Homosexuality and the Anglican Communion

Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution stating that "homosexual acts" are "incompatible with Scripture". In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the Anglican Church of Canada, permitted the blessing of same-sex unions. In 2003, two openly gay men in England and the United States became candidates for bishop. In the Church of England, Jeffrey John eventually succumbed to pressure to withdraw his name from consideration to be the Bishop of Reading. In the Episcopal Church in the United States, Gene Robinson was elected and consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion and in apostolic Christianity. This was highly controversial and led several hundred bishops to boycott the 2008 Lambeth Conference. As an alternative to Lambeth, many of these bishops attended the Global Anglican Futures Conference in Jerusalem.[1] The BBC, in 2009, reported that many clergy in the Church of England "already bless same-sex couples on an unofficial basis".[2] Many provinces, primarily from the Global South and representing about half of the 80 million active Anglicans worldwide, have responded to these theological disputes by declaring a state of impaired communion with their Western counterparts.[3] Minority groups in Western provinces have stated their opposition to what they consider un-scriptural actions by the churches in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Since 2000, some conservative Global South provinces have appointed missionary bishops to the United States and Canada to provide pastoral oversight to disaffected Anglicans. This process, known as Anglican realignment, is considered by the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada to be an illegitimate incursion into their territories; however, conservative Anglicans argued that the incursions were necessary because of the failure of these churches to uphold orthodox teaching with regard to human sexuality.[1] To date, "the more liberal provinces that are open to changing Church doctrine on marriage in order to allow same-sex unions include Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, South India, South Africa, the US and Wales".[4] Dioceses or regional bodies which also support same-sex unions are found in Australia,[5] England,[6] and Ireland.[7]

Summary of issues

Main article: Anglican doctrine

There is a wide range of beliefs within the Anglican Communion regarding homosexuality. The majority of followers believe that heterosexuality or celibacy is required of Christians, but believe in tolerance towards others. This differs from secular society in most western democracies, which considers homosexuality to be a normal human variation, and affirms this in law. Some of the more specific issues under study within member churches and dioceses are:

Anglican churches are diverse in their views, from churches which do not accept any LGBT members, to churches which are happy to have openly same-sex, partnered or married, non-celibate bishops. The nature of the Anglican Communion is such that not all churches or dioceses must agree on all issues in order to share a common faith and baptism. Part of the controversy concerns how much and what sort of disagreement over these issues may exist while still calling it a "common faith."

Gene Robinson controversy

Main article: Gay bishops
Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire

1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops

Regarding "human sexuality", the conference said that it upholds "faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage." Furthermore, it refused to "advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions."[12] The vote was 526-70.[13]

Gene Robinson consecrated bishop

In August 2003 the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire elected an openly gay and partnered priest, Gene Robinson, as bishop. This came shortly after a similar controversy in England when an openly gay priest, Canon Jeffrey John, was appointed to become the Suffragan Bishop of Reading. Eventually, however, John agreed to withdraw in order to avoid division. In 2004, in the aftermath of Robinson's election as bishop, John was installed as Dean of St Albans, the cathedral there being the site of England's first Christian martyr.

2003 Lambeth Palace meeting

As a result of the controversy over the ordination of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions, on 15 October 2003, Anglican leaders from around the world met in Lambeth Palace in an attempt to avoid a schism on the issue. The day after, they released a lengthy statement:[14]

We must make clear that recent actions in New Westminster and in the Episcopal Church (USA) do not express the mind of our Communion as a whole, and these decisions jeopardise our sacramental fellowship with each other. ...
If his [Gene Robinson's] consecration proceeds, we recognise that we have reached a crucial and critical point in the life of the Anglican Communion and we have had to conclude that the future of the Communion itself will be put in jeopardy. ...
In this case, the ministry of this one bishop will not be recognised by most of the Anglican world, and many provinces are likely to consider themselves to be out of Communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). This will tear the fabric of our Communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division on this and further issues as provinces have to decide in consequence whether they can remain in communion with provinces that choose not to break communion with the Episcopal Church (USA). ...
Similar considerations apply to the situation pertaining in the Diocese of New Westminster. We commend the report of that Conference in its entirety to all members of the Anglican Communion, valuing especially its emphasis on the need to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, and [...] to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ"; and its acknowledgement of the need for ongoing study on questions of human sexuality. ...
As Primates, it is not for us to pass judgement on the constitutional processes of another province. We recognise the sensitive balance between provincial autonomy and the expression of critical opinion by others on the internal actions of a province.

Statements from Rowan Williams

In 2004 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, wrote a letter to Anglican churches worldwide in which he condemned comments by bishops outside the Western world for inciting violence against gay men and women.[15]

Any words that could make it easier for someone to attack or abuse a homosexual person are words of which we must repent. Do not think repentance is always something others are called to, but acknowledge the failings we all share, sinful and struggling disciples as we are.

