“They Were Born That Way”: Priest Alexei Uminsky on Gay People in the Church, “God’s Plan,” and Secret Communion

In an interview with Yuri Dud, Alexei Uminsky, the former rector of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khokhly, spoke about how the modern Orthodox Church is handling—or failing to handle—issues related to the sexual orientation of its parishioners. According to the priest, church institutions are in a state of "fear and bewilderment" in the face of the sexual revolution.

Can a homosexual person be a churchgoer?

Father Alexei confirms: A homosexual person can be a churchgoer, but his status within the community will most likely be limited. The church’s official position remains firm: homosexual relationships are viewed as contrary to “divine plan” about a person who views marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Uminsky notes that the church does not consider sexual relations outside of marriage to be the norm, and that marriage, in the Christian understanding, is inextricably linked to childbearing.

The Evolution of My Personal Views The priest admitted that his own attitude toward LGBT people had changed as he gained experience in pastoral ministry. His interactions with people during confession led him to understand several important things:

• Many gay men and lesbians "born that way", and for them, starting a traditional family is often biologically and psychologically impossible.
• Among homosexual couples, there are "deep, faithful, and truly loving" relationships that can last for years.
• The level of “goodness and mercy” in a person is not determined by their sexual orientation, although church rules often ignore this fact.

"The ban settles all questions"

Uminsky criticizes the Russian Orthodox Church’s current approach, which often boils down to simple prohibitions. In his view, The Orthodox Church is more conservative and harsh In this regard, in contrast to the Catholic Church, which under Pope Francis is attempting to take steps toward adaptation. In the Orthodox Church, however, fear of the changing world leads to the doors simply being closed to “inconvenient” parishioners.

Secret Practices in Russian Parishes

Despite official dogma, the reality is more complicated. Uminsky explained that there are parishes in Russia where priests have known their parishioners for years as "true Christians" and, showing personal leniency, allow same-sex couples to receive communion. This happens behind the scenes, since such relationships are still not considered the norm within the church, but pastors see “much that is genuine and profound” in them.

Thus, the church today faces a choice: to continue its policy of isolation or to seek ways to welcome people whose lives do not conform to medieval canons but are nonetheless filled with Christian values.

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