Has this Lambeth Conference successfully achieved a breakthrough leading to a successful outcome for the Living in Love and Faith project and a transformation of the status of LGBTQIA+ people leading to our radical new Christian inclusion?
The dynamic has certainly changed since the early pre-conference and opening day confusion about the Lambeth Calls and especially the reference to Lambeth 1.10 which was – or wasn’t – part of the Call on Human Dignity. In response to the confusion, the voting process was ‘updated’ from yes/needs more discernment to yes/needs more discernment/no. It still came as a significant surprise on Tuesday when Archbishop Justin Welby recognised that two different views on sexuality are held in the Anglican Communion, both held with integrity, rooted in scripture and Christ.
Opening remarks from the Archbishop of Canterbury
In his opening remarks about the Call on Human Dignity on Tuesday the Archbishop of Canterbury said the Call is about both Human Dignity and also Sexuality. The two are combined in that its central theological foundation is that all human beings are of equal worth, loved by God.
He moved on swiftly to say that for the large majority of the Anglican Communion the traditional understanding of marriage is something that is understood, and accepted without question. For a minority who accept equal marriage, however, “we can say almost the same,” he said - note the “almost”. The minority “have not arrived lightly at their ideas that traditional teaching needs to change. They are not careless about scripture. They do not reject Christ. But they have come to a different view on sexuality after long prayer, deep study and reflection on understandings of human nature”.
Archbishop Justin noted that “in many countries [equal marriage] is making the church a victim of derision, contempt and even attack.” For these churches to change traditional teaching challenges their very existence. I heard the argument put powerfully at Lambeth 2008 and at the end of Lambeth 1998. I understand that other Christian Churches and followers of Islam abuse and ridicule Anglicans in some countries because a minority of Provinces advocate equality for LGBTQIA+ people. This can make life dangerous for the Provinces holding to tradition. This doesn’t change the reality for LGBTQIA+ people – prejudice, homophobia and transphobia, and the abuse of people because of their gender or sexuality is an evil in these countries.
Perhaps in recognition of this the Archbishop said, “So let us not treat each other lightly or carelessly. We are deeply divided. That will not end soon.” We are indeed deeply divided over the basics of our faith, the teaching of and use of the Bible, and the nature of God. The issues that divide us are far broader than LGBTQIA+ identities and equal marriage. The Church is not confronting or exploring these wider differences. The conflict remains polarised around human sexuality and the legitimacy of sexual intimacy and relationships beyond the assumed heterosexual ‘norm’.
Archbishop Justin said “there is no attempt to change people’s minds in this Call” - the whole of Lambeth 1.10 1998 still exists. So it does, but the positive elements, hard fought for at the 1998 plenary session are usually ignored. The archbishop acknowledged the fruits of these positive elements: “The Call also states that other provinces have blessed and welcomed same sex union or marriage, after careful theological reflection and a process of reception.” There is no mention of sanctions or exclusion in 1.10 1998. Lambeth 1.10 also states that: “all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation are full members of the Body of Christ” and to be welcomed, cared for, and treated with respect.
Changing Attitude England values the opening remarks made by the Archbishop before the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity session. He set out clearly the status of Resolution 1.10 and for the first time that I can remember stated clearly that we are deeply divided in the Communion and that those on all sides of the division hold their beliefs and practices with Christian integrity, traditionalists and progressives alike.
The presentation by the Archbishop of Canterbury was followed by 30 minutes of table discussion, ending with all standing in silent prayer and affirming the movement of the Holy Spirit that allowed these two differences to be held in tension and in love.
Global South Fellowship issued a statement
Before the first weekend of the Conference the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) had issued a press release announcing that they would table their own Lambeth Resolution inviting fellow bishops, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, to re-affirm Lambeth Resolution 1.10 as the Anglican Communion’s ‘official teaching’ on marriage and sexuality. Claiming to represent 75% of the Anglican Communion the GSFA bishops also wanted the Communion to impose sanctions on Provinces which ordain bishops in same-sex relations and conduct same sex weddings. They set out to control the agenda.
Statement from Bishops and Archbishops keen to affirm LGBT+ people
Given that the GSFA had pre-empted the Call on Human Dignity session by issuing a statement, it was understandable (and a relief for many) that following the Lambeth Call session a statement was issued by Anglican Bishops and Primates keen to affirm and celebrate LGBT+ people. The statement recognises “that many LGBT+ people have historically been wounded by the Church and particularly hurt by the events of the last few weeks.” They wished “to affirm the holiness of their love wherever it is found in committed relationships,” committed “to working with our siblings across the Communion to listen to their stories and understand their contexts,” and promised never to “shy away from tackling discrimination and prejudice against those of differing sexualities and gender identities.”
