ACC Secretary General clarifies view after gay English bishop “outed”
by Adrian Butcher, ACNS:
The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has moved to clarify any misunderstanding among Anglican provinces around the world after news emerged at the weekend of the first English Bishop to declare that he is gay and in a relationship.
The suffragan Bishop of Grantham in the Diocese of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Nicholas Chamberlain, told the British media he had adhered to church guidelines under which gay clergy must be celibate and cannot marry. He said his sexuality was no secret and was part of who he was — but it was his ministry that he wanted to focus on.
Dr Idowu-Fearon said: “It is clear that Bishop Nicholas has abided by the guidelines set down by the Church. In fact, his lifestyle would make him acceptable to serve the church at any time in its history. I reject the suggestion that his appointment is an ‘error’.
“I do recognise that this is a sensitive area for many people whatever their convictions. It is also a difficult time for Bishop Nicholas with revelations about his private life being made public in such a dramatic way, against his will, by anonymous sources that seem to be out to make trouble.
“The Anglican Communion is a worldwide family and, like any family, we don’t agree on everything,” he added. “But we are committed to working together on difficult issues. I want to reassure the Communion of my commitment to what was set out at the Lambeth conference in 1998 — that human sexuality finds it full expression in marriage between a man and woman. But all baptised, faithful and believing people are loved by God and full members of the body of Christ regardless of their sexual orientation. The Anglican Communion has never made sexual orientation a condition of eligibility to hold office within the church and I reject the suggestion that it has.”
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