In a 2007 speech to theology students in Toronto, Williams argued that conservatives have failed to consider the wider context of Romans 1:27, which states, "and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for error." Williams pointed out that although St Paul (the author of this epistle) and his contemporaries viewed sex between two people of the same sex "as obviously immoral as idol worship or disobedience to parents", the main point of this passage is that humans must not judge one another for being sinful: Romans 2:1 says "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another: for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things." Williams admitted that his analysis "does nothing to settle the exegetical questions fiercely debated at the moment", but called upon conservatives to avoid self-righteousness rather than "happily identifying with Paul's castigation of someone else".[16]

Subsequent division

Bishops from two Anglican provinces, the Province of Rwanda and the Province of South East Asia, consecrated missionary bishops for the United States in January 2000 and formally established the Anglican Mission in America (now called the Anglican Mission in the Americas) later that year. In 2010, a similar jurisdiction created by the Reformed Episcopal Church and former members and congregations of the Episcopal Church in the USA was officially launched. Four dioceses which withdrew from the Episcopal Church account for the majority of the nearly 700 congregations affiliated with this church, the Anglican Church in North America. These two bodies—AMiA and ACNA—reject the creation of rites for same-sex unions as well as the ordination of openly gay people. Neither is a member of the Anglican Communion at present (see Anglican realignment).

Bishops in Uganda cut relations with the Diocese of New Hampshire following Robinson's consecration on 2 November 2003. The Church of Nigeria declared itself in "impaired communion" with the Episcopal Church on 2 November 2003,[17] and nine days later announced it was planning to establish a United States branch of its province to support Nigerian Anglicans living in the U.S., the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. The Province of South East Asia broke communion with the Episcopal Church on 20 November 2003, citing Robinson's consecration as the reason for its action.[18]

Windsor Report and 2005 Primates Meeting

In 2004, the Lambeth Commission on Communion issued a report on homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, which became known as the Windsor Report. This report took a strong stand against same-sex attracted people, recommended a moratorium on further consecrations of openly gay bishops and blessings of same-sex unions and marriages,[19] and called for all involved in Robinson's consecration "to consider in all conscience whether they should withdraw themselves from representative functions in the Anglican Communion".[20] However, it stopped short of recommending discipline against the Episcopal Church or Anglican Church of Canada.

In February 2005, the Primates of the Anglican Communion held a regular meeting at Dromantine in Northern Ireland at which sexual orientation was heavily discussed. Of the 38 Primates, 35 attended. The Primates issued a communiqué that reiterated most of the Windsor Report's statements, but added a new twist. Both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada were asked to voluntarily withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council, the main formal international entity within the Anglican Communion until the next Lambeth Conference in 2008.[21]

2007 Primates’ Meeting

The “Communiqué of the Primates’ Meeting, February 2007" (Sec 17, 4) asserted its "belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 by consenting to the episcopal election of a candidate living in a committed same-sex relationship, and by permitting Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions. The episcopal ministry of a person living in a same-sex relationship is not acceptable to the majority of the Communion."[22]

Consecration of Mary Douglas Glasspool

In December 2009 an openly lesbian priest, Mary Douglas Glasspool, was elected as a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Her consecration took place on 15 May 2010.[23] Leaders from 20 Anglican provinces, meeting in Singapore in April 2010 declared the election and intended consecration of Canon Mary Glasspool, a partnered lesbian in the Episcopal Church in the United States, “demonstrated, yet again, a total disregard for the mind of the Communion”.[24]

2016 Primates’ Meeting

A majority of the primates voted to punish the Episcopal Church for revising its canons and marriage rites allowing same-sex marriage.[25]

The primates' communiqué included these words:

It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.[26]

The communiqué condemned "homophobic prejudice and violence and resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation", adding that "this conviction arises out of our discipleship of Jesus Christ."[27]

Archbishop of Canterbury apologises

Shortly after the meeting of the Anglican primates, Archbishop Justin Welby held a press conference in which he apologised “to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for the hurt and pain they have experienced by the Anglican Communion over the years.” Welby said, “it is for me a constant source of deep sadness that people are persecuted for their sexuality … I want to take this opportunity personally to say how sorry I am for the hurt and pain in the past and present that the church has caused.”[27]

Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon demurs

Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, sat with Welby at the press conference. He spoke of the “frustration in some African provinces of Western cultural understandings of sexuality being ‘imposed’ on their communities.”[27]

Differing stances

Within the Anglican Communion there is diverse opinion over sexual orientation.[28]

Church of England

Main article: Church of England

The issue erupted when Jeffrey John, an openly gay priest, was elected Bishop of Reading in May 2003. Before he could take up his post there was strong opposition from a minority of bishops and he was persuaded to not proceed with the appointment. However, many senior bishops have voiced disappointment at his decision to resign. Later in 2004 he was installed as Dean of St. Albans. Further controversy erupted when churches in the Diocese of St Albans decided that they would withhold contributions until further notice to protest this appointment. St. Peter and Paul's Church in Cranfield, near Bedford, and Holy Trinity Church in New Barnet, north of Greater London, pledged to withhold money from diocesan funds in protest. St Andrew's Church in the Hertfordshire town of Chorleywood also announced that it would withhold funds until further notice. In 2005, in another controversial act, the Rt. Rev. David Jenkins, the former Bishop of Durham, offered a blessing for a vicar who had entered into a same-sex partnership.[29] In 2008, St. Bartholomew's Church in London also offered a rite of blessing for two priests entering into a same-sex civil partnership.[30] Nevertheless, other dioceses and parishes supported the inclusion of gay and lesbian priests. In 2008, the Diocese of London provided guidelines with permission to provide a service of dedication for civil partnerships.[31] As a result, in 2011, the General Synod voted to extend pensions and employee benefits to gay and lesbian priests living with their partners in civil unions.[32] In 2012, the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, London, the Very Revd David Ison, announced his support for same-sex marriage and said that he had officiated at blessings or prayer services for same-sex couples.[33] Changing Attitude UK, an affirming group of clergy, laity, and churches within the Church of England, provides a list of prayer services allowed including a "Service of Celebration following a Civil Partnership".[34]