The statement has now been signed by 171 bishops and Archbishops from the following Provinces:
Aotearoa/New Zealand 3
Australia 11
Brazil 9
Canada 23
England 2
Ireland 2
Mexico 1
Scotland 7
South Africa 3
USA 107
Wales 6
The table shows that support comes primarily from North America. Other supportive bishops from those Provinces where some did sign and from Provinces where none signed have withheld their signatures for a variety of reasons.
Some LGBTQIA+ advocates have claimed that one third of the bishops at Lambeth have signed. The actual figure is closer to a quarter. Had every bishop supportive of LGBTQIA+ equality and equal marriage signed the percentage would have been at least one third. There are of course three Provinces not present at Lambeth 2022, all of whose bishops would be opposed.
The Rt Revd Dr Audrey Scanlan, bishop of Central Pennsylvania, commented that saying out loud in an “official statement” (not a resolution, not binding, not voted upon):
“That all people are made in the image of God and are worthy of respect and inclusion in the Body of Christ. For some churches, that means that marriage is between a man and a woman AND, we said that in other churches, a process of theological study and discernment has brought them to a different place where marriage between same gendered persons is practiced … this is a big deal.”
Church of England bishops fail to sign
Changing Attitude England notes that of the 114 bishops and Archbishops in the Church of England, only two have signed the letter. The failure of all but two bishops to sign is deeply distressing for LGBTQIA+ people and allies in England and many are understandably very angry and feel betrayed. The last two weeks have been deeply traumatic for us. The silence of the CofE bishops leaves many clergy and laity feeling isolated, fragile, and unsupported.
Here's a stronger response from one lay person: “Absolutely sick to the very core of my being, fed up, at the end of my tether. I’ve had it up to here, sick to my back teeth, had enough.”
There had been speculation as to whether a command was issued by Lambeth Palace that bishops should not sign or whether they had not signed because no bishop is supposed to take a public stand about LGBTQIA+ people until the Living in Love and Faith process is concluded; the two possibilities are much the same.
John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, provided some insight in a Tweet.
“For clarity, CofE bishops were silent because they are trying to honour the LLF process in which we are involved.”
“The bishops are trying to honour the LLF process.” What does that mean?
In a subsequent tweet in response to a tweet that “it feels like LLF has been blown out of the water”, Bishop John wrote: “I’m sorry it feels like that. In fact, it is the argument that any change in England would break up the Anglican Communion that has been blown out of the water.”
That argument has indeed been around a very long time and has often been used by Archbishops and bishops to warn that any move towards the recognition of equal marriage and the appointment or election of partnered or married priests would provoke a schism. We have a partnered bishop in England and married bishops in Canada and the USA. In other parts of the UK, Scotland recognises equal marriage and Wales recognises civil partnerships (as does England, in theory).
What has changed at the 2022 Lambeth Conference is that this Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken more truthfully and directly than before and also that no greater degree of schism is threatened beyond the three provinces that declined to come to Canterbury (but neither have they organised an alternative Lambeth such as Gafcon in 2008).
Changing Attitude England takes Bishop John’s ‘Anglican Communion break up blown out of the water’ image as indicating that a significant number of bishops in the Church of England are ready for the outcome of LLF to be an explosive change. Is this realistic? Changing Attitude England remains determined to ensure that the Next Steps Group and House of Bishops confront this expectation.
Justice, equality and truth
Having surveyed the GSFA press release and the letter of support from progressive bishops, we should remember that this is not a numbers game. It is not about evaluating the level of support from those opposed and those in favour of change. It is about achieving justice and equality in the Christian Church for LGBTQIA+ people in every heart and soul and every Province of the Anglican Communion. LGBTQIA+ people are still vulnerable in the UK. In Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Jamaica and many other countries; we are subject to daily humiliation and abuse, physical and emotional violence, imprisonment and murder.
This is why Changing Attitude England continues to campaign for radical new Christian inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people and is angered by the failure of our bishops to commit their signatures to support us. If not now, when will you find the courage?
To support Changing Attitude England’s campaign pursuing a vision of the Church where LGBTQIA+ people will be welcomed and loved unconditionally you might like to join Changing Attitude England on Facebook.