Church of England Rules Gay Men in Civil Partnerships Can Become Bishops

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 1/4/13 | Peter Walker

[marshmallow]

Gay clergy in civil partnerships will be allowed to become bishops if they are sexually abstinent, according to new policy

The Church of England has agreed that gay clergy in civil partnerships can become bishops so long as they remain sexually abstinent, a decision that looks set to reopen one of the church's most bitter internal debates.

The decision was taken in mid-December by the House of Bishops, the section of the General Synod which is responsible for church teaching.

A summary of the meeting was placed on the church's website on 20 December but the change to policy was buried within the text.

The statement notes that House of Bishops members had considered an interim report from a group led by Sir Joseph Pilling, a retired civil servant commissioned early last year to look into the church's attitudes to sexuality.

While the bishops said they would not issue more guidance on civil partnerships before the final report, they indicated that being in a civil partnership was not necessarily a bar to becoming a bishop.

The summary read: "[The House of Bishops] confirmed that the requirements in the 2005 statement concerning the eligibility for ordination of those in civil partnerships whose relationships are consistent with the teaching of the Church of England apply equally in relation to the episcopate."

The 2005 document gave guidance for clergy, for example if they were asked to bless civil partnerships, which had come into being the previous year. It also stated that the House of Bishops did not see being in a civil partnership as "intrinsically incompatible with holy orders" provided those concerned could give assurances the relationship was not sexually active. However, the 2005 statement did not extend this to bishops.

[AdaGray]

Yeah, sure, why not. Let’s have monkeys be bishops too.

[Our man in washington]

These guys would make terrible chess players.

I mean, if you can’t tell a bishop from a queen...

[marron]

Time to call the realtors. Someone get the lights.

[hinckley buzzard]

Well. The Anglican church survived by riding the back of the British Empire. Now, the church in the anglosphere is moribund, and the former colonies of the South have a vibrant faith, strong in the traditions. The bishops of places like Nigeria have better educations and are more faithful than the etiolated wraiths of Canterbury and similar graveyards in the making.

[MacNaughton]

13 Hey what do expect from a Church that was created for the sole purpose of allowing a King to get rid of his wives?

Indeed, the fact that it has survived nearly 500 years since shows the strength of the original Christian roots. But now that tree is dying, roots and all.

To be fair, the reformation movement was already afoot in England when Henry VIII tried to have his cake and eat it too. Those reformers were in the right place at the right time to help push Henry VIII along to the seperation from Rome.

Yes, all indications point to the CoE as an orchard tree which no longer bears fruit. I read about people calling for disestablishment of the CoE from the UK government but am not sure how that would bring folks back into the pews. Many are watching as the new nominee for the Archbishop of Canterbury is about to be consecrated to fully assume the office.

Anglicanism worldwide, specifically the Commonwealth nations (including the TEC in the U.S.), is definately in retreat. However, it appears to be flourishing in the 3rd world. Maybe it's time for those churches to missionize in the 1st world Commonwealth nations, e.g., the AMiA = Anglican Mission in America.