The LGBT Anglican Coalition has issued an open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Their press release is below, and the full text of the letter is below the fold.
LGBT Anglican Coalition Press Release 11 October 2010
Time to accept gay bishops, says Anglican Coalition
In a recent interview with The Times the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, was unclear whether celibate but partnered gay clergy are acceptable as bishops in the Church of England. The archbishop stated his unwillingness to consider partnered gay men and lesbians as bishops because of their ‘particular choice of life, a partnership, and what the Church has to say about that.’
The LGBT Anglican Coalition believes that acceptance should be extended beyond those who are celibate, but says:
‘Your statement has also left ambiguity regarding those in loving life-long but celibate relationships. Such people would appear to be complying fully with the requirements of “Issues in Human Sexuality” and yet still seem to be excluded simply on the grounds of some other people’s disapproval. If this is not your intention, we ask you to clarify what you meant. Given that you said that you “have no problem” with gay bishops who are celibate, we would ask you to make clear your position on the acceptability for higher office of celibate gay clergy who are in civil partnerships.’
In a letter sent to the Archbishop, the Coalition criticizes the Archbishop’s remarks as ‘hurtful and undermining to the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people who have been called to ordained ministry but not to celibacy’. The Coalition calls the Church of England to a renewed study of sexuality in the light of modern scientific and theological understanding.
The letter is also highly critical of the culture of secrecy, fear and dishonesty around human sexuality which is blighting the Church of England, and damaging our witness to society, and which urgently needs to be dispelled. It says that, ‘in numerous Church of England parishes, worshippers fully accept LGBT people, whether single or partnered, and believe that all forms of ministry should be open to God’s children regardless of sexual orientation.’
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. The Anglican Coalition is here to provide UK-based Christian LGBT organisations with opportunities to create resources for the Anglican community and to develop a shared voice for the full acceptance of LGBT people in the Anglican Communion.
2. The Coalition members are:
Accepting Evangelicals www.acceptingevangelicals.org
Changing Attitude www.changingattitude.org.uk
The Clergy Consultation www.clergyconsultation.org
Courage www.courage.org.uk
The Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians www.eflgc.org.uk
Inclusive Church www.inclusivechurch2.net
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement www.lgcm.org.uk
The Sibyls www.sibyls.co.uk
Full Text of Letter to the Archbishop
Dear Archbishop Rowan
We are deeply dismayed that, in an interview with The Times, you stated your unwillingness to consider partnered gay men and lesbians as bishops because of their ‘particular choice of life, a partnership, and what the Church has to say about that.’ This is not only hurtful and undermining to the many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people who have been called to ordained ministry but not to celibacy – a valued but rare vocation among people of any sexual orientation – but also to the life and witness of the Church of England.
Your statement has also left ambiguity regarding those in loving life-long but celibate relationships. Such people would appear to be complying fully with the requirements of ‘Issues in Human Sexuality’ and yet still seem to be excluded simply on the grounds of some other people’s disapproval. If this is not your intention, we ask you to clarify what you meant. Given that you said that you ‘have no problem’ with gay bishops who are celibate, we would ask you to make clear your position on the acceptability for higher office of celibate gay clergy who are in civil partnerships.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, we expect you to encourage the Church of England to continue to strive thoughtfully and prayerfully to discern God’s will on human sexuality, taking account of the findings of theologians and scientists and in conversation with other Anglicans and the wider church. It is regrettable that some bishops elsewhere in the Anglican Communion remain unwilling to enter into dialogue with those in their own dioceses who are lesbian or gay, or to take note of the diligent work of scholars through which Christians can develop an ever-richer understanding of God’s creation, our place within it and where the Holy Spirit is leading us. However this must not deter us from acting justly and lovingly in the context of our own mission and ministry.
Increasingly, eminent theologians have come to accept that Christians who are neither heterosexual nor called to celibacy may acceptably enter into committed relationships with members of the same sex, in which they can grow more responsive to God’s love and be more faithful in following Christ. Likewise, in numerous Church of England parishes, worshippers fully accept LGBT people, whether single or partnered, and believe that all forms of ministry should be open to God’s children regardless of sexual orientation. Meanwhile, social and natural scientists have helped to throw fresh light on the complexity and diversity of life on earth and the role of same-sex as well as opposite-sex attraction.
As Sister Rosemary CHN, representing Religious Communities, explained in a debate in General Synod in 2004:
‘For those of us under religious vows, who treasure celibacy as call and gift, the idea of forced celibacy is as abhorrent as the idea of forced marriage…
‘Some gay clergy have reluctantly accepted celibacy as an imposed discipline. Some of these, I feel sure, have found that through their struggles they have been given grace… For others, however, misery remains just misery, and they are exposed to the danger of a kind of withering of the heart, which makes them less able to love anybody.
‘Christians who are happily married can bear witness to the way in which a partner’s love can be both a means of grace and a school of the Lord’s service: a channel of God’s love to them and through them. Gay Christians in committed relationships say that it is the same for them. When I observe the quality of their lives, and feel warmed and healed by their friendship, I know that it is true.’
