Evangelical and affirming?

Jan 8, 2019 by Jill

from Psephizo:

Andrew Goddard writes: The October 2018 letter from the Bishop of Blackburn and ten other evangelical Church of England bishops produced a range of different responses. The most significant and helpful for me were undoubtedly the three articles entitled “Same Sex Marriage & Scripture: Affirming Evangelical Response” which were commissioned by Jayne Ozanne for her Via Media blog. These were from three well-known evangelicals (two retired bishops, David Gillett and David Atkinson, and a well-known academic and – it is so good to be able to use this designation! – the husband of a bishop, David Runcorn). They all disagree with the bishops and wish to see the CofE move towards a more affirming stance towards same-sex relationships.

The pieces graciously and clearly provide an alternative vision which seeks to be recognised as authentically biblical and evangelical. In so doing they helpfully highlight and elucidate a range of important areas in the discussions around same-sex marriage. By referring to “an alternative vision”, however, I run the risk of perpetuating the myth that there are simply two opposed groups and two conflicting visions in relation to same-sex unions among those claiming to be “evangelical” – that of the bishops and that of “affirming evangelicals”. In fact, a careful reading of the three pieces shows the situation is much more complex, even among these 14 people who all identify as evangelicals. Each of the three authors approaches the debate from a particular, distinctive angle. In so doing they reveal some important differences of emphasis, method and substance between themselves. The three also either implicitly or explicitly address a range of wider and deeper theological issues than simply sexuality. Here, in some cases, their approaches also distinguish some of their arguments and methodologies from those of the bishops and of classic evangelicalism and these merit further exploration. In other places, their discussions open up possibly constructive forms of dialogue between those who share their more “affirming” stance and those whose views are better reflected in the bishops’ original letter.

Read here

Part 3 – Pastoral accommodation?

Part 4 – Developments beyond Scripture?

And this: Revisiting the progressive evangelical package, By Derek Rishmawy, Mere Orthodoxy