wfn.org | Lambeth section report on sexuality charts middle course

["Lambeth98" <storm@indigo.ie>]

ACNS LC076 - 3 August 1998

Lambeth section report on sexuality charts middle course

by David Skidmore
Lambeth Conference Communications

After two weeks of closed-door discussions, sexuality moves to
the public forum of the full Lambeth Conference this week with
the release of the draft report from Section One (Called to Full
Humanity). 

At two pages-the shortest of any of the six subsections in the
36-page main report from the section-the sexuality report stakes
out a middle-ground position, affirming past Lambeth Conference
statements on the sanctity of marriage but also opposing
homophobia and "any discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation." 

The report declares that sexuality, as understood by scripture
and Christian tradition, is "intended by God to find its rightful
and full expression between one man and one woman in the covenant
of marriage." Holy matrimony, continues the report, is "a
life-long, monogamous and unconditional commitment between a man
and a woman." 

While affirming marriage as the only acceptable means for sexual
expression, the report recognizes that gays and lesbians are
loved by God, and that all baptized members of the church,
regardless of their sexual orientation, "are full members of the
Body of Christ." 

Strong support from section

The report, which tackles five key social issues in addition to
sexuality (human rights and human dignity, environment, modern
technology, euthanasia, and international debt), received
overwhelming support from the section's 200 bishops. 

According to the report, some forms of sexual expression are
"inherently contrary to the Christian way and are sinful,"
including adultery, incest, pedophillia, promiscuity,
prostitution, female circumcision and rape. Homosexuality,
though, is not included in the list. "We must confess that we are
not of one mind about homosexuality," acknowledges the report.
The report also urges churches to encourage young people to
abstain from sexual activity.

Bishops, states the report, generally subscribe to four main
perspectives on homosexuality: those who see homosexuality as a
disorder, but subject to healing; those who see genital sexual
activity by homosexuals as going against scripture and the
church's teaching and, if unrepented, serving as a barrier to
salvation; those who regard committed homosexual relationships as
outside biblical norms but preferable to promiscuity; and those
who advocate the ordination of homosexuals and the blessing of
same-sex unions.

Most bishops are not ready to bless same-sex unions or ordain
non-celibate homosexuals, observes the report, and many bishops
support a moratorium on these actions. Lacking a consensus on the
scriptural, theological, historical and scientific questions
surrounding homosexuality, the bishops are asking the Primates
and Anglican Consultative Council to develop a way to monitor the
communion's work on these issues, the report said. Exactly how
this procedure should be developed was unclear. Though not
calling expressly for a commission to address these questions,
the report uses language similar to that in the 1988 resolution
that established the Eames Commission on women in the episcopate.

Resolutions address sexuality

Sexuality is also addressed in six resolutions proposed by the
two of the four sections and by regional meetings representing
nine geographic areas of the communion. Three of the resolutions
will be subject to debate and are scheduled to be considered,
along with the draft section report, at a full conference plenary
on Wednesday.

The debatable resolutions from Section One, the West Africa
Region and the Central and East Africa Region each affirm
biblical teaching on holy matrimony but part company on
homosexuality. Section One's resolution (I.10) calls for the
church to "minister pastorally" to all people regardless of their
sexual orientation, and to condemn homophobia, domestic violence
and the commercialization of sex. It also echoes the section
report recommendation by requesting that the ACC and the Joint
Standing Committee of the Primates monitor any work done in the
communion on sexuality, and see that the information is shared
among the provinces.

The regional resolutions from Central and East Africa and West
Africa label homosexuality as sinful and call on non-celibate
homosexuals-and bishops who ordain them-to repent their actions. 

Central and East Africa's resolution (V.1) declares all sexual
promiscuity, which it states includes sexual relations between
homosexuals, as sin. It also states that people who "practice
homosexuality and live in promiscuity, as well as those bishops
who knowingly ordain them or encourage their practices," are in
conflict with scripture and the church's teaching.

The strongest condemnation is put forward by the West Africa
resolution (V.35) which calls on the conference to declare that
"homosexuality is a sin which could only be adopted by the church
if it wanted to commit evangelical suicide."

Affirming traditional teaching

The three remaining resolutions, which have been placed on the
"agreed list" and are thus not subject to debate unless at least
50 bishops request it, affirm traditional Anglican understanding
of sexual morality, but steer clear of any explicit reference to
homosexuality. Two of the resolutions, from Section Four and the
Southeast Asia Region, endorse the Kuala Lumpur statement on
sexual morality, a report issued following the meeting of 80
bishops in Malaysia, in February, 1997. The most specific is
Southeast Asia's resolution, which notes that no Anglican
province has voted to change the "traditional ethical teaching on
homosexuality" and calls on the conference to receive and
recognize the Kuala Lumpur statement. The third, from the Latin
American Region, is less specific, recognizing only "the
importance of strengthening Christian family values" and
reaffirming "traditional Anglican sexual ethics."

The language in several of the resolutions has drawn criticism
from centrist and progressive bishops who see it as inflammatory
and prejudiced against gays and lesbians. At a meeting Monday
afternoon, the bishops discussed their concerns about the wording
of resolutions condemning homosexuality as sinful, particularly
the West African resolution equating the church's acceptance of
homosexuality with "evangelical suicide."

Both agreed and debatable resolutions must be endorsed by the
full conference before they can take effect. Resolutions adopted
by the conference carry a moral and pastoral authority for the
communion, but are not legally binding on any province. Debatable
resolutions are subject to amendment, merger with other
resolutions, or addition to the agreed list. Agreed resolutions
can be considered for debate through petitions submitted by 50
bishops before the plenary begins, or by 100 bishops during the
plenary. 

For further information, contact:

   Lambeth Conference Communications
   Canterbury Business School
   University of Kent at Canterbury
   Telephone: 01227 827348/9
   Fax: 01227 828085
   Mobile: 0374 800212

   http://www.lambethconference.org