Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 in discussion with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa on homosexuality

Abstract

In recent times, the texts of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, has attracted the attention of Old Testament scholars, clergy and the laity alike. In my view, such an attention has been inspired by the readers’ quest to the possible light which the text can shed on the subject of homosexuality. The latter topic is one of the burning issues raised in present day South Africa. It thus comes as no surprise, that interpreting texts such as Leviticus18:22 and 20:13 becomes pertinent in our context. This research aims at coming up with a constructive dialogue between the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (hereafter referred to as MCSA)’s readings of this text, scholars’ interpretation of the same and the Xhosas’ reception of homosexuality in the Republic of South Africa. Through the use of methodologies such as the Literary, Textual, Canon, Composition and Redaction Criticism, as well as Socio-Scientific Criticism, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, will be brought to bear with its MCSA’s readings and Xhosas’ readings with a view to making a necessary contribution to African biblical hermeneutics.