1 We welcome the recent Pastoral Letter of the Primates meeting in Brazil which states clearly that ‘as a body’ they ‘cannot support the authorisation’ of rites of public blessing for same-sex unions.

2 In keeping with the concerns voiced by other primates, we urge our Archbishop to continue to give a clear signal that such actions depart from the teaching of Holy Scripture and from the teaching and catholicity of the Church, and should be regarded as unacceptable. 

3 We affirm our solidarity with and support for those in the Dioceses of New Westminster (Canada) and New Hampshire (USA) who seek to uphold biblical truth and behaviour. Especially we do so with regard to the many clergy and laity within the diocese of Oxford who wrote to their diocesan bishop concerning the appointment of Canon Jeffery John as suffragan bishop of Reading.

4 We are unanimous in believing that it would be impossible for Dr John to ‘uphold’ with integrity the present teaching of the Church, as he has promised to do. Consequently we counsel him to withdraw his acceptance of this appointment out of consideration for the unity of the church for, if such an appointment were to proceed, there would be far-reaching consequences for the unity of the Anglican Church - both locally and further afield. 

5 In the light of the clear position of the Lambeth Conference (Resolution 1:10), and noting the divisive effect of attempts to legitimise same-sex relationships, we are unanimous in believing that this consecration should not proceed.

6 We urge that all biblically-concerned Christians should be much in prayer at this time for our leaders that they may make godly decisions and appointments, upholding biblical principles with both grace and truth.

We welcome the recent Pastoral Letter of the Primates meeting in Brazil which states clearly that ‘as a body’ they ‘cannot support the authorisation’ of rites of public blessing for same-sex unions and which commends to the Communion the booklet True Union in the Body?1

In the light of the appeal within True Union? for a moratorium on the introduction of new rites of blessing, we join with the Archbishop of Canterbury in expressing our profound dismay and regret at the recent actions of the Bishop of New Westminster (Canada). In giving permission for the enactment of such rites he has, in Dr Williams’ words, ‘gone significantly further than the teaching of the Church or pastoral concern can justify’.2

In keeping with the concerns voiced subsequently by other primates, we therefore urge our Archbishop to continue to give a clear signal that such actions depart from the teaching of Holy Scripture and from the teaching and catholicity of the Church, and should be regarded as unacceptable.

In this context we are similarly concerned by the news of recent episcopal appointments within the Diocese of New Hampshire (USA) and in Oxford, which, if ratified, will compromise the teaching of the Church in this area of sexual ethics. We affirm our solidarity with those in both dioceses, and in New Westminster, who seek to uphold biblical truth and behaviour. Especially we express our strong support for the many clergy and laity within the diocese of Oxford who wrote immediately to their

diocesan bishop concerning the appointment of Canon Jeffery John as suffragan bishop of Reading.3 

In his published statements Dr John has argued for the blessing of same-sex unions and vehemently criticised the Lambeth resolution. We therefore unanimously believe that it would be impossible for Dr John to ‘uphold’ with integrity the present teaching of the Church, as he has promised to do. We consequently counsel him to withdraw his acceptance of this appointment out of consideration for the unity of the church. If such an appointment were to proceed (not least at this most volatile moment within the life of our global Communion, brought about precisely by this same issue), we believe there

would indeed be far-reaching consequences for the unity of the Anglican Church - both locally and further afield. 

In the light of the above and of the clear position of the Lambeth Conference (Resolution 1:10), and noting the divisive effect of attempts to legitimise same-sex relationships, we are unanimous in believing that this consecration should not proceed. 

Finally, we stress that our concern over this issue stems not from ‘homophobia’, but rather from a pastorally-motivated concern to be faithful to the scriptures and to the Church’s teaching on sexuality. To depart from these is to depart from truth and is therefore neither wise nor loving. We urge that all biblically-concerned Christians should be much in prayer at this time for our leaders that they may make godly decisions and appointments, upholding biblical principles with both grace and truth.

Signed on behalf of the Church of England Evangelical Council: 

The Ven Paul Gardner The Revd Nicholas Wynne-Jones

Chairman of the CEEC Secretary of the CEEC

Archdeacon of Exeter Rural Dean of Beckenham

Wednesday 11th June 2003

A full list of signatories was appended to this letter.

References

1. True Union?, which gives a theological and biblical rationale for the Lambeth Resolution (1:10), was commissioned by the Archbishop of the West Indies last year at the Oxford consultation on the Future of Anglicanism and builds substantially on the St Andrews’ Day Statement (commissioned by CEEC in 1995).

2. In the statement issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury on Thursday May 29th.

3. We note that the signatories included 78 clergy (including four area deans, some leading theologians and academics and some members of the Archbishops’ Council and General Synod). Their concerns have now been echoed by several members of the House of Bishops. We note further that the focus of their concern was appropriately upon his recently published writings; subsequent revelations in the secular press concerning his lifestyle have only confirmed their prior concerns.

This material and further information about the Church of England Evangelical Council can be found on their web site http://www.apcb01.dsl.pipex.com/ceec/

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