Same-sex attraction

Dear Editor,

May I commend to your correspondent ‘I am same-sex attracted, committed to celibacy’, the resolution (1.10) of the Lambeth Conference 24 years ago, which is still the official position of the Anglican Church worldwide and would appear to affirm all that he is asking for:

This Conference

• In view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;

• Recognises that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships. We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;

• While rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex;

• Cannot advise the legitimising or blessing of same-sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same-gender unions;

Might he commend this excellent resolution to those ‘evangelicals’ and others with whom he finds difficulties.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Sugden (Canon Dr)
Consultant to the Lambeth Conference 1998.