Dithering or deciding?

Susie Leafe  |  UK & Ireland
Date posted:  1 Oct 2016
Share Add       
Dithering or deciding?

Peter Sanlon

There have been a lot of headlines about the Church of England in recent weeks.

Many open letters have been written, a celibate gay bishop has been paraded, and even Church meetings in Tunbridge Wells have got a mention. I don’t think it is just the lack of real news during the ‘silly season’ that has caused it. No, it is also the fact that the Shared Conversations about Scripture, Sexuality and Mission are officially over, and the time has come to make a decision. And there is no easy answer.

Which way?

As the Archbishop of Canterbury is reported to have said at Greenbelt: ‘I am constantly consumed with horror at the way that we have treated LGBTI people and constantly consumed with an urge to find a way of changing that in the right way, but I don’t know what that is yet.’ He went on: ‘We have to find a way to love and embrace everyone who loves Jesus Christ, without exception and without hesitation. But that includes those who feel same-sex relationships are deeply, deeply wrong, or live in societies that do. The inclusion of LGBTI people in the church is essential. We cannot pretend that inclusion, from the point of view of someone in a same-sex relationship that falls short of the blessing of the Church, is going to feel like inclusion. We’re conning ourselves if we think we can do less than that and it will feel like inclusion. But when you do that, it will feel like exclusion to other people.’

Share
< Previous article| UK & Ireland| Next article >
Read more articles by Susie Leafe >>
Comment
‘Power is a powerful drug and the detox process is hard’

‘Power is a powerful drug and the detox process is hard’

One of the most insightful speeches at the Church of England's General Synod in July came from The Revd Lindsay …

World
Analysis: After GAFCON IV, what now?

Analysis: After GAFCON IV, what now?

Around 1,300 delegates attended the fourth global GAFCON gathering of orthodox Anglicans from across the world. It took place in …

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search

About en

Our vision, values and history.

Read more