In 2013, some in the Church of England planned a liturgical blessing of gay couples.[35] In 2014 the Church of England's House of Bishops decided against special blessings but allowed "More informal kinds of prayer, at the request of the couple [but this should] be accompanied by pastoral discussion of the Church's teaching and [the couple's] reasons for departing from it." The Revd Andrew Cain, of St Mary's Church, Kilburn and St James' Church West, in North London planned to defy the ban and bless same-sex marriages,[36] as did a few others.[37] Weighing in on the issue, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, avoided taking a position on blessing same-sex marriages but did endorse civil gay marriages and prayer ceremonies to mark the important occasion for same-sex couples.[38] Some congregations and clergy, as allowed by the permission for "informal kinds of prayer", such as St John's Church in Waterloo in South London, have begun to invite same-sex couples to receive "services of thanksgiving following a civil marriage ceremony".[39] Same-sex attracted people who are ordained deacons, priests and bishops are forbidden to marry someone of the same sex and same-sex attracted people who are married to someone of the same sex are forbidden to be ordained.[40] Ben Bradshaw MP wanted the position of the Church of England clarified. Specifically, he demanded to know if Church of England clergy who married a same-sex partner would be disciplined or defrocked.[41] Gay people, including those in same-sex civil partnerships or marriages, are allowed to become clerics but are expected to remain celibate.[42] The Huffington Post wrote in a 2014 article that gay clergy who enter into same-sex marriage or bless same-sex marriages risk being defrocked and losing their jobs.[43] Seven clerics planned to marry regardless, defying their bishops.[37] Some Church of England bishops, however, fully accept and embrace gay clergy with partners or spouses in their diocese while other bishops remove the licenses of such clergy, making it extremely difficult for them to find a position in another diocese.[44] In 2014, Jeremy Pemberton married Laurence Cunnington, thus becoming the first priest in the Church of England to defy the church's ban on the marriage of gay clergy.[45] Also in 2014, an openly lesbian, and trans, vicar was appointed as a minor canon in Manchester Cathedral.[46]

In 2015, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, told a lay preacher, Jeremy Timm, that if he persisted with plans to marry his long-time partner, his license to preach in Anglican churches would be revoked. As of August 2015, an agreement was reached: Timm would complete existing preaching commitments before revocation. Timm announced his plans to be married in September 2015 and to leave the Church of England[47] for "Contemplative Fire", a dispersed, diverse, and inclusive group that is primarily Anglican.[48][49] However, other bishops have supported same-gender marriage and have advocated for the right of gay priests to marry. For example, the Rt. Rev. Nick Holtam, the bishop of Salisbury, endorsed same-sex marriage following its passage.[50] In December 2015, the bishop of Buckingham announced his support for same-gender marriage within the church.[51] In 2016, the General Synod announced that, in response to the growing support for gay marriage, it will reconsider allowing blessing rites for same-gender couples entering into marriage.[52] Additionally, an openly married gay priest was elected to the 2016 General Synod representing a historic moment for gay rights in the church.[53]

Church of Ireland

Main article: Church of Ireland

Within the Church of Ireland there is a wide spectrum of opinion. Conservatives expressed great concern about the blessing of the relationship of a lesbian couple in St. Nicolas' Collegiate Church, Galway in September 2002. The rector of the parish, the Reverend Patrick Towers, told the press, "I refuse to do weddings of same gender couples as they simply don't exist. But I am always very happy to look favourably on anyone seeking a blessing, be it for divorced couples, animals or friendships. It was a standard blessing, one I wrote myself, based on the Claddagh ring theme."[54] There was also widespread concern within the Church of Ireland at the Bishop of Limerick's attendance at Gene Robinson's consecration.[55][56] Views at parish level reflect this, with many evangelical parishes as well as those in the more populous (in terms of Church of Ireland membership) north being generally opposed to LGBT identities, while middle and high church parishes, especially in the south, have openly gay parishioners as a matter of routine. For example, at General Synod 2005, Dean Michael Burrows (now a bishop) stated that he regularly gives Holy Communion to same-sex attracted parishioners in long-standing relationships.[57] Moreover, many of the church's congregations, including seven cathedrals, are publicly and officially affirming of same-sex couples.[58]

The bishops have announced a process of listening and reflection within the church. A preliminary response to the Windsor Report was produced by the church's standing committee in January 2005. Most of the northern dioceses passed motions favouring the Lambeth Conference's Resolution I.10, although a similar motion failed to receive overall endorsement in the Diocese of Connor, covering most of County Antrim and the diocese with the most members in the Church of Ireland.[59] Then, in 2010, the denomination recognized that a congregation within the church had received the 'Straight-up' Rebel award, an LGBT award, for its special services for LGBTI people.[60] In 2011, during this long period of reflection, a senior priest in the Church of Ireland entered into a same-sex civil partnership and the relationship was celebrated by his community.[61] Since then, other priests have been taking the time and opportunity to come out about their experiences.

