wfn.org | ACNS3663 Some issues in human sexuality: a guide to the debate

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3663     |     ENGLAND	|     4 NOVEMBER 2003 

Some issues in human sexuality: a guide to the debate

[ACNS source: Church of England] The House of Bishops [of the Church of
England] has commended for study a guide to some aspects of the debate
on human sexuality. Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the
Debate, requested by the House three years ago, sets out a variety of
views on homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism and seeks to
promote informed reflection on them. It neither changes nor suggests
changes to current Church policy.

"Recent events have highlighted the need for such a guide," said the Rt
Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford and chairman of the group of
bishops that produced the Guide, "and the House of Bishops believes it
has become timely to publish this study guide now to help Christian
people think through different aspects of gay, lesbian and transsexual
relationships."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said that the report
was intended to deepen the Church's study on the issue: "It is clear
that there is a real need for more study of the issues raised by human
sexuality. We have done a great deal of work as a church on this matter
and we know that there is much still be to be learned.

"I hope that this report will help us to develop our understanding and
to address the challenges that we still face."

When the House asked a group of bishops, in 1999, to prepare a study
guide on some issues in human sexuality, it was conscious of the need to
listen to the experience of homosexuals as called for in the 1998
Lambeth Conference Resolution 1.10. Furthermore there has also been a
great deal of published material in this field since the House's 1991
Statement Issues in Human Sexuality appeared.

In June 2003 the House of Bishops - following discussion at the annual
meeting of all Church of England bishops - agreed to publish Some Issues
in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate under its authority and to
commend it to the Church for study. As is stated in the Foreword to the
document, 'it works within the parameters of the House's 1991 Statement
Issues in Human Sexuality and does not seek to change the position of
the House of Bishops from the one expressed there'. It is a study guide,
designed to complement Issues rather than to make specific policy
statements or recommendations.

The document is intended as a resource to enable people within the
Church to understand these complex and sensitive matters more clearly
and reflect more deeply on them. A short accompanying booklet, A
Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality, with study material for
individuals and groups, is being provided to assist the wider Church -
in the General Synod, dioceses, parishes and elsewhere - in its
continuing reflection.

The timing of any debate on the document in the Synod will be a matter
for the Synod's Business Committee. The Synod next meets in February and
again in July 2004.

Some Issues in Human Sexuality: A Guide to the Debate, price #12.95, and
A Companion to Some Issues in Human Sexuality, price #2.50, are
published by Church House Publishing and are available from some
Christian bookshops and: 

Church House Bookshop
31 Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BN, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7898 1305 
Email: bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk
or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available)

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