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Statement from Archbishop Justin and Archbishop Sentamu following the College of Bishops Meeting
Church of England News
January 30, 2020
We as Archbishops, alongside the bishops of the Church of England, apologise and take responsibility for releasing a statement last week which we acknowledge has jeopardised trust. We are very sorry and recognise the division and hurt this has caused.
At our meeting of the College of Bishops of the Church of England this week we continued our commitment to the Living in Love and Faith project which is about questions of human identity, sexuality and marriage. This process is intended to help us all to build bridges that will enable the difficult conversations that are necessary as, together, we discern the way forward for the Church of England.
Read also:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-7950085/Church-apology-guidance-declares-sex-straight-married-couples.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/church-of-england-apologises-over-sex-comments
https://news.sky.com/story/church-of-england-sorry-for-saying-sex-is-only-for-married-heterosexuals-11922211
VOL FOOTNOTE: This is yet another example of the C of E as the tail of the dog that will wag and follow wherever the nose goes -- captive to the spirit of the age!
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"MORE THAN WORDS ARE NOW NEEDED" -- RESPONSE TO THE ARCHBISHOPS' APOLOGY
PRESS RELEASE
Jan. 31, 2020
Whilst we are grateful for the Archbishops' apology and the recognition that their statement has jeopardized our trust, the fact is more than words are now needed.
Over 3500 people have now signed our open letter, which includes nearly 90 members of General Synod and a range of other senior church leaders. This shows the strength of concern that exists across the Church of England that its mission is being significantly damaged and that their promise of a "radical new Christian inclusion" must now be delivered.
We await the evidence that they have truly heard and taken onboard our concerns by what comes out in the Living in Love and Faith report, and the willingness to engage directly with those whose lives it primarily affects.
Christina Baron
Rev Andrew Foreshew-Cain
Venerable Peter Leonard
Jayne Ozanne
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Andrea Williams responds to Archbishops' apology for marriage statement
Andrea Williams
https://christianconcern.com/
Jan. 31, 2020
It amazes me that I continue to be surprised by the Church of England. This week it is astonishing that the Archbishops have issued an apology for the pastoral statement issued by the House of Bishops last week. The pastoral statement merely reiterated church teaching that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman and that sexual intercourse is reserved for marriage.
An apology should only be made when you have done something wrong. This apology does not regret anything that was said in the pastoral statement. It is therefore a non-apology. Of course, there are people who disagree with church teaching; there always have been. This is no reason for the Archbishops to apologise for church teaching.
We are left with the appearance that the Archbishops are sorry for the offence caused by proclaiming the doctrine of marriage! This is a ridiculous position for them to be in.
Marriage is a beautiful gift of God for the benefit of society and for the raising of families. It is the bishops' job to discipline clergy who deliberately and openly promote and practise sex outside marriage. To instead apologise for jeopardising trust and the 'hurt' this caused is to fail to give broken people the liberating hope they need -- found only in Jesus and his truth.
Marriage is not something to be apologised for, it is something to be celebrated and upheld by our Bishops. It is tragic that the Archbishops are apologising for clearly stating the doctrine of marriage. They should be clear and unashamed about what marriage is and how it is the best foundation for a vibrant and flourishing society. Marriage is good for men, women and children and exactly what the House of Bishops should be championing.
Andrea Williams, a lay General Synod member in the Church of England and chief executive of Christian Concern comments on January 31st statement from Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop John Sentamu