In 2015, the Bishop of Cork, Paul Colton, announced his support of same-sex marriage, becoming the first Church of Ireland bishop to do so, saying that "The events in society are moving very rapidly and the church is not at all up to pace with the debate."[62] Following Bishop Colton, two retired archbishops of Dublin also voiced their 'yes' vote in favour of same-sex marriages.[63] While opposing gay marriage, Bishop Pat Storey, Ireland's first woman bishop, did endorse and express support for same-sex civil unions.[64] On May 23, 2015, the people of Ireland voted in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage, the first country to do such by popular vote.[65] In 2016, the Church of Ireland released a pastoral letter offering guidelines on same-gender marriage. Although the Church of Ireland does not currently offer marriage or blessing rites, the guidelines do allow for bishops to permit gay priests to legally marry and also allow priests to offer formal prayers on behalf of the newly married couples.[66] REFORM Ireland, a conservative lobby within the Church of Ireland, has rejected the contents of the letter, arguing that it is too moderate and open to the possibility of change.[67] Most recently, in 2016, many clergy in the Church of Ireland signed a letter supporting the U.S Episcopal Church and its open stance toward blessing same-sex couples.[68] In January 2016, the Church of Ireland Gazette, which is "editorially independent of the denomination", endorsed and supported a blessing rite for same-sex marriages in the church.[69]

Church in Wales

Main article: Church in Wales

The Church in Wales currently has clergy and lay members with differing views regarding the subject of human sexuality. However, the trend has been for the church to move in a more liberal direction. In 2011, the Church in Wales allowed priests in civil partnerships to receive full employee benefits.[70] In 2012, the Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples and encouraged other Anglicans to support the legislation.[71] After the archbishop offered his support for the civil policy, some bishops and dioceses developed legislation to alter the official position of the Church in Wales. In 2015, the governing body voted in favour of same-sex marriages, but a policy change requires further action. During the consultation and discussion, 58% of respondents voted in favour of same-gender marriage while 42% opposed. Among the dioceses, the Diocese of St Asaph and the Diocese of Llandaff overwhelmingly supported same-sex marriage.[72] In April 2016, the Bench of Bishops decided to fully affirm same-sex couples and offer prayers of solemnisation for same-sex marriages. Of the prayers provided for same-sex couples, Form One gives God thanks "for [the two people], who have found such love and companionship in each other, that it has led them to dedicate their lives in support of one another".[73]

Scottish Episcopal Church

The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) does not have a policy against ordaining non-celibate gay clergy, thus such ordinations are theoretically allowed. They announced this on 23 March 2005:

"[We] had never regarded the fact that someone was in a close relationship with a member of the same sex as in itself constituting a bar to the exercise of an ordained ministry...We do not have a synodical decision like the Church of England has, which it made a number of years ago, and therefore if someone who was of a homosexual orientation felt a sense of call to the ordained ministry then we would begin the process of testing that vocation. We wouldn't bar him or her simply because they were homosexual."

Sensational headlines in North America announced that the Scottish Episcopal Church had agreed to ordain gay and lesbian people in committed relationships. The Church thus released a statement pointing out that the policy was not news. Regarding the media release, the Church said: "Press interest has focused on one small part of the overall statement". It continued to say that:

"In referring to the fact that there is no current bar to ordination for someone who might be in a close relationship with a member of the same sex, the Bishops were simply stating the present position as it applies in Scotland where, unlike some other provinces, no motion discouraging such ordinations has ever been passed by our General Synod. Consequently, the statement earlier this month does not represent any change in policy on the part of the Bishops."[74]

In 2015, the Scottish Episcopal Church voted in favour of same-sex marriage ceremonies.[75] Following that vote, the Dundee cathedral hosted its first same-sex wedding.[76]

Church of South India

Main article: Church of South India

(India)

The Church of South India, although divided in opinion like many Anglican provinces, has many outspoken clergy in favor of rights for same-sex couples. "The Church of South India (CSI) [is] a relatively liberal Protestant church which has, since 1984, allowed women to become pastors. 'CSI has been liberal on these issues. It has taken up issues of gender, dalits and landlessness. It has to address the issue of sexual minorities too'".[77] In 2009, the Rev. Rajkumar, a presbyter in the Church of South India, stated that opposition to the rights of same-sex couples is a violation of human rights.[78] In 2015, St. Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore, a congregation of the Church of South India, hosted a forum on preventing homophobia, and the Rev. Rajkumar, again, reiterated his support for gay rights.[79] Moreover, during the week of the Primates' meeting in Canterbury, the Church of South India was listed by the BBC as being among the Anglican provinces open to blessing same-sex couples.[80]

Church of the Province of South East Asia

(Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam)

The Province of South East Asia criticised the confirmation of Gene Robinson as a bishop by the Episcopal Church (USA), stating:

"The said confirmation therefore seriously raises the question of ECUSA's genuine commitment to our corporate responsibility as members of the church catholic to uphold and promote only the Apostolic Faith and Order inherited. A natural, holistic and consistent reading of the Scriptures clearly show that it is against the practise of homosexuality. In the context of orthodox and classical Christianity, the canonical authority of the Scriptures is taken to be recognized and received by the community of faith and not subject to majority, culturally relevant or even theological voting."[81]

On 24 November 2003, the province declared that it had entered into a state of impaired communion with the Episcopal Church by releasing the following statement:

