Straight and narrow?

From the Echo, first published Saturday 18th Oct 2003.

THE Anglican Church is facing a crisis over the issue of homosexuality after the close of an emergency meeting of worldwide leaders at Lambeth Palace on Thursday evening.

The 38 primates of the Anglican Communion were summoned to England by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, following a summer of controversy in the church.

An actively gay priest, Gene Robinson, was elected a bishop in the United States, Canadian Anglicans decided they would perform blessings for same-sex unions, and Dr Jeffery John, a self-confessed homosexual, was put forward as the new Bishop of Reading, only to withdraw his acceptance following fierce criticism by traditionalists and evangelicals.

Church leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America had threatened to leave the Anglican Union unless the Archbishop of Canterbury acted swiftly to bring in line the "maverick" diocese.

Following 48 hours of frantic talks between conservative and liberal archbishops from across the globe, the Lambeth gathering fell short of ex-communicating the two diocese in the US and Canada, instead issuing them with a warning that they were acting outside the Church's official position on sexuality as set out at the 1998 Lambeth Conference.

The Archbishop of Canterbury also warned them that there would be a worldwide split in the church if they proceeded with their intentions, and that he would be setting up a Church Commission to look at the theology of church unity.

The New Hampshire Diocese instantly responded by saying that it would proceed with the consecration of the Rev Gene Robinson as its bishop in November.

Anglican Clergy in Dorset and the New Forest are divided over this week's decision at Lambeth.

Canon Nigel Lloyd, Anglican Rural Dean of Poole, told the Echo: "It's a wise and pastoral response to a very delicate situation that has not been tackled openly by the Church to date.

"Lambeth 1998 fudged the issue on sexuality, saying it was OK for lay people to have homosexual relationships, but not for clergy. There cannot be one morality for clergy and another for lay people."

The Rev Diane Webster, priest in charge of St John the Baptist, Burley, said: "The primates have borne a huge responsibility this week. I think their statement deserves the most careful and prayerful consideration by both sides."

The decision encouraged the Rev Martin Reynolds, spokesman for the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in Dorset and Hampshire, but he says he is waiting for a backlash.

He said: "Evangelicals and fundamentalists didn't get what they were looking for - ex-communication, or sanctions.

"They will now re-group after this decision, and move away from the primates' statement and mainstream Anglicanism very quickly."

Evangelicals locally are still considering the news.

The Rev Dick Luther, vicar of St Mary's Church, Ferndown said: "This is very disappointing. We've become marginalised in the church by the liberals. I don't think there will be an immediate split worldwide, but should an openly gay bishop be appointed in England as a result of this, there would definitely be a split in the CofE.

"It is becoming impossible in the church, and in the media, to stand up for biblical truths without being dubbed as bigoted, prejudiced or being seen to be politically incorrect. The traditional and evangelical view on these matters is biblical and mainstream. It is the liberals who have got it wrong and I think over time, they will be seen to have lost the real argument."

The Rev Brian Ruff, former vicar of Christ Church, Westbourne, added: "I do believe that this homosexual issue is only the `presenting' issue. The real issue at stake is the authority of Scripture in the Anglican Church. Is the church governed by the Bible or not?"

For the Rev Rob Peters, leader of St Paul's Church in Throop, a well-known evangelical church, talk of splits was hasty.

He said: "It's far too early for any side to say this news is wonderful, or awful.

"We need to carefully examine what has been said in the light of scripture, and when we have done that, to face the issue head on."

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