wfn.org | Bishops gain 'mutual respect' in talks on gays

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99-173

Bishops gain 'mutual respect' in talks on gays

Episcopal Life Staff

     Ten Anglican bishops, including three primates, met in 
November at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, New York, to 
discuss their "diverse convictions" about homosexuality.

     The bishops, "representing a wide range of perspectives and 
backgrounds," issued a statement afterward which said, "Within 
the atmosphere of prayer and through participation in the 
monastic rhythms of the Holy Cross community, the bishops entered 
into a process of structured dialogue on homosexuality within the 
larger context of human sexuality.

     "With the guidance of experienced facilitators, trust and 
mutual respect grew as the bishops considered convergent (shared) 
and divergent (differing) points of view. The process of dialogue 
fostered a deep sense of the Spirit's presence in the midst of 
diverse convictions."

     The meeting was set up at the request of Archbishop of 
Canterbury George L. Carey. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold 
was host.

     The consultation followed a decision at last year's Lambeth 
Conference of Anglican bishops, which voted 526-70, with 45 
abstentions, that homosexual practice was incompatible with 
Scripture, and that it "cannot advise the legitimizing or 
blessing of same-sex unions, nor the ordination of those involved 
in such unions." The resolution also called for the bishops "to 
listen to the experience of homosexual persons."

     Besides Griswold, those present at Holy Cross Monastery were 
Bishop Simon Chiwanga of Tanzania, president of the Anglican 
Consultative Council (ACC), Bishop Terence Finlay of Canada, 
Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon of Nigeria, Bishop Chilton Knudsen of 
Maine, Archbishop Peter Kwong of Hong Kong, Archbishop Glauco 
Soares de Lima of Brazil, Bishop John Lipscomb of Southwest 
Florida, Bishop Michael Scott-Joynt of England and Bishop Peter 
Watson of Australia.

     The consultation was announced at the ACC's meeting in 
Dundee, Scotland, in September. Five supporters of gay rights met 
with the ACC then; Chiwanga called that meeting "a unique 
experience of testimony and witness."

     Much of the support for the Lambeth declaration came from 
the Third World, with many bishops from the United States at the 
forefront of opposition. However, some bishops who backed the 
declaration later appeared to support a statement which went in 
the opposite direction: in October 1998, at least 179 bishops 
worldwide pledged themselves to work for "the full inclusion in 
the life of the church" of lesbian and gay Anglicans.

     Ecumenical News International contributed to this story.