"The Synod of the Province of the Anglican Church of South East Asia unanimously rejects the purported consecration of Dr Gene Robinson on 2 November 2003 by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in New Hampshire, as a bishop in the Anglican Church. The Province views the purported consecration as a flagrant disregard of the fundamental teachings of the Bible and the long-established doctrines of the Church.
As the Rev. Gene Robinson is a practising homosexual who had divorced his wife and has, for the last 13 years, been living with a male partner, the Province cannot and does not recognize his consecration and ministry in the Anglican church.
In view of the ECUSA's action in proceeding with the consecration despite the warnings and pleas of a large majority of Anglican churches worldwide, the Province regrets that communion with the ECUSA as well as those who voted for the consecration and those who participated in the consecration service is now broken.
This means that the Province no longer treats those in ECUSA who carried out and supported the act of consecration as brothers and sisters in Christ unless and until they repent of their action and return to embrace Biblical truths. At the same time, the Province remains in fellowship with the faithful believers within ECUSA who rightly oppose and reject the erroneous actions of their house.
This decision was made unanimously at an extraordinary meeting of the Synod held in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia, on 20 November 2003."[18]

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Hong Kong Anglican Church)

The fourth General Synod of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, at its meeting on 15 October 2007, resolved that the Anglican Church in Hong Kong and Macau supports the recommendations contained in the Windsor Report so as to safeguard the unity of the Anglican Communion. However, in 2013, some leaders in the Hong Kong Anglican Church endorsed civil rights legislation that provided legal protection for the LGBT community from discrimination.[82] Additionally, in 2015, the Rev. Peter Douglas Koon, the Anglican province's secretary general, objected to discrimination occurring in conservative schools and emphatically assured the LGBT community that Anglican schools would be accepting of LGBT faculty and students.[83]

Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

There is no officially stated policy,[84] and members are divided regarding agreement with the Windsor Report and Lambeth Conference. There is no single national approach toward the ordination of openly gay or lesbian clergy, although individual dioceses have supported or opposed the inclusion of LGBT clergy. However, in 2016, it has been announced that the province will go forward in nationally supporting same-gender blessing rites.[85] Some Pākehā parishes are more open to gay and lesbian issues, including ordination and blessing of unions. The Dunedin and Auckland dioceses are notable for other such examples, including the ordination of a non-celibate gay priest and the blessings of same-sex relationships performed by priests in an official capacity.[86] The Diocese of Auckland has also established policies in favour of ordaining partnered gay and lesbian priests.[87]

New Zealand writer Liz Lightfoot has documented the experiences of individuals coming out in the Anglican Church as a contribution to the 'listening process' in the Anglican Church.[88]

In 2014, General Synod passes a resolution that would create a pathway towards the blessing of same-sex relationships, while upholding the traditional doctrine of marriage.[89]

Anglican Church of Australia

Officially, the Anglican Church of Australia has no single position on sexual orientation.[90] At its 2004 General Synod held in Perth, the church passed four resolutions on human sexuality. The key resolutions stated that, "Recognising that this is a matter of ongoing debate and conversation in this church and that we all have an obligation to listen to each other with respect, this General Synod does not condone the liturgical blessing of same sex relationships" and "this General Synod does not condone the ordination of people in open committed same sex relationships."[91] The former primate, Phillip Aspinall, has stated that the topic is not worth splitting the church over.[92] Archbishop Aspinall has also stated that he does not take an official position on the ordination of gay clergy, preferring instead to encourage respectful conversation.[93] Another former primate, Archbishop Peter Carnley, stated that he believed "life-long gay relationships and commitments...could receive church blessings.[94] Peter Jensen, the former archbishop of the strongly conservative Evangelical Diocese of Sydney, has vigorously opposed homosexuality, stating that, in spite of St. Peter's revelation that "God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean",[95] accepting non-heterosexual people would be "calling holy what God called sin".[96] Archbishop Peter Carnley, criticised "Sydney Anglicans" for "empty moralizing" and questioned if the Bible condemns homosexuality in a statement:

The exact meaning to be read from these texts and whether they can rightly be made to provide a neat pre-packaged answer to our contemporary questions is what is at issue. Anybody brave enough to claim to know the inner mind of God on the basis of a personal claim to be privy to the only conceivable interpretation of some biblical texts is guilty of self-delusion.[97]

St Andrew's Church in Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia, was the first Anglican church in Australia to publicly welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Its Sunday evening services are specifically for LGBT people.[98] Since then, other dioceses have taken affirming stances toward same-sex couples and LGBT clergy. In 2013, the Diocese of Perth voted in favor of honoring same-sex marriages.[99] In 2011, the Diocese of Adelaide elected a new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Tim Harris, and he supported allowing LGBT clergy if they agreed to be celibate, but, at the same time, he expressed that he is open to conversation about change.[100] Moreover, in 2012, the Diocese of Gippsland appointed an openly gay priest,[101] and, in 2015, the Bishop of Wangaratta endorsed same-sex marriage.[102] Additionally, the bishop of the Diocese of Grafton, the Rt. Rev. Sarah Macneil, has been affirming and supportive of LGBT clergy and relationships.[103] So far, two cathedrals, the cathedral of the Diocese of Grafton and St. John's Cathedral in the Diocese of Brisbane have officially become supportive and affirming of LGBT people.[104] Towards the end of 2015, Bishop Greg Thompson of the Diocese of Newcastle has called for conversation and has said that he opposes discrimination against LGBT people.[105] Also in 2015, the Social Responsibilities Committee of the Anglican Church in Southern Queensland endorsed civil unions for same-sex couples.[106]

Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of America

Archbishop Gregory Venables has also been strongly critical of homosexuality. Bishops in his province criticised the Windsor Report for failing to call liberal churches to repentance. The province has declared itself in "impaired communion" with ECUSA, but continues to maintain full communion with opponents of the Robinson consecration.[107] Venables has authorised dioceses within his province to provide episcopal oversight to United States churches that have left ECUSA.

