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Anglican Primates Wrestle with Issues of Leadership, Evangelism and Sexuality

Episcopal News Service. April 7, 1995 [95057]

(ENS) At a private, week-long meeting on the grounds of Windsor Castle outside of London, the primates of the Anglican Communion wrestled with issues of leadership, evangelism, human rights and sexuality -- and discussed plans for the 1998 Lambeth Conference of bishops.

"Our being together has strengthened our vision in Christ and renewed our desire to improve our structures, leadership and communication," the leaders said in a pastoral letter (full text in Newsfeatures) released March 16. "Among the concerns we have addressed are the restructuring of the church for mission in the face of secularism, including consideration of the Decade of Evangelism."

The letter said that the primates felt "challenged by the denial of human rights, often leading to the displacement of people and the explosion of refugee populations, and by the persistence of poverty, racism, sexism, and tribalism in the midst of political and human strife." They gave thanks for the "moral and political miracle in South Africa," and the progress towards peace in Northern Ireland, but they also expressed distress over "the suffering in Rwanda -- a dramatic symbol of the crucifixion which is central to our faith." Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey will lead a delegation to Rwanda.

Sexuality issues intrude on meeting

The pastoral letter said that the primates were "conscious that within the church itself there are those whose pattern of sexual expression is at variance with the received Christian moral tradition but whose lives in other respects demonstrate the marks of genuine Christian character." While acknowledging that the issues are "deep and complex," the primates urged careful reflection on sexuality issues "in the light of the Scriptures and the Christian moral tradition," but with "honesty and integrity, avoiding unnecessary confrontation and polarization, in a spirit of faithful seeking to understand more clearly the will of God for our lives as Christians."

During the meeting, an organization called Outrage! attempted to pressure the bishop of London, David Hope, into admitting that he is a homosexual. In the face of the implied threats, the bishop called a news conference and said he had "from the beginning chosen to lead a single, celibate life" and that he was "not a sexually active person," although confessing some "ambiguity" about his sexual orientation.

The primates issued a letter of support, expressing their "solidarity in deploring this reprehensible intrusion into your private life. We assure you as a body that we stand against this kind of provocation."

Made in the image of God

"We reject homophobia in any form," Carey said at a closing press conference. "Homosexuals must be treated as people made in the image and likeness of God," he said, adding that sexuality issues must take into account human experience as well as biblical teaching.

Archbishop Keith Rayner of Australia said that the church is "finding there are people whose lives show all the marks of Christian character and yet in some way are not conforming" to the traditional understanding of Christian sexuality. He said that scientific study and human experience had to be taken into account, "just as the church has had to modify its views on marriage and divorce in the light of human experience."

Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning added, "Before we can wrestle with the issue of practicing homosexuals, we have to wrestle with the issue of same-sex unions." By addressing the possibility that two people could live in a life-long committed relationship, "that would say something about how we saw that lifestyle and about the holiness of that lifestyle."

Browning said in an interview that there was "a great sense of anger" among the primates over the treatment of the bishop of London. But he added that he was impressed with the quality and depth of discussions around sexuality issues, including issues that have made some primates uncomfortable at previous meetings. "For too long we have either dodged the issues or been unwilling to face up to them," he said.