Around 9,000 Christians from 90 Christian groups have endorsed a declaration to show their acceptance of homosexual people but the groups still hold that homosexual acts are sinful.

The Walking Together in True Love declaration was initiated by 26 religious leaders in May and states that Jesus loves everybody regardless of sexual orientation and that nobody should be rejected by a church because of their sexual orientation.

The statement also says that heterosexuals should accept same-sex attracted people but also states, ‘we believe that believers who continue to engage in same-sex activity, and refuse to pursue a holy life, are not walking in truth.’

‘The Church has spiritual authority and responsibility to follow up with care, in order to regain them in love, enabling them to grow in love,’ the declaration continues.

‘We encourage churches to establish a respectful atmosphere and a safe environment; teach brothers and sisters to be accepting to those struggling with same-sex orientation; walk with one another in love and faith.’

One of the organizers of the declaration, Reverend Yu Tat-sum told the South China Morning Post, that while welcoming homosexuals, he could not ignore that the Old Testament termed same-sex activity an ‘abomination.’

Homosexuality, as a kind of sexual orientation, is not a sin,’ Yu told the paper, ‘But homosexual sex is a sin.’

Hong Kong’s Sexual Orientation Discrimination Legislation Front (SODLF) welcomed the statement as a sign of changing attitudes but expressed concern about the point labeling same-sex activity as incompatible with faith.

‘Of course I disagree with that,’ SODLF spokesman Tommy Chen told the paper, ‘But I respect their thoughts.’

SODLF is a coalition of Hong Kong groups Rainbow Action, Gay Harmony and Women Coalition of HKSAR and was established in January of this year to fight for anti-discrimination legislation covering LGBTs in the Chinese special administrative region.

The Hong Kong Government has set up a panel of 14 people to investigate discrimination against LGBTs chaired by Professor Fanny Cheung Mui-ching.

Last month Hong Kong hosted a conference of LGBT affirming Christians, with 18 clergy urging the Hong Kong Government to act on the issue.