In December 2007, the convention of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, an Episcopal Church diocese in central California, voted to leave the ECUSA and joined the Province of the Southern Cone as the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin. A minority of the Episcopal Diocese remained in the ECUSA. In October 2008, a majority of the convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh voted to leave ECUSA and affiliate with the Southern Cone, resulting in one body affiliated with the Southern Cone and a second body remaining within ECUSA. The following month, the conventions of two more US dioceses—the Diocese of Quincy in Illinois and the Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas—voted to leave ECUSA and affiliate with the Southern Cone. All were subsequently absorbed into the new Anglican Church in North America.

Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil

The Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil is characterised by its progressive theological views on homosexuality. After the 1998 Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Church in Brazil decided to promote two national forums on human sexuality, both held in Rio de Janeiro. Its decisions guided the policy. According to the final document, the consensus of the Brazilian Church is that human sexuality is a gift from God, and it should be experienced in peace, freedom, love and respect. The Church has approved of the ordination of openly gay priests and has offered blessing services for same-sex marriages.[108] It is understood that the Church should respect the privacy of its members and clergy. Any kind of public exposure of someone's sexual orientation (as a pre-requisite to be a member or take part of any ministry) violates this privacy. Because of that progressive position, the Bishop of the Diocese of Recife, still strongly Evangelical, Robinson Cavalcanti, declared Recife to be independent of the Church of Brazil, an action that resulted in his being deposed as a bishop by the Ecclesiastical Tribunal.[109] Among his main reasons, he pointed out that the Brazilian Church was sympathetic to the ordination of Gene Robinson, as well as the ordination of all LGBT people. This split the Diocese of Recife in two: one part loyal to Bishop Orlando Santos de Oliveira, primate of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil, and currently coordinated by Bishop Sebastião Gameleira, and the other, under Cavalcanti's leadership, tied to the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

Anglican Church of Canada

Sexual orientation and the Anglican Church of Canada exist within a strictly Canadian context. In the secular context, Canadian law underwent a profound change in regards to homosexuality. The last same-sex attracted person to be sent to prison indefinitely as a "dangerous sex offender" was in 1967.[110] In 1969, the Canadian parliament passed amendments of the Criminal Code, decriminalising homosexuality in Canada.[110] On 20 July 1971, the last gay man criminally convicted because of his sexual orientation was released from prison.[110] A series of judicial rulings beginning in 2003 legalised same-sex marriage in the majority of Canada's provinces, and on 20 July 2005, the Canadian government extended the new definition nationwide by statute.[110]

Currently ten Anglican dioceses (Edmonton, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Rupert’s Land, Ottawa, Vancouver-based New Westminster, Toronto, London-based Huron, Hamilton-based Niagara, Montreal, and Victoria-based British Columbia) allow the blessing and marriage of same-sex couples. The Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (formerly the Diocese of Cariboo) also permit such rites.[111]

On 30 September 2012, the Anglican bishop of Saskatoon ordained as deacon an individual civilly married to a person of the same sex.[112]

At the General Synod on July 6, 2013, the Anglican Church Of Canada made the decision to vote on the issue of same-sex marriage at the following Synod in 2016. The vote that is slated to take place at the 2016 Synod will decide whether or not to change the Church's canon on marriage, and “to allow the marriage of same-sex couples in the same way as opposite sex couples.” If the vote at the 2016 Synod is in favour of changing the marriage canon, it would then require a second vote at the following Synod in order for the canon to be changed. The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada meets every three years.

Episcopal Church in the United States of America

See also: Ellen Barrett

In 2003, ECUSA became the first Anglican province to ordain an openly gay priest in a same-sex relationship as a bishop; however, the Episcopal Church's stance on LGBT matters had been debated for decades. In 1976, the Church's General Convention passed a resolution stating: "It is the sense of this General Convention that homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church."[113]

Various interpretations were held within the Episcopal Church on this resolution, ranging from the majority of dioceses that now ordain non-celibate gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clergy to the minority group who founded the Anglican Communion Network which currently opposes such ordinations. On 23 June 2005, The Episcopal Church defined its meaning in a 130-page document entitled "To Set Our Hope on Christ":

We believe that God has been opening our eyes to acts of God that we had not known how to see before ... the eligibility for ordination of those in covenanted same-sex unions ... a person living in a same-gendered union may be eligible to lead the flock of Christ ... members of the Episcopal Church have discerned holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination or consecration of persons in those unions ... Their holiness stands in stark contrast with many sinful patterns of sexuality in the world ... The idea that there is only one correct way to read or interpret scripture is a rather modern idea.[114]

In July 2009, the General Convention voted to allow bishops to bless same-sex unions, and also called for bishops to "collect and develop theological and liturgical resources" for possibly creating an official rite for such ceremonies at the 2012 General Convention.[115][116]

In January 2010, the Reverend Mally Lloyd and the Reverend Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, two prominent Episcopal priests, married in a ceremony at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, Massachusetts.[117]

