wfn.org | EDS head issues statement on violence against homosexuals

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99-143

Charleston of EDS issues statement on violence against 
homosexuals

by James Solheim

     (ENS) Bishop Steven Charleston, the new president and dean 
of Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in Massachusetts, has issued a 
statement deploring violence against homosexuals and calling for 
agreement on human rights for all.

     In asking other bishops of the Anglican Communion to join 
him in signing what he is calling the Cambridge Accord (text in 
Newsfeatures section), Charleston acknowledged that "we may have 
contrasting views on the biblical, theological and moral issues 
surrounding homosexuality," but might agree on three crucial 
points:

     That no homosexual person should ever be deprived of 
liberty, personal property or civil rights because of his or her 
sexual orientation.

     That all acts of violence, oppression and degradation 
against homosexual persons are wrong and cannot be sanctioned by 
an appeal to the Christian faith.

     That every human being is created equal in the eyes of God 
and therefore deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

     In a covering letter, Charleston said that "the global 
persecution of homosexuals has reached alarming proportions." He 
cited hate crimes in the United States, and public statements by 
African leaders in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe "vilifying 
homosexuals with a claim to justification through the Christian 
faith. In one instance," he added, "homosexuality has been 
declared a crime punishable by life imprisonment." The Anglican 

church is strong in the nations where homosexuality has become an issue and
"their bishops need our support in resisting this kind 
of misuse of the Christian faith," said Charleston.

Calming the passions of hate

     He pointed out that "our church has been equally in the 
limelight as a community of faith struggling with issues of 
homosexuality," raising the possibility that the church "perhaps 
inadvertently fanned the flames of some misguided and bigoted 
reaction. Therefore, the responsibility for us to calm the 
passions of hate become even more acute."

     The Accord is "one effective way for us to make a shared 
witness, across all divisions of theological opinion, to stand 
united in our Anglican tradition of peace and the protection of 
human rights," Charleston concluded.

     Copies of the Accord have been sent to the archbishop of 
Canterbury, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, the 
primate of Canada and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with an appeal 
that they assist in circulating it to Anglican bishops around the 
world. "If we are successful with this simple effort, perhaps we 
can save innocent lives while the dialogue on homosexuality 
continues in peace and goodwill," he said.

     The Rev. Brian Grieves, the church's peace and justice 
officer, noted the irony of the Anglican Consultative Council 
refusing the adopt a simple resolution from the Anglican Peace 
and Justice Network calling for human rights at its recent 
meeting in Scotland (see separate article). "Clearly, the 
resolution was not about an abstract issue but one that is life-
and-death for many people all over the world," he said, "as 
represented by the threatening statements of some African 
leaders."

     Charleston, former bishop of Alaska and chaplain at Trinity 
College in Connecticut, will be installed as president and dean 
October 15.

--James Solheim is director of News and Information for the 
Episcopal Church.