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Human Sexuality |
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On why conservatives remain conservative
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Jayne Ozanne's 2018 article 'Bishops' Letters and the Case for the Defence - "Lunatic, Liar, or Lord" argues that there are three possibilities to why conservative bishops refuse to accept the legitimacy of same sex sexual relationships (namely, ignorance, lack of respect for others or an unwillingness to admit that they have been wrong).
By examining three articles by Gillett, Atkinson and Runcorn that support an 'inclusive' reading of Scripture, this paper responds with a fourth possibility: that there are bishops and other Christians who take a traditional view of sexual ethics because they have examined the inclusive interpretations of Scripture with care, and do not find them persuasive. |
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Guarding the Deposit
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Can a church pray for and invoke the blessing of God on those wanting to be in a committed relationship which will involve same-sex sexual practice? The traditional Christian view is that all sexual practice outside (heterosexual) marriage, including such homosexual practice, is sinful and contrary to God’s will revealed in Scripture. Yet this view has been continuously challenged ever since the sexual revolution of the 1960’s. There is now a widespread belief in contemporary Western culture that sexual intercourse should not necessarily be linked to either marriage or procreation, nor be restricted to people of the opposite sex. How should the Christian Church respond?
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Gospel, Church & Marriage
Preserving Apostolic Faith and Life |
A paper addressing the complex issues of human sexuality and marriage that the Church and wider society face. Exploring the gospel’s purpose and its emphasis on human flourishing, the document outlines the importance of committing to the apostle’s teaching on faith and life, that we are called to in Christ. It also looks at the Church’s role in the world and the importance of gospel integrity, through guarding its distinctive boundaries of doctrine and ethics. On these gospel foundations, the CEEC commits to and commends five conclusions to the Church of England as it considers these challenging matters.
A summary of and comments on Gospel, Church & Marriage
Preserving Apostolic Faith and Life |
Review: Journeys in Grace and Truth |
Journeys in Grace and Truth, edited by Jayne Ozanne, is a collection of ten short chapters by members of the Church of England who are either Evangelical, or in the case of one contributor used to be, and who seek to argue that Evangelicals should re-examine their traditional opposition to homosexual relationships.
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Why Issues of Human Sexuality are Not Adiaphora |
A paper by Martin Davie on Human Sexuality and adiaphora, originally written for the CEEC 2016 meeting. In this paper Martin looks at:
Read Here
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Response to 'The Wreck of Catholic Identity' |
Next month the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church will return to a proposal to amend its Canon on marriage, Canon 31, removing the reference to marriage being between ‘one man and one woman.’ Behind this proposal lies a report on The Theology of Marriage . In an article entitled ‘The Wreck of Catholic Identity: Marriage Canon Revision in the Scottish Episcopal Church’ Professor Oliver O’Donovan offers a strong critique of this report.
Read Here
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Review: A Way Forward |
A collection of resources on A Way Forward, the report of the Working Group of the Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia on the blessing of civil marriages, including same-sex unions.
Read Here
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Critique:
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The Bishops of the Church in Wales have now issued a ‘Pastoral Letter….to all the faithful concerning gay and lesbian Christians’ accompanied by two sets of prayers ‘that may be said with a couple following the Celebration of a Civil Partnership or Civil Marriage.’
What should we make of this letter from a theological perspective? Read Here
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Review:
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The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church voted to change its Canon relating to marriage. What has been agreed is that if the necessary 2/3 majorities in the General Synod are achieved during a two year process beginning in 2016 the clause in Canon 31 referring to marriage being between a man and a woman will be deleted thus allowing ‘marriage’ of same-sex couples in the churches of the Scottish Episcopal Church from 2017.
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Review:
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At its meeting in Salt Lake City on June 25-July 3 2015 the General Convention of The Episcopal Church voted for two developments that would permit same sex ‘marriages’ to be solemnized in its churches.
Read Here
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Critique:
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One of the biggest challenges facing the Christian Church today is how to respond to the growing influence of the campaign for the acceptance of homosexual activity and relationships both by society and by some in the Church.
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Critique:
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This new book by Robert Song, a lay Anglican theologian who is Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Durham, is written as a contribution to the conversations that are taking place amongst Anglicans and other Christians about theology and sexual relationships.
Read Here
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Review:
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The Bishop of Buckingham, Alan Wilson, has become known as the bishop who has broken ranks with the official policy of the Church of England by arguing that there should be complete acceptance by Christians of same-sex relationships and that ‘marriage’[1] between two people of the same sex should be viewed as a theologically valid form of Christian marriage.
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