Evangelicals reject plea from bishops
-23/9/03
Senior evangelicals meeting in Blackpool ignored pleas for tolerance and patience from the archbishop
Evangelicals reject plea from bishops
-23/9/03
Senior evangelicals meeting in Blackpool ignored pleas for tolerance and patience from the archbishops of Canterbury and York yesterday to send a message of support to parishes in the US and Canada which have fallen out over the issue of blessings for same sex couples and the election of an openly gay bishop reports the Guardian.
The move follows a decision by Michael Ingham, the bishop of the diocese of New Westminster, centred on Vancouver, to allow a service to be held for two middle-aged gay males earlier in the summer.
Ten other parishes were so outraged at the move that they have effectively declared independence from their bishop and have asked the neighbouring bishop of the Yukon to supervise them instead.
In the US Episcopal church, evangelicals are to meet in Dallas in a fortnight’s time to consider their response to the election of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, which may involve them declaring themselves out of communion with the rest of the church.
The decision to send the letter came as the evangelicals prepared to hold a debate last night on the issue of homosexuality. Most are deeply hostile to the church treating the condition as anything other than a sin and are strongly opposed to any attempt to soften the church’s stance.
During the debate, representatives were told that blessing same sex partnerships would be to replace God with an idol.
Edith Humphrey, a Canadian theology professor, said: “It would be to name God as the one who blesses an act for which repentance is required. We would replace God with an idol and so we would rend the church.”
Gordon Wenham, who teaches Old Testament studies at Cheltenham and Gloucester college of higher education, said modern attitudes to homosexuality were really examples of ancient paganism.
“(Paganism) is raising its head again. Other examples are religious pluralism, abolition of Sunday as universal rest day, abortion, cremation, easy divorce … we should not be intimidated by the charge of being old fashioned: it is the so-called liberals who are really taking us back to the dark ages,” he declared.
In their letter, sent from the National Evangelical Anglican Congress and addressed “to our sisters and brothers on the North American continent”, the English evangelicals say: “We know of the attacks that you have had to withstand in recent months and years. These attacks on so many areas of our shared biblical faith have been severe and stressful for many of you and we weep with you. We write to assure you of our deepest prayers and support. We pray also that He who is our Lord and Saviour will encourage you all to stand firm.”
Speaking to journalists at the congress on Sunday night David Hope, the Archbishop of York, appealed for calm within the Anglican communion and acknowledged Canon Robinson had been legitimately elected by the US church.
With Paul Gardner, the archdeacon of Exeter and signatory of the letter sitting beside him, Dr Hope said: “Whether we like it or not, you have to respect the autonomy of the different provinces. I have to face the fact that we are where we are and churches have to operate according to their canonical provisions.”
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has called an emergency meeting of the 38 primates of the worldwide communion at Lambeth Palace next month – which the US church will pay for at a cost of £70,000 – to try to keep the church from splitting apart over the gay issue.
African and third world archbishops and many English evangelicals have insisted the North American churches must be punished for deviancy by being suspended from the worldwide communion.
Evangelicals reject plea from bishops
-23/9/03
Senior evangelicals meeting in Blackpool ignored pleas for tolerance and patience from the archbishops of Canterbury and York yesterday to send a message of support to parishes in the US and Canada which have fallen out over the issue of blessings for same sex couples and the election of an openly gay bishop reports the Guardian.
The move follows a decision by Michael Ingham, the bishop of the diocese of New Westminster, centred on Vancouver, to allow a service to be held for two middle-aged gay males earlier in the summer.
Ten other parishes were so outraged at the move that they have effectively declared independence from their bishop and have asked the neighbouring bishop of the Yukon to supervise them instead.
In the US Episcopal church, evangelicals are to meet in Dallas in a fortnight’s time to consider their response to the election of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, which may involve them declaring themselves out of communion with the rest of the church.
The decision to send the letter came as the evangelicals prepared to hold a debate last night on the issue of homosexuality. Most are deeply hostile to the church treating the condition as anything other than a sin and are strongly opposed to any attempt to soften the church’s stance.
During the debate, representatives were told that blessing same sex partnerships would be to replace God with an idol.
Edith Humphrey, a Canadian theology professor, said: “It would be to name God as the one who blesses an act for which repentance is required. We would replace God with an idol and so we would rend the church.”
Gordon Wenham, who teaches Old Testament studies at Cheltenham and Gloucester college of higher education, said modern attitudes to homosexuality were really examples of ancient paganism.
“(Paganism) is raising its head again. Other examples are religious pluralism, abolition of Sunday as universal rest day, abortion, cremation, easy divorce … we should not be intimidated by the charge of being old fashioned: it is the so-called liberals who are really taking us back to the dark ages,” he declared.
In their letter, sent from the National Evangelical Anglican Congress and addressed “to our sisters and brothers on the North American continent”, the English evangelicals say: “We know of the attacks that you have had to withstand in recent months and years. These attacks on so many areas of our shared biblical faith have been severe and stressful for many of you and we weep with you. We write to assure you of our deepest prayers and support. We pray also that He who is our Lord and Saviour will encourage you all to stand firm.”
Speaking to journalists at the congress on Sunday night David Hope, the Archbishop of York, appealed for calm within the Anglican communion and acknowledged Canon Robinson had been legitimately elected by the US church.
With Paul Gardner, the archdeacon of Exeter and signatory of the letter sitting beside him, Dr Hope said: “Whether we like it or not, you have to respect the autonomy of the different provinces. I have to face the fact that we are where we are and churches have to operate according to their canonical provisions.”
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has called an emergency meeting of the 38 primates of the worldwide communion at Lambeth Palace next month – which the US church will pay for at a cost of £70,000 – to try to keep the church from splitting apart over the gay issue.
African and third world archbishops and many English evangelicals have insisted the North American churches must be punished for deviancy by being suspended from the worldwide communion.