Appointing Gay Bishops: Is Celibacy Sufficient or Does Being in a Civil Partnership Disqualify from Church Leadership?

January 12th, 2013 Posted in Church of England, Civil Partnerships | Comments Off

By John Stevens

Sadly it seems that the bishops of the Church of England are thoroughly confused over the issue of homosexuality. Rather than affirming the clear Biblical teaching that homosexual relationships are always sinful, because sex is only appropriate in the exclusive context of heterosexual marriage, they have adopted different positions in relation to the laity, clergy and episcopacy. In Issues in Human Sexuality (1991) the House of Bishops stated their view that the church should accept lay people those who believe in conscience that it is God?s calling on their lives to live in committed and faithful homosexual relationships, but that members of the clergy should not enter same-sex sexual relationships. Following the introduction of civil partnerships the church decided that clergy were permitted to entered a civil partnership, provided they remained celibate, but that it was inappropriate for bishops to do so, although it remains questionable whether bishops have truly taken steps to ensure that clergy who have entered civil partnership are in fact maintaining sexual abstinence. Just prior to Christmas the bishops changed church policy and removed any obstacle to clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops, provided that they remain celibate and repent of any previous homosexual sexual activity.

[...]? The decision to allow celibate clergy in civil partnerships to become bishops has been criticised by some conservative evangelicals on the grounds that it will confuse congregations and the public about the teaching of the church on homosexuality, and because it will attract inevitable suspicion. They are clearly right about this, and are also right to be fearful that the decision suggests a trajectory towards the acceptance of practising homosexual clergy and bishops. However it seems to me that, appearances and potential confusion aside, those who choose to enter into a civil partnership cannot be qualified to serve as church leaders, either as clergy or as bishops, irrespective of whether they are celibate or not. Mere celibacy is not a sufficient basis for acceptance as a church leader. This issue is not just of importance for the Church of England. It is vital that we all consider this issue, because it is inevitable that in due course there will be someone who wishes to be appointed pastor of an independent evangelical church who is in civil partnership but maintains that he is celibate.

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Source: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2013/01/12/appointing-gay-bishops-is-celibacy-sufficient-or-does-being-in-a-civil-partnership-disqualify-from-church-leadership/

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