Updated again Saturday evening
Inclusive Church
Inclusive Church responds to the House of Bishops Human Sexuality Commission Report
Accepting Evangelicals
Pilling recognises Evangelical diversity
Reform
PILLING REPORT “VERY DIVISIVE” SAYS REFORM
Church Society
Lee Gatiss responds to the Pilling Report on sexuality
Christian Concern
Pilling Report – Statement from General Synod Member & Christian Concern CEO Andrea Williams
Anglican Mainstream
Statement from Anglican Mainstream on the release of the Pilling Report
Church of England Evangelical Council
Statement of the Executive Committee of the Church of England Evangelical Council
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
A Small Step Forward
Changing Attitude
Changing Attitude England’s initial reaction to the Pilling Report
‘Like the apostle Jude, in the Bible, we would prefer to discuss the good news of Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers to all, but feel constrained to respond to the teaching of those who are changing the gospel into an affirmation of immoral behaviour.’
Reading these various responses, it’s difficult not to despise the Church of England which has spawned it all.
Such a mess and a real crisis for any kind of rational moral think with human integrity.
Christian “Concern” (whose concern is entirely for their own pride): “The most compassionate thing for the Church of England to do is to follow Christ in this: speak clearly about marriage as the union of one man and one woman and the only proper place for sexual expression, for the good of all.” Anglican “Mainstream” (whose London events attract perhaps twenty people, and are about as mainstream as a thing that’s the antonym of mainstream which I can’t think of right now): “We affirm the teaching of the Church of England that the appropriate context for a sexual relationship is… Read more »
My reading of Pilling is that it agrees with your last two paragraphs, Interested Observer. The important split in the Church of England is not between the anti-gay conservatives and the accepting liberals – it is between the older generation and the rising generation in the church itself. Pilling is attempting to effect a transition, a hand-over, between two generations with radically different readings of Christianity as it should be applied to human sexuality. It recognises that, unless this transition is handled correctly, the Church of England will lose the rising generation and then the older generation really will be… Read more »
I do agree with badman on this. I especially agree with the idea of a handover between an older and younger generation. 2 years is helpful. By then same sex marriage will be well embedded in England, Wales and Scotland and will just be the normal way of things. It also, hopefully, allows for women bishops to be approved. I think Pilling gives a fair notice to other Churches both Anglican and not of developments and other churches may well similarly evolve. I have no interest in changing the formal doctrine. This will be achieved by the next generation that… Read more »
I think it is noteworthy how little note has been taken of this report across the media. Comment was there one moment and gone the next. It is a non-event because it is so anachronistic. Society and the majority of practicing Christians have moved on. The Church of England’s pronouncements on the issue of homosexuality are akin to the Church of Rome’s pronouncements on contraception. It is the means by which the vast majority have come to challenge “church authority” over their lives. “If the Church can get this so wrong, surely she can be wrong on many other things”… Read more »
My first reactions? that anything which is condemned by the conservative evangelical fringe can’t be all bad.
So it it is not about any kind of truth, at all, but about fashionable views and playing it safe ?
This is very unpleasant, and off-putting.
Very disappointing response from LGCM.
This Pilling group had no standing and the voice of their report has nothing to say from us, for us or to us.
There is nothing to welcome or celebrate here, sad, very sad.
The false equivalence that Pilling draws between affirmation and homophobia is wrong in itself (just as wrong as it defining “homophobia” to exclude any theological argument — by this reasoning, an advocate of the Curse of Ham would be categorically incapable of being a racist). You can’t be neutral on prejudice. If you refuse to take a side, you’ve done so by default. It’s essential that formal doctrine is changed: it’s the wellspring from which all other problems flow. Pilling’s refusal to recognize this is its downfall. This process is about power, not justice. If the church doesn’t stand for… Read more »
As a consequence of the Pilling Report, one cannot help but admire the pragmatism of The Episcopal Church in the U.S. At least, their stand for LGBT people is based on reality, not the fear of being seen to be partial to the underdog.
“This process is about power, not justice. If the church doesn’t stand for justice, what’s the point of it?” Exactly. Oppression is about power. Pretty much any oppression one can think of, but in this case LGBT people in the church. “As a consequence of the Pilling Report, one cannot help but admire the pragmatism of The Episcopal Church in the U.S. At least, their stand for LGBT people is based on reality, not the fear of being seen to be partial to the underdog.” Thank you! TEC went the way of conscience at a cost. The promises of working… Read more »
Doesn’t the complete lack of interest in the media demonstrate that actually this is not a big deal for the world at large?
I would agree, with Ian Paul, people are so used to the CoE every now and then starting another initiative to discuss gay people that they just switch off.
Maybe they will take more notice when (if) the church eventually comes to a conclusion of sorts, although I suspect that it will be a brief “oh look, finally!” before they move on to problems the country hasn’t actually already solved 10 years ago.
*before they move on to problems the country hasn’t actually already solved 10 years ago.* Ten? I’m fifty next year. Homosexuality wasn’t an issue when I was an undergraduate and isn’t an issue today, thirty years later. It’s a completely dead issue. Outside a small, noisy coterie of religious extremists (not just Christian, it has to be said) there is _no_ traction for homophobia. There are still racist political parties that want to repeal the Race Relations Act, and a certain level of casual racism is common outside big and diverse urban centres. There are still assorted golf clubs and… Read more »
I agree, Interested Observer. I said 10 years because that’s roughly when first moves were made towards the Civil Partnership Act, after the Children and Adoption Act had already allowed gay people to adopt. With Civil Partnerships equality was finally formalised at every level.
And, Interested Observer, I completely agree that this structured homophobia only exists in churches. They are the ones that create revulsion in people including in gay people, by insisting that there is something wrong and immoral about being gay. I thought that when I read about the new Anglican Mainstream “gay cure” conferences that is to take place soon where the key question is: “Homosexual orientation and practice – what did Jesus say? Straight, gay, bisexual – what about ex-gay and post-gay? ‘Don’t want to be gay anymore? Sorry we’re not allowed to help you!’ Is that ethical?” http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/02/gay-cure-conference-to-be-staged-by-anglican-mainstream-in-london/ They… Read more »