the Bible, but believes it is open for interpretation and not meant to be taken literally in all respects. He uses his religion as a guide for life.

“I think about my religion as far as lessons go, when I think about all I’ve done and the things I’ve accomplished I see those as blessings from Christ,” he said.