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| Church of England bishops ‘delaying same-sex equality’ move | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Church of England bishops have been accused of kicking the issue of same-sex equality into the long grass by offloading the topic to a series of working groups that will not report until 2020 at the earliest. | Church of England bishops have been accused of kicking the issue of same-sex equality into the long grass by offloading the topic to a series of working groups that will not report until 2020 at the earliest. |
| The archbishops of Canterbury and York, the two most senior figures in the church, have established two main groups and four subgroups to advise on pastoral issues and produce a new teaching document on human sexuality. | The archbishops of Canterbury and York, the two most senior figures in the church, have established two main groups and four subgroups to advise on pastoral issues and produce a new teaching document on human sexuality. |
| Reporting to the C of E’s synod, meeting in York, Justin Welby said the processes “aim to take a reasonable time for profound thought by a large number of people across a wide range of views, and during that time provide pastoral guidance”. | Reporting to the C of E’s synod, meeting in York, Justin Welby said the processes “aim to take a reasonable time for profound thought by a large number of people across a wide range of views, and during that time provide pastoral guidance”. |
| The intention, he added, was to “map, to set out clearly where we agree and where we disagree, to help us understand better the issues and the points of conflict”. | The intention, he added, was to “map, to set out clearly where we agree and where we disagree, to help us understand better the issues and the points of conflict”. |
| He said he hoped a document would be available for discussion at the synod in early 2020 “though on a process this complicated we cannot be pinned down relating to time”. | |
| Welby was challenged from the floor of the synod on whether bishops were “sufficiently aware of the urgency of this matter”. Joyce Hill, a lay member of the synod and former pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, said: “There is a lot of long grass potentially growing.” | |
| In response, the archbishop of Canterbury said: “Many people think it should take a lot longer, many think we should come to a quick decision now. All of us would like a magic wand to wave … [but] there’s no magic wand. | |
| “We believe very firmly that a timescale of two and a half to three years both does justice to the depth and range of questions that need to be addressed … and to the need to begin to draw some conclusions for the church. This clearly will not satisfy everyone.” | |
| The working groups were established after February’s synod meeting narrowly threw out a bishops’ report that upheld traditional teaching on marriage. | The working groups were established after February’s synod meeting narrowly threw out a bishops’ report that upheld traditional teaching on marriage. |
| In response, the archbishops said a “radical new Christian inclusion in the the church” was needed, founded in scripture, tradition and faith while also based on “a proper 21st-century understanding of being human and being sexual”. | In response, the archbishops said a “radical new Christian inclusion in the the church” was needed, founded in scripture, tradition and faith while also based on “a proper 21st-century understanding of being human and being sexual”. |
| But Alan Wilson, the bishop of Buckingham, accused his bishop colleagues of “well-meaning temporising waffle” while society moved on. “The fact is we’ve been going round this mulberry bush regularly for almost 30 years. Each new iteration consists of a grand announcement that the bishops will lead the way forward,” he said. | |
| “The only way forward is mutual personal respect that acknowledges difference. Instead, the House of Bishops attempts to synthesise a single grand approach to impose top-down. People aren’t looking for bishops to teach about this. They want us to shut up for a change, listen to someone other than ourselves and learn.” | “The only way forward is mutual personal respect that acknowledges difference. Instead, the House of Bishops attempts to synthesise a single grand approach to impose top-down. People aren’t looking for bishops to teach about this. They want us to shut up for a change, listen to someone other than ourselves and learn.” |
| Speaking after Saturday’s synod session on “next steps in human sexuality”, Hill said that “while the bishops need to be thorough about developing a clearer understanding on these issues, there is a lot of potential for things to be sidelined, postponed and delayed”. | Speaking after Saturday’s synod session on “next steps in human sexuality”, Hill said that “while the bishops need to be thorough about developing a clearer understanding on these issues, there is a lot of potential for things to be sidelined, postponed and delayed”. |
| Society had moved on in its understanding of sexual relationships, and the state had followed by legalising same-sex marriage, “but the church doesn’t seem to adequately address these issues in a way that can be understood by the nation”. | Society had moved on in its understanding of sexual relationships, and the state had followed by legalising same-sex marriage, “but the church doesn’t seem to adequately address these issues in a way that can be understood by the nation”. |
| The church’s difficulties in moving forward was “damaging, especially in relationship with the younger generation – people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. We have a real problem.” | The church’s difficulties in moving forward was “damaging, especially in relationship with the younger generation – people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. We have a real problem.” |
| Acknowledging the profound disagreements within the C of E and global Anglican communion on sexuality, Hill added: “Every now and then, if you can’t get consensus, you have to say: ‘Let’s provide leadership.’ If it causes division, that’s sad but sometimes necessary.” | Acknowledging the profound disagreements within the C of E and global Anglican communion on sexuality, Hill added: “Every now and then, if you can’t get consensus, you have to say: ‘Let’s provide leadership.’ If it causes division, that’s sad but sometimes necessary.” |
| There was a growing anxiety among lay members of the church that bishops were stalling on the issues, she said, “and I hear a lot of impatience in the pews”. | There was a growing anxiety among lay members of the church that bishops were stalling on the issues, she said, “and I hear a lot of impatience in the pews”. |
| The issue of same-sex relationships and whether the church should allow same-sex marriage has dominated synod proceedings in recent years. Conservative Anglicans have threatened to leave the church if it changes its traditional teachings. | The issue of same-sex relationships and whether the church should allow same-sex marriage has dominated synod proceedings in recent years. Conservative Anglicans have threatened to leave the church if it changes its traditional teachings. |
| Last month, Scottish Anglicans voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry in church in a historic move that set their church on a potential collision course with the global Anglican communion. | Last month, Scottish Anglicans voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry in church in a historic move that set their church on a potential collision course with the global Anglican communion. |