The Archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to allow Anglican bishops from around the world the opportunity to reject a statement on sexuality when they meet in Canterbury this week for the Lambeth Conference.
The reversal from Justin Welby, leader of the global Anglican Communion and president of the conference, came late Monday night, hours before 650 delegates began arriving for the 12-day meeting.
It followed an outcry by liberal Anglicans and gay rights activists against a declaration – known as the Lambeth Call – on human dignity which defined marriage as “between a man and a woman”. It added that “the legitimation or blessing of same-sex unions” could not be recommended and that “the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole is that same-sex marriages are impermissible”.
Among the protesters was Los Angeles Bishop John Harvey Taylor, who said the statement was “contrary to Christian values of healing and reconciliation. It divides, hurts, scapegoats and denies.”
Church of Wales bishops said the appeal “undermines and undermines the dignity of an integral part of our community, rather than affirming them”.
A statement from the Lambeth conference on Monday evening said: “Over the last few days we have listened carefully to the bishops’ responses… The Human Dignity Appeal drafting group will make some revisions to the Appeal.”
He gave no further details but said the revised text would be published “as soon as it is available”.
The statement also announced that the bishops will now have a third opportunity to respond to Lambeth’s appeals. “Bishops will now be able to clearly state their opposition to a particular call, in addition to supporting it or calling for further discussion.” The third option will read: “This call does not speak for me. I am not adding my voice to this call.”
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Jane Ozan, a prominent campaigner for LGBT+ equality in the Church of England, welcomed the move. But she added: “I am still deeply troubled by the tone of this communique.” He doesn’t seem to be addressing any of the concerns about the process that so many have noted, nor is he acknowledging the breakdown in confidence that he now has in relation to [discussions on sexuality and identity] here in England.”
The issue of sexuality and same-sex marriage has caused deep divisions among Anglicans, both in the UK and globally, for decades. The Lambeth conference planned for 2018 was canceled by Welby as it became clear that the differences were irreconcilable and would damage the world church.
In 2016, a meeting of Anglican primates from around the world voted to impose de facto sanctions on the US Episcopal Church for endorsing same-sex marriage and issued a statement reaffirming the “traditional doctrine” that marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Since then, the Scottish Episcopal Church has decided to allow same-sex marriage, and the Anglican Church in Wales has voted to offer special blessings to same-sex married couples. The Church of England still bans same-sex marriage.
Conservative church leaders from Rwanda, Nigeria and Uganda boycotted the conference in protest at the support of some Anglican churches for same-sex unions.
Welby is keen to focus this week’s Lambeth conference on issues such as the climate crisis and global inequality. In a message to bishops last week, he said: “Without ignoring the things on which we deeply disagree, I pray that we approach this gathering with an even deeper sense of what unites us: the love of Jesus Christ and his call to serve God’s world.”
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