Church of England to reconsider stance on gay bishops

House of Bishops to review its policy on civil partnerships and same-sex relationships The Church of England has said it is reviewing its approach to same-sex relationships and whether gay priests in civil partnerships should become bishops, its most significant work on the subject for years. According to a statement from the House of Bishops, there is a “theological task to be done to clarify further understanding of the nature and status of these partnerships”. The bishop of Norwich, Graham James, said the “last substantive engagement” with the issue of homosexuality was in 2005. “Contrary to popular perception the House of Bishops has spent very little time in recent years discussing homosexuality. The House has now agreed the time has come to commission two new pieces of work.” There will be a moratoria on nominating gay clergy for the episcopate to avoid “pre-empting the outcome of the review” said the statement. The review will glean information from an initiative launched in 1998 designed to listen to the experiences of gay and lesbian Anglicans around the world. Recent months have seen fresh debate within the Church of England about the issue of homosexuality, which has riven the Anglican Communion. The Guardian revealed in May how the House of Bishops were unable to agree if a gay priest would ever be eligible for nomination to the episcopate. Last month, in a legal response to the government’s consultation on civil partnerships in places of worship, the church said it would only allow such ceremonies if and when its General Synod agreed. Both instances, predictably, inflamed tensions between liberals and conservatives. The latest announcement comes days after the launch of a traditionalist group, Anglican Mission in England, “dedicated” to setting up new churches. Its aim, it said, is to support “those who have been alienated so that they can remain within the Anglican family” and offer alternative leadership where Anglicans are “in impaired communion with their diocesan bishop”. The group has announced it has three clergy, ordained in Kenya, who are ready to minister to disaffected conservative evangelicals. Anglicanism Religion Christianity Gay rights Riazat Butt guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 1, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.