Church Society and others have consistently argued that it is unacceptable for someone who teaches the acceptability of same sex sexual practice to be a minister in the Church of England.

The teaching of Holy Scripture is plain on this issue that sexual
intercourse belongs solely within heterosexual marriage. This teaching
has been consistently upheld by the Christian Church throughout history, it was reiterated by the General Synod in 1987 and by the Lambeth Bishops in 1998. The failure of many leaders to uphold this position today is undermining the credibility and mission of the Church of England.

This appointment flies in the face of the teaching of the Church.

The teaching of the Church of England is that homosexual practice falls
short of God's standards and should be met with a call to repentance
(General Synod resolution of 1987). To appoint to a prominent position
someone who, whilst claiming to be celibate, is apparently unrepentant for past behaviour and actually teaches the acceptability of such behaviour, destroys the Christian teaching on repentance. The Bishop of St. Albans and the Archbishop of Canterbury by agreeing to this appointment are themselves contravening the specific decisions of the Church in their desire to pursue their own agenda.

Church Society exists to uphold biblical teaching and to promote and
defend the character of the Church of England as a reformed and national Church.

END