At the moment I am very aware of how books have changed me and my relationship with myself, my sexuality, the Church of England, Christianity, and God, half-way though Diarmaid MacCulloch’s recently published Lower than the Angels; A History of Sex and Christianity. It was the phrase “the divine relationship, an audacious transformation” that unlocked the door to an idea I’ve been struggling to develop for several weeks.
There is something very unpleasant going on in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion since 1998 that leaves me feeling increasingly conflicted and abused emotionally and spiritually – assaulted by dogma and doctrine and a cruel, ruthless God. This is where the rich, creative, inspiring Christian heritage of my first five decades has brought me; deep disagreement about my sexuality, my priesthood, my membership of the Church of England, my theology and my spiritual vision. It has become more and more difficult to live with this - and it gets worse.
We live in a culture where prejudice, fundamentalism, abuse, and discrimination, although still prevalent, are less and less acceptable or tolerated as healthy attitudes towards other members of the human race. It becomes more and more difficult for people to maintain their commitment to and involvement with an institution, a Church, that continues to be so ambivalent about justice and equality for every member of the human race, a Church that is still so hostile to me and people like me, to my LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters, people with integrity and faith and a deep spirituality regardless of their gender or sexuality or who they sleep with and make love to.
Can the hierarchy of the Church of England take us deep into the black hole, with courage deep enough to lead us into the unimaginable white hole through and beyond into an experience and reality named resurrection? I wish Synod would bring coherence and finality to a process that began with a profound vision, a radical new Christian inclusion, and with a trust that bringing people together would gradually transform and melt differences in the context of Christian love and prayer.
Most bishops will be aware that same-sex couples are already sometimes offered services of blessing by parish clergy in their local church, although these are not yet authorised. We believe that God’s blessing on same-sex civil marriages and civil partnerships is always bestowed on our loving relationships. In failing to approve equal marriage in the Church of England the Bishops continue to deny that God blesses the loving, faithful relationships of all LGBTQIA+ people.
In the course of the Living in Love and Faith process Changing Attitude England has repeatedly told bishops that we want no more conversations about us without us. On Friday we were present with bishops, we spoke, we were heard, we have been included in the conversation. Three years ago we would never have anticipated that last Friday’s meetings would have taken place. The process won’t be finished by the February meeting of General Synod. We can hope at least for a confirmed direction of travel after Synod, knowing that proposals will take time to implement. We hope and pray that the College of Bishops and General Synod have the confidence to come to a strong common mind leading to the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England characterised by a radical new Christian inclusion that is both possible and essential.
A YouGov poll, commissioned by the Ozanne Foundation shows that a majority of members of the Church of England now support equal marriage for lesbian and gay couples despite the Church of England’s refusal to allow equal marriage or blessings in church. Changing Attitude England has been campaigning for the full equality of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England since 1995. The findings of the YouGov poll brings greater urgency to the need for equal marriage and ministry in the Church of England after more than four decades of exploration and study.
In an article in the current issue of the Spectator Theo Hobson thinks this might be the year in which the Church of England sorts out its deep divisions over homosexuality. He wants to assert the centrality of liberal Anglo-Catholicism in the Church and this means treating evangelicalism with a bit less respect. Diversity must be allowed: liberal parishes must be free to conduct gay weddings, evangelical parishes must be allowed to refuse to. I disagree. The pragmatic arrangements made to tolerate dissent on the ordination of women have enshrined an utterly unchristian intolerance and prejudice in the life of the Church.
People are reporting on Facebook groups that their parish has already held a meeting or series of meetings to engage with the Living in Love and Faith course material. Many more report that parishes will be holding meetings to work through the course in the Autumn. It will be all too easy for us to engage with the material without raising a basic question. The LLF process and the material which has been published assume an equal validity between those who argue for a transformation of teaching and practice leading to full equality for LGBTIQ+ people and those who argue from the Bible and the clobber texts against equal marriage and sexual intimacy for clergy. I propose that we find the courage to challenge the material at a basic level.
On Monday the Rt Revd Dr Emma Ineson’s appointment as the Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York was announced. In October 2016 Revd Dr Emma Ineson was among evangelicals who signed a letter to all members of the College of Bishops. The letter said the Bible is clear that God has given the marriage of one man with one woman as the only context in which physical expression is to be given to our sexuality and any change in the Church’s teaching or practice – such as the blessing of sexual relationships outside of heterosexual marriage - would represent a significant departure from the authority of the Bible. Where does her appointment leave the Archbishops’ commitment to a new radical inclusion? Bishop Emma will be in a powerful position, able to influence the outcome of the Living in Love and Faith process and having huge influence over the content and culture of the next Lambeth Conference.
