Latest news with #CharlesBączyk-Bell
AsiaOne
17 hours ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Church of England votes to remove outdated document on sexuality from clergy selection, World News
LONDON — The Church of England's governing body voted on Tuesday (July 15) to do away with requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offencive. The document, titled "Issues in Human Sexuality," described "homosexual practice as especially dishonourable" and called on homosexual Christians to lead a life of abstinence. The mother church of 85 million Anglicans worldwide said the decision, which marks another step towards making the Anglican faith more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community, was independent of the ongoing "Living in Love and Faith" process that is exploring sexuality and marriage. The CoE's decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples in 2023 deepened divisions both at home, where it is the established church, and in Anglican strongholds in Africa and Asia, where homosexuality remains illegal in some countries. The motion to change the vocations process was passed overwhelmingly at a meeting of the General Synod, made up of bishops, clergy and laity, the CoE said. It added that the move does not alter the Church's doctrine. The paper was originally intended as a teaching document, but had assumed a more definitive role to set out expected conduct within the Church's discernment and