Colin Coward Unadulterated Love Life in all its fullness and meditation in the body
Eric Reitan Religion Dispatches A 14-point Rebuttal to the Nashville Statement from a straight cis Christian man
Bibles, arm-waving, and incense – Philip North recounts visiting three very different Christian festivals this summer for Church Times
Ian Paul Psephizo Is there hope for unbelieving Britain?
Simon Butler ViaMedia.News This Love Ain’t Big Enough!
Canon Simon Butler’s article, which comments on a Church of England parish that requires a public declaration of their repudiation of same-sex relationships on the part of its youth group; reminds me of the outdated philosophy of the ‘Gay Conversion’ theory – long discredited and out of place with the Christian virtue of unconditional love. Simon’s linking together of this situation with that of the ‘Nashville Statement’ should warn us of the insidious undercurrent of homophobia and sexism that still exists in the modern-day Church of England and other parts of the Anglican Communion. Until this culture of anti-gay sentiment… Read more »
Canon Simon’s article is valuable in the fact that he has shown a light on both positive and negative actions within the evangelical wing of the Anglican church. The negative action of a church demanding from its youth group a repudiation of same sex relationships, together with an aggressive homophobic towards LGBTI young people. On the positive side we see the encouragement of positive same sex relationships leading to marriage. I remember in my youth many years ago now that it was our youth group across the denominational boundaries that brought to light some of us being able to share… Read more »
As usual, Colin Coward writes an inspiring and interesting article. He is particularly correct in his description of the state of the church in 2017. Personally I believe today’s happy-clappy CofE is as inspiring as a cold rice pudding.
Simon Butler’s piece is excellent. Without taking a particular position on the debate, it clearly shows how the Nashville thing is completely unhelpful.
Eric Reitan’s piece is longer but also worth reading. His point 11, even in isolation, skewers the hate-filled doctrine of the Nashville lot: “If you say that every same-sex relationship is sinful, consistency demands that whenever it falls within your power to do so, you work to break up every loving, monogamous, faithful same-sex couple, and encourage your community to advocate for broken relationships, broken homes, and people stripped of things that bring meaning and joy. “