We regret that any senior clergy in the Church of England should seem to be moving in the opposite direction from ordinary members in order to placate the small minority among us who are fiercely opposed to greater inclusion and even some in other churches who also object. It is important that they, like the rest of us, be challenged to understand that the church is not the possession of one faction and that theological diversity is part of our inheritance as Anglicans. There is a culture of secrecy, fear and dishonesty around human sexuality which is blighting the Church of England, and damaging our witness to society, and which urgently needs to be dispelled.
We urge you to acknowledge the contribution of so many LGBT people, often partnered, to the ministry of the church and to promote rigorous and prayerful study of the issues involved in the light of present knowledge.
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Timm, Changing Attitude
On behalf of the LGBT Anglican Coalition
This is a fine and thoughtful letter. I hope that the ABC will reply in kind. I am not holding my breath, however.
Oh yeah, I’m sure Rowan is listening … as if … alas. And what exactly, Rowan, is the holy believer beef with committed relationships?
I dare you to publish an explanation that does not presume/rely on flat earth assumptions about queer folks while neatly sidestepping the empirical research since, say, World War II.
Go ahead,Rowan, we’re waiting….
Hear what the spirit says to the churches.
The LGBT Anglican Coalition’s letter to the ABC is nothing other than might be expected in the light of Rowan’s admission that, for him, he has no problem with gay priests or bishops. The real problem would seem to be the implication of loving sexual monogamous relationship which might be involved within a civil partnership involving the clergy. This, for the ABC, is at the heart of his personal difficulty with such relationships. Surely it is now time for, not only the ABC but the whole Church, to recognise the fact that such a phenomenon as homosexuality – and other… Read more »
Meanwhile the Archbishop addresses other issues very helpfully: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/mpd/permalink/m187ZUMXL9YWMZ
They should ask , if the Church of England can change on divorce and contraception..why not this?
Thank you, Spirit of Vatican II, for this link with the ABC’s talk about world economics. This is just one more indication that we have an Archbishop of Canterbury of some substance. His deep intelligence and understanding of world issues is refreshing – especially when we are wont to criticise his public utterances about gender and sexuality. However, as an intellect of world-class politico-religious standard, Rowan has much to contribute on the world stage. One might hope that he now might comment on the newly-advertised ‘Singularity’ school of research in the U.S., whose agenda includes finding a method of delivering… Read more »
“They should ask, if the Church of England can change on divorce and contraception..why not this?”
Indeed, RIW. Changed—away from the Pope and *towards Christ and Christ’s Gospel*—before. Why not follow Christ, and preach (actually!) GOOD News again?
For Christ’s (Queer) Kingdom: HALLELUJAH! 😀
“research in the U.S., whose agenda includes finding a method of delivering virtually ‘eternal life’ in the sphere of eugenics, which allows of a plan to develop nano organisms which will help in the process of human biology accessing technological means to replace body organs – such as the brain, heart, etc.”
Newly ‘advertised’ where? This sounds like an internet hoax or a Glenn Beck ‘discovery.’
Fr Ron Smith, glad you agree — I don’t remember any Archbishop who has made such a huge impact in the English-speaking world and become so accepted as a beloved father-figure; disagreement about the Covenant or gay-related issues should not overshadow this. It is really hard to think of anyone who would grace the throne of Augustine so well.
They should ask , if the Church of England can change on divorce and contraception..why not this?
Posted by: Robert Ian Williams on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 at 8:07pm BST
Very good point, Robert.
In short. This is bad governance.
“They should ask , if the Church of England can change on divorce and contraception..why not this?”
I think RW already answered that question in “the body’s grace”. The RCC has always been very liberal in granting divorces and annulments and is possibly more liberal than Anglicanism at this time. As to contraception, I doubt it there is any substantial difference between the two churches in the thinking and practice of the faithful. So really, the above question is best addressed to Roman Catholicism.
‘Newly ‘advertised’ where? This sounds like an internet hoax or a Glenn Beck ‘discovery.’ – Posted by: Cynthia Gilliatt on Thursday – In a N.Z. television programme a few nights ago, we were treated to an interview with several shcolarly persons whose background has fitted them for research into the amazing field of a new biological/technological breakthrough into the future of the interface between new technology and the replication of human body organs. This might have seemed unreal, except that there were two N.Z. brothers interviewecd who were involved in the research in the USA. Perhaps, Cynthia, you could take… Read more »
Father Ron Smith I hate to burst the bubble, but the considered opinion of microbiologists and infectious disease experts is that the antibiotic era is almost over, and that as a direct result human mortality and morbidity will rapidly increase to very high levels. Since antibiotic usage is the prerequisite for intensive livestock rearing the era of cheap protein will end, and that too will greatly increase human mortality and morbidity. In more specific terms, transplant surgery will come to a rapid halt, since safe surgery itself depends on effective antibiotics being available. Furthermore, successful transplants require immune suppression, which… Read more »
Chenier1. One inevitably has the need to bow to superior evidence. Perhaps you, chenier, will inform the singularity crowd of your rightness.
Best of Luck!