Evangelicals oppose Oxford Bishops (Updated)
Clothe yourselves with love: Letter to clergy and licensed lay ministers, from the Bishops of Oxford Diocese, posted on Bishop Steven Croft’s blog:
[…] ‘we want to encourage, above all, an attitude of inclusion and respect for LGBTI+ people across the Diocese of Oxford.’
In early January 2019, a letter was published by the Oxford Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship, expressing deep concern with this episcopal pastoral letter and its implication of a change in theology and practice regarding issues of sexuality. The Bishop of Oxford wrote a public response to the ODEF, here.
Report from Church Times: More than 100 clergy criticise Bishops’ LGBTI guidance, by Madeleine Davies
Analysis and comment:
Oxford crisis: the time to act has surely come, by Will Jones, VirtueOnline
Meltdown in the Diocese of Oxford – Anglican Unscripted
And this report from David Baker in Christian Today
Meanwhile, Marcus Green in Fake Good News thinks the evangelicals objecting to the Bishops’ call for radical inclusion are preaching a gospel of works.
Earlier: Responses to the pastoral letter from a conservative position following its release in October 2018:
Oxford Diocese: a case study in radical inclusion, by Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream
What does the Oxford Ad Clerum mean? by Ian Paul, Psephizo
A response to the pastoral letter from the Bishops of Oxford Diocese, by Andrew Symes, Anglican Mainstream
LGBT inclusion: what’s wrong with the Oxford Bishops’ letter? By Will Jones, VirtueOnline
What will be the cost of discipleship for confessing Anglicans in Oxford Diocese? By Julian Mann, Anglican Mainstream
Radical inclusion of shame: discussion featuring Kevin Kallsen and Gavin Ashenden, from Anglican Unscripted
For a wider perspective, read also: Secularism on the march: the abolition of marriage and family, by Stephen Noll, Contending Anglican
Reports
- Oxford bishops offer interim LGBT guidance and support, from Church Times
- Oxford diocese issues clergy guide for ‘welcoming and honouring’ LGBTI+ people, from Christian Today
- LGBT chaplaincy team planned by diocese in response to past ‘hurt and exclusion’, from Premier
Responses from a revisionist position:
Andrew Lightbown Speaking of the Oxford letter
OneBodyOneFaith Clothe yourselves with love; joint letter from Oxford bishops affirms welcome for LGBT+ people
Ozanne Foundation Response to Oxford Bishops’ Ad Clerum Letter
and a conservative response to these responses:
On why conservatives remain conservative, by Martin Davie, Justyn Terry and Chris Wright, CEEC