In 2012, the General Convention approved an official liturgy for blessing same-sex unions, called “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant,” while making it clear that it was not marriage. The action enabled priests to bestow the church’s blessing on gay couples even in states where same-sex marriage is illegal, subject to the approval of the bishops.[118]

In 2015, the General Convention approved “canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians.” The canonical change eliminated “language defining marriage as between a man and a woman.” The liturgical change provided two marriage rites for use by same-sex or opposite-sex couples with consent of the priest and permission of the bishop.[119]

Church in the Province of the West Indies

Archbishop Gomez has said Gene Robinson's ordination is incompatible with Scripture.[92]

Church of the Province of Central Africa

Archbishop Malango was quoted as stating Gene Robinson's election "brought darkness, disappointment, sadness and grief" to his Church.[120]

Anglican Church of Kenya

Archbishop Nzimbi has strongly spoken against admitting non-celibate same-sex attracted people into the Church.[92]

Anglican Church of Korea

The Anglican Church of Korea is among the more liberal provinces in the Anglican Communion.[121] In 2015, some clergy, members, and congregations of the province participated in an LGBT Pride event and have been affirming of equal rights for gays and lesbians.[122]

Church of Nigeria

Main article: Church of Nigeria

The Church remains sharply opposed to homosexuality, calling it "a perversion of human dignity."[11] In March 2009, the Church declared itself in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America, a denomination formed by American and Canadian Anglicans who opposed their national churches' actions with regard to homosexuality and equality.[123]

Anglican Church in Central America

The Anglican Church in Central America consists of five churches representing different Central American countries. Therefore, it appears that each member church is able to make its own decisions. In 2013, priests and ministries in the Diocese of El Salvador began to advocate for the full inclusion of LGBT members.[124]

Anglican Church of Mexico

The Anglican Church of Mexico, like the other North American provinces, has expressed more liberal views regarding gender and sexuality. Presiding Bishop Carlos Touché-Porter affirmed that Bishop Gene Robinson was not the first gay cleric, but that he was simply being honest.[125] Furthermore, in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI approached the Anglican Church with the possibility of joining the Catholic Church over issues of sexuality, Presiding Bishop Carlos reassured his province that he supported remaining within the Anglican Communion.[126] Among the affirming churches, St. Mark's Anglican Church in Guadalajara, Jalisco is publicly supportive of gay, lesbian, and transgender members.[127]

Anglican Church of Southern Africa

The previous Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, stated: "The Jesus I worship is not likely to collaborate with those who vilify and persecute an already oppressed minority [...]. I could not myself keep quiet whilst people were being penalised for something about which they could do nothing, their sexuality. For it is so improbable that any sane, normal person would deliberately choose a lifestyle exposing him or her to so much vilification, opprobrium and physical abuse, even death. To discriminate against our sisters and brothers who are lesbian or gay on grounds of their sexual orientation for me is as totally unacceptable and unjust as Apartheid ever was.[128]"

Former Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane has criticised other African Churches regarding homosexuality and said that the church's attention should be focused on other concerns such as AIDS and poverty. Nevertheless, Ndungane expressed publicly his disapproval of same-sex marriage, when it was legalised in South Africa: "As far as we are concerned as a church, our understanding of marriage is between a man and a woman. And as a church, and the Anglican Church in particular, we have said no to same-sex unions."[129] However, in 2016, the bishops of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa voted to affirm members in same-gender marriages as fully equal members of the Church.[130]

Additionally, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa does not have an official policy regarding the ordination of openly gay or lesbian ministers and, thus, some priests may identify as LGBT depending on their diocese.[131] In 2003, for example, the Rev. Rowan Smith, the dean of St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, was warmly celebrated by his congregation after coming out as gay.[132] Moreover, the Rt. Rev. Mervyn Castle, who is openly gay and celibate, was consecrated suffragan bishop in Cape Town.[133] Still, while gay and lesbian clergy may be locally ordained, the national church has not yet developed liturgies to bless same-gender unions. Nevertheless, the Diocese of Cape Town, in 2009, did vote in favour of recognising same-gender unions pastorally and the diocese committed itself to studying the issue further.[134]

Episcopal Church of the Sudan

The Primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, on 22 July at a public press conference during the 2008 Lambeth Conference called for Bishop Gene Robinson to resign, and for all those who had participated in his consecration to confess their sins to the conference.[135]

Anglican Church of Tanzania

In November 2003, responding to the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, Archbishop Donald Mtetemela stated his belief that homosexuality is against biblical teaching: "The Anglican Church of Tanzania believes that homosexuality is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God. It is a sin."[136] Mtetemela declared that the Church of Tanzania was no longer in communion with Episcopal Church bishops who participated in the consecration of Robinson, and those who permit the blessing of same-sex unions.[136]

Church of the Province of Uganda

The Ugandan church cut ties with its North American counterparts over homosexuality. It declared itself in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America, a denomination not recognised by the Anglican Communion that was formed by lay and clergy members who had left The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over matters of LGBT inclusion.[137]

Church of Melanesia

Main article: Church of Melanesia

In 1998, the Council of Bishops requested that the Rt Rev Terry Brown "draft a study paper on on homosexuality for the Church of Melanesia...".[138] In 2007, Bishop Terry Brown, a former Bishop of Malaita reflected on his experience "as an 'out' gay man serving as bishop".[139]

