The Church of England Evangelical Council held a ‘summit’ on Tuesday April 14 at All Souls Langham Place, London. Two others are to be held in Manchester and Bristol. Reports of four sessions will be posted on Anglican Mainstream. This is the presentation by Living Out.
The chair of the trustees of Living Out ( founded in 2016) became a Christian aged 13 and found he was same-sex attracted in his teens. He is now married with a family.
He identified that the work of LO is to help people, the church and society talk about sexuality.
He noted that 2-4% of the population, and therefore of any gathering, are same-sex attracted. (Your reporter wonders therefore why it is that 2-4 % of the church are seeking – with some opposite sex attracted people as well – to impose a change of church teaching based on the Bible for thousands of years)
An LO church audit asks the following questions:
How biblically inclusive is your church?
Do church meetings include people with Same- sex attraction (SSA). Do you know who they are? Can they be open about it? Do they feel welcome and supported? Are we teaching what it really means to be a disciple? – to deny ourselves even though it might be over an issue of identity? All have the same call to radical self-sacrifice.
Are singleness and man-woman marriage equally promoted? Singleness is an honourable calling and both are to be commended.
What are your strong points and what can you improve?
Questions:
Q. If people are born this way, how can SS behaviour be wrong?
A. Look at the question through the lense of sexual ethics (rather than of identity). How should we respond to our desires in following Christ? My identity is as a Christian. Then what do I do about my sexuality? Identity is not in sexuality. “I am a Christian who experiences SSA”. I do not use “gay” as I think it is heard as an identity label.
Q. Safeguarding. People imply that an orthodox stance on sexuality is a safeguarding issue.
A. Theological differences are not a safeguarding risk. Abuse happens in all traditions. This is not about a particular tradition. The issue is about abusing a tradition. Orthodox ethics should keep people safe.
Q. What counsel would you give church leaders about giving the biblical teaching on man-woman marriage and risk people leaving?
A. If we do NOT talk about sexuality, people make their own assumptions. Talk to the area dean or archdeacon that you are thinking about giving such teaching. Also talk with your churchwardens. It is better to teach it than not.
Q. In a congregation with mixed views on the subject, how do you best make the case for biblical marriage?
A. Start with the issue of authority – the Bible. Ensure that the Christian world view is implanted in people’s minds: that God HAS spoken. Put this foundation in place first.
Q. What does a ‘single friendly’ church look like?
A. Have single persons in positions of leadership. Give examples of singleness in sermons. Ensue single people find a place.
Paul Chamberlain tells his story in a podcast here https://www.livingout.org/resources/podcasts/97/paul-responding-to-our-desires-different-stories-5