Church of England Diocese Encourages LGBT People to Seek Church Leadership Roles Amid Debate

May 28, 2018 by Jill

by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post:

A diocese in the Church of England has issued a letter to all ministers, stressing that amid disagreement over human sexuality and gender, LGBT people should be welcomed and not questioned about their gender, and should also be encouraged to seek leadership roles within the church.

“We wish to affirm that LGBT+ people can be called to roles of leadership and service in the local church,” the Diocese of Lichfield said earlier in May. “We very much hope that they, like everyone else, feel encouraged to serve on PCCs, or as churchwardens and worship leaders, for instance, and are supported in exploring vocations to licensed lay and ordained ministries.

“Nobody should be told that their sexual or gender identity in itself makes them an unsuitable candidate for leadership in the Church.”

The bishops of Lichfield, Shrewsbury, Stafford, and Wolverhampton signed the letter and they stated that they are not taking a stance on the blessing of same-sex marriage (the Church of England officially defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman). They admitted that debates over human sexuality and gender identity “seem likely to continue, and perhaps to grow in intensity, over the coming years.”

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Read also: Transgender people encouraged to become priests in diversity drive by David Virtue, VOL