A media assertion by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, after he mentioned in a podcast interview that homosexual intercourse in a dedicated relationship shouldn’t be sinful, is unlikely to douse the flames of controversy.
IN The remainder is politics podcast on 20 October, recorded within the crypt of Archbishop Welby's official London residence at Lambeth Palace, he advised former Labor communications director Alastair Campbell and his co-chair, former Tory MP Rory Stewart: “What the Archbishop of York and I and the bishops, largely, not at all unanimously, and the church is deeply divided on this – the place we've come to say that each one sexual exercise needs to be in a dedicated relationship, no matter whether or not it's straight or homosexual.”
Controversy was sparked by the archbishop's suggestion that the companies of the Prayer of Love and Religion (PLF) blessing for same-sex {couples}, which the Normal Synod voted for in February 2023 after a six-year session on Life in Love and Religion, have been to herald a change to the Church of England's educating on sexual morality.
The Church of England's Evangelical Council (CEEC) this week revealed a complete response to Archbishop Welby by the Reverend Dr. Andrew Goddard, CEEC Councilor and Lecturer in Ethics at Ridley Corridor Theological Faculty, Cambridge.
Goddard argued that “The Archbishop's interview gives the look that the Church of England, with the settlement of the vast majority of bishops, now teaches that sexual relations, together with same-sex sexual relations, are acceptable when married in a dedicated relationship.” both civil partnership or marriage'.
He continued: “In actual fact, the theological argument put ahead by the bishops (and a take a look at the authorized recommendation to the bishops may present that that is additionally central to the legality of the PLF) was that any sexual relationship aside from marriage between a person and a lady is opposite to the Church's educating on marriage .”
He concluded: “Such grossly misguided statements as these from the Archbishop of Canterbury, except swiftly adopted by an apology and correction, can solely contribute to the widespread erosion of belief and the rising sense of distrust, betrayal, deception, anger and despair now felt by a lot of of the Church of England in relation to the PLF course of and our archbishopric management.”
A media assertion from Lambeth Palace on October twenty second states: “In his interview on the Main (sic) podcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury was requested whether or not homosexual intercourse was sinful. Alastair Campbell was returning to this query when he first requested it to the Archbishop in 2017. throughout interview for GQ journal.
“In each interviews, Archbishop Justin spoke candidly in regards to the advanced points which have brought on deep divisions within the Church. In each interviews, he mentioned that what he sees as most necessary are secure, dedicated and trustworthy relationships.”
“Archbishop Justin offered a private perspective that displays the place he, the Archbishop of York and lots of different bishops now tackle sexual intimacy. He was trustworthy that his considering had developed through the years by a lot prayer and theological reflection – notably by the Residing in Love and Religion course of – and he now truthfully holds that view. It displays his dedication to proceed to be extra welcoming, loving and inclusive of LGBTQ+ folks within the lifetime of the Church.
The assertion emphasised Welby's “absolute dedication” to those that maintain the standard view that they’ve a “full and unquestioned place within the Church of England”. It claimed that his reply to Campbell “didn’t point out a change in educating from the Home of Bishops”.
It concluded: “That is an ongoing dialog throughout the Church – and Archbishop Justin hopes that bishops, along with clergy and laity, will proceed to hope and replicate on these points.”
However this assertion can solely serve to deepen the divisions between C and E and the worldwide Anglican Communion over sexual morality. It’s clear that Archbishop Welby not believes that intercourse outdoors heterosexual marriage is sinful.
Earlier than his ordination, Justin Welby belonged to Holy Trinity Brompton, the evangelical charismatic flagship of the C of E in London's Knightsbridge, which espouses conventional Christian intercourse ethics. He reiterated within the podcast that he himself doesn’t carry out same-sex blessings due to his position within the Anglican Communion, by which many provinces oppose such companies.
This diplomatic determination left open the query of whether or not the archbishop nonetheless personally holds the standard view. Nonetheless, he has now clarified his view that if a gay couple is in a trustworthy and dedicated relationship, their sexual exercise is morally acceptable within the eyes of God.
That’s the primary assertion from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the ramifications of which at the moment are set to play out within the C of E and the broader Anglican Communion.
Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar, now an evangelical journalist primarily based in Lancashire.