See also

References

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  2. ↑ "Christian attitudes to same-sex marriage". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ The Tablet, 26 July 2003,Row over homosexuality splits Anglican Communion. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  4. ↑ "Church split over homosexuality would be a failure - Welby - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  5. ↑ Vogler, Sarah (November 7, 2015). "Same-sex marriage: Arm of Anglican Church supports civil unions in Queensland". couriermail.com.au. Courier Mail. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Church will embrace gay marriage, says Archbishop Welby". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Archbishops and leading theologian call for Yes vote". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  8. ↑ David Skidmore, 7 August 1998, Lambeth Conference 1998 Archives. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  9. ↑ Site of The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Conference
  10. 1 2 Church of England News, 25 July 2005.House of Bishops issues pastoral statement on Civil Partnerships. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
  11. 1 2 Peter Akinola, Message to the nation. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  12. ↑ 1998 Lambeth Conference, Resolution 1.10, "Human Sexuality", Online at http://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/document-library/lambeth-conference/1998/section-i-called-to-full-humanity/section-i10-human-sexuality?author=Lambeth+Conference&year=1998.
  13. ↑ Robert W. Prichard, A History of the Episcopal Church (Morehouse 3rd rev ed, 2014), p. 402.
  14. ↑ BBC News, 16 October 2003, Anglican leaders' statement. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  15. ↑ BBC News, 28 November 2004,Churches warned over 'gay slurs'. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
  16. ↑ Tom Heneghan, Yahoo! News,Anglican head Williams says anti-gays misread Bible. Retrieved 19 April 2007.
  17. ↑ Peter J. Akinola, Statement of the Primates of the Global South in the Anglican Communion in response to the consecration of Gene Robinson on 2 November 2003. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  18. 1 2 Office of the Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia, 24 November 2003. Breaking of Communion with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America (ECUSA) consequent on the purported consecration of a gay bishop. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
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  25. ↑ The Episcopal Church (United States) at its 2015 triennial General Convention adopted "canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians." The canonical change eliminated "language defining marriage as between a man and a woman." The two new marriage rites contain language that allows "them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples." Episcopal News Service staff, "General Convention wrap-up: Historic actions, structural changes" (7 July 2015). Online at http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/.
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  37. 1 2 Archbishop of Canterbury signals end of C of E's resistance to gay marriage
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  54. ↑ Daily Mirror, 28 September 2002, Lesbian couple get church blessing. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
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  110. 1 2 3 4 In Depth Same-sex rights Canada timeline
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  112. ↑ statement from the Rupert's Land Province house of bishops on the ordination of a gay man
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  114. ↑ Jill Lawless, Associated Press, 21 June 2005. U.S. Episcopals Defend Openly Gay Bishop. Accessed 17 July 2007.
  115. ↑ Goodstein, Laurie (16 July 2009). "Episcopal Bishops Give Ground on Gay Marriage". The New York Times.
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  117. ↑ Advocate:Two Lesbian Priests Tie the Knot
  118. ↑ Goodstein, Laurie (2012-07-10). "Episcopalians Approve Rite to Bless Same-Sex Unions". The New York Times.
  119. ↑ Episcopal News Service staff, “General Convention wrap-up: Historic actions, structural changes” (July 7, 2015). Online at http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/07/07/general-convention-wrap-up-historic-actions-structural-changes/.
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  123. ↑ Hodges, Sam (20 March 2009). "Church of Nigeria in full communion with Anglican Church of North America". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  124. ↑ "La formación de un ministerio para los HBT en El Salvador". Episcopal News Service. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  125. ↑ Figueroa, Héctor. "Habrá obispo mexicana en unos años: Iglesia Anglicana". excelsior.com.mx. Excelsior. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  126. ↑ Ramírez, Mariana Viayra. "Anglicanos mexicanos rechazan unirse a la Iglesia católica". cronica.com.mx. La Crónica. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
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  128. ↑ Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1 February 2004.Sermon at Southwark Cathedral. Accessed 22 March 2007.
  129. ↑ "Archbishop Njongonkulu of Cape Town declares same-sex marriages unchristian 9 December 2004". changingattitude.org.uk.
  130. ↑ Communications, United Methodist. "Support for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice - The United Methodist Church". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  131. ↑ "Global trend: World's oldest Protestant churches now ordain gays and lesbians". ucc.org. United Church of Christ. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  132. ↑ "Churchgoers embrace gay priest". News24. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  133. ↑ Germond, Paul (1997-01-01). Aliens in the Household of God: Homosexuality and Christian Faith in South Africa. New Africa Books. ISBN 9780864863300.
  134. ↑ "Resolution of the Diocese of Cape Town on Ministry to Gays and Lesbians in Covenanted Partnerships". anglicanchurchsa.org. Anglican Church of Southern Africa. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  135. ↑ Schjonberg, Mary Frances (22 July 2008). "Sudanese primate wants Robinson's resignation". New York, NY, USA: The Episcopal Church. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  136. 1 2 Afrol News, 13 November 2003. Church of Tanzania breaks ties with US church. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  137. ↑ Church of Uganda. "Church of Uganda Declares itself in Full Communion with Anglican Church in North America". Anglican Church in North America. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  138. ↑ Brown, Terry (2000). "Further Reflections on Homosexuality, Christian Faith and the Church". rci.rutgers.edu. Rutgers. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  139. ↑ "Another Gay bishop". Episcopal Cafe. 2007-09-07. Retrieved 2016-05-03.

Bibliography


External links

Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance

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