Philip North and Jeffrey John: A Church that is more ‘via muddle’ than ‘via media’

Mar 21, 2017 by

by David Baker, Christian Today:

At first sight, the controversial ‘non-appointments’ of Philip North and Jeffery John as Bishops seem to have little in common.

If you’ve missed the news, Philip North was the man nominated to become Bishop of Sheffield. But he withdrew his name after ferocious protests from some Anglicans unhappy with his traditionalist stance on women priests. And Jeffery John was in the running to become Bishop of Llandaff. A figure of controversy for some years, his candidacy failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required in the electoral college used by the Church in Wales for such appointments. He has since hit the headlines by accusing some of those involved of homophobia.

There are, of course, significant differences in these situations. Although both men hail from the high-church end of the Anglican spectrum, Philip North might often be labelled as ‘conservative’ because of his theological objection to ordaining women, whereas Jeffrey John would be seen by many as ‘liberal’ because of his belief that permanent gay relationships are equivalent to heterosexual marriage and should be celebrated by Christians. And of course the former was nominated – but withdrew, whereas the latter was nearly nominated – but wasn’t.

Moreover, many supporters of each man would be outraged if it was implied there was a moral equivalence between the respective matters on which each has taken a particular and strong stand. I am not going to suggest that!

However, there is a similar underlying issue.

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