Bishop denies Kenya trip was ended by gay row

-05/06/06

The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsf


Bishop denies Kenya trip was ended by gay row

-05/06/06

The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, has told the BBC that it is not true to say that his recent trip to Kenya with a group of curates was cut short because of a public row about his sympathy for lesbian and gay Christians. It was completed after a hiatus.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 ëSundayí programme yesterday, Bishop Gladwin said that hospitality continued to be extended by the Kenyan church in a ìquite overwhelmingî way ñ even after his patronage of Changing Attitude, which advocates the full inclusion of homosexual persons in the church, was made known.

The main aim of the trip was to visit educational projects and churches in favour of a linking arrangement between Chelmsford and Mount Kenya Diocese.

The events of the bishopís Kenya excursion have been the subject of intense media speculation, including reports that he blamed the devil for the way things worked out.

Meanwhile, the Most Rev Benjamin Nzimbi, Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, issued his own statement late last week, saying that ì[w]hen we differ with people in Africa, we still give them hospitality but this does not mean that we agree with them. We do not.î

He added: ìI have made no statement about whether we are in communion with [Bishop John Gladwin]. We will wait for that to be done collectively by the Provincial Synod.î

However, the die seems to be cast. For the archbishop also declared: ìI can say that anyone advocating for the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the leadership of the church cannot be in communion with the Province of Kenya because we have said categorically that we do not support that. They are not abiding with our stand so we cannot be in communion with them.î

Though characterized by commentators as a liberal these days, Bishop Gladwin, who is also chair of Christian Aid’s board, regards himself as being in continuity with his evangelical roots.

In his BBC interview he said that lesbian and gay Christians should be treated with the respect accorded to other baptised members of the church, without making an explicit comment on ìfull inclusionî.

Of the organization that he sponsors, along with the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, Bishop Gladwin said at a press conference after his Kenya trip: ìChanging Attitude is made up of members of the Church of England who are seeking to be loyal and faithful Christians. I think itís very important when dealing and working with groups of people who represent a challenge to us that we work with them rather than do things for them.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Evangelical Alliance criticised for slur against same-sex couples 31/05/06; Bible supports gay partnerships, says leading Anglican bishop 28/05/06; Archbishop’s envoy sent to quell Kenyan gay row 27/05/06; US faith group opposes constitutional ban on same-sex marriage 25/05/06; English bishop rejected in Kenya over gay row 25/05/06; Archbishop supports Gays and the Future of Anglicanism; Seeking a better way together – Oxford New Testament professor Chris Rowland says the Bible can support an affirmative approach to homosexuality; Lesbian and gay Christians warn of deepening dangers; Historic first meeting for gay Nigerian Christians; Bishop helps to launch new gay group; Church group builds bridges at gay festival; Bishop of Worcester supports gay civil partnerships; Pro-gay Anglicans say Nigerian Church ‘obsessed’ with gays; Cliff Richard asks the churches to go easy on gays; Poll suggests half of gay men hold religious beliefs; Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop]


Bishop denies Kenya trip was ended by gay row

-05/06/06

The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, has told the BBC that it is not true to say that his recent trip to Kenya with a group of curates was cut short because of a public row about his sympathy for lesbian and gay Christians. It was completed after a hiatus.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 ëSundayí programme yesterday, Bishop Gladwin said that hospitality continued to be extended by the Kenyan church in a ìquite overwhelmingî way ñ even after his patronage of Changing Attitude, which advocates the full inclusion of homosexual persons in the church, was made known.

The main aim of the trip was to visit educational projects and churches in favour of a linking arrangement between Chelmsford and Mount Kenya Diocese.

The events of the bishopís Kenya excursion have been the subject of intense media speculation, including reports that he blamed the devil for the way things worked out.

Meanwhile, the Most Rev Benjamin Nzimbi, Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, issued his own statement late last week, saying that ì[w]hen we differ with people in Africa, we still give them hospitality but this does not mean that we agree with them. We do not.î

He added: ìI have made no statement about whether we are in communion with [Bishop John Gladwin]. We will wait for that to be done collectively by the Provincial Synod.î

However, the die seems to be cast. For the archbishop also declared: ìI can say that anyone advocating for the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the leadership of the church cannot be in communion with the Province of Kenya because we have said categorically that we do not support that. They are not abiding with our stand so we cannot be in communion with them.î

Though characterized by commentators as a liberal these days, Bishop Gladwin, who is also chair of Christian Aid’s board, regards himself as being in continuity with his evangelical roots.

In his BBC interview he said that lesbian and gay Christians should be treated with the respect accorded to other baptised members of the church, without making an explicit comment on ìfull inclusionî.

Of the organization that he sponsors, along with the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, Bishop Gladwin said at a press conference after his Kenya trip: ìChanging Attitude is made up of members of the Church of England who are seeking to be loyal and faithful Christians. I think itís very important when dealing and working with groups of people who represent a challenge to us that we work with them rather than do things for them.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Evangelical Alliance criticised for slur against same-sex couples 31/05/06; Bible supports gay partnerships, says leading Anglican bishop 28/05/06; Archbishop’s envoy sent to quell Kenyan gay row 27/05/06; US faith group opposes constitutional ban on same-sex marriage 25/05/06; English bishop rejected in Kenya over gay row 25/05/06; Archbishop supports Gays and the Future of Anglicanism; Seeking a better way together – Oxford New Testament professor Chris Rowland says the Bible can support an affirmative approach to homosexuality; Lesbian and gay Christians warn of deepening dangers; Historic first meeting for gay Nigerian Christians; Bishop helps to launch new gay group; Church group builds bridges at gay festival; Bishop of Worcester supports gay civil partnerships; Pro-gay Anglicans say Nigerian Church ‘obsessed’ with gays; Cliff Richard asks the churches to go easy on gays; Poll suggests half of gay men hold religious beliefs; Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop]