Changing Attitude has published two articles relating to this topic:
How the Anglican Communion’s authoritative teaching about same-sex attraction is ignored
Thirty-five Primates of the Anglican Communion met at the Dromantine Retreat Centre in Newry, Northern Ireland, from 20 to 25 February 2005. Section 6 of The Dromantine Communique issued at the end of the meeting concluded with these two sentences:
“We also wish to make it quite clear that in our discussion and assessment of the moral appropriateness of specific human behaviours, we continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people. The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is anathema to us. We assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him, and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship (vii).”
Any action or language which leads to the victimisation or diminishment of people who love others of the same sex is anathema to the Primates of the Anglican Communion. This is the policy of the Anglican Communion and the reason why Andrea Minichiello Williams speech in Jamaica has been so strongly criticised, why Anglican Mainstream’s stance and editorial policy is criticised, and why Primates and bishops in Uganda and Nigeria who support the anti-gay bills and all anti-gay rhetoric is criticised by Changing Attitude…
Is Anglican Mainstream homophobic? A gay evangelical perspective
A gay evangelical, a supporter of Changing Attitude, has written an extended commentary on two articles posted on the Anglican Mainstream web site. Until recently, he and his partner were very committed and active members of a congregation rejuvenated following an HTB plant. To protect both them and the congregation, we are posting this anonymously. The couple is well known to us. The supporter has been motivated by the nature of many posts on the AM website which are, to a gay Christian, deeply offensive.
Anglican Mainstream has a deliberate policy of publishing ‘shocking and offensive’ articles that relate to homophobia – and there is a direct link between articles they publish or link to and support for prejudice against LGB&T people in other parts of the Communion and attempts to legislate against LGB&T people that would result in gay people being jailed for long periods…
Do read both articles in full.
On the CA Facebook page. I asked why anonymity for the congregation and the couple was required. Was it, I asked, to avoid reprisals? i didn’t expect to be told that there had already been reprisals.
I would be most reluctant to term the statement from Dromantine, or any other statement of the Primates (or Lambeth) as “the Anglican Communion’s authoritative teaching.” The authoritative teaching of the Anglican Communion is summed up in the traditional creeds, and perhaps the Articles of Religion where those have been received as such; and in the actions and teaching of each of the particular or national churches that make it up; the rest is policy.
Anglican Mainstream is a complete misnomer, it would be better described as Anglican trickle because its views are those of a small (although extremely noisy) minority in the Church. Its publications are indisputably and consistently homophobic and as minority views deeply offensive to the majority.
I understand that even the HTB congregations are now steering clear of the gay sex debate as they fear that they will alienate many of their younger members for whom homosexuality is no longer an issue.
We gay Christians have always been so very fortunate in our enemies. They’ve done so much for the cause of our freedom and dignity simply by being themselves.
That’s true even here in the much more church-going USA.
I didn’t know Anglican Mainstream wasn’t supposed to be homophobic.
It reads like the Westboro Baptist Church website but with less swearing.
Yes, I agree with Tobias, although I would say that this Communique comes from a time when there was a bold attempt by the Primates Group to establish itself as the preeminent manager of Communion Affairs. Their Communiques, along with Lambeth resolutions were treated as law by other Communion Instruments. This came to a crashing halt at Dar es Salaam when American conservative advisors wrested the agenda from Communion Office functionaries, just as had happened at Lambeth 1998 over resolution 1.10. This has seen the collapse of authority in these Instruments. Still, statements of the Primates or Canterbury and resolutions… Read more »
Well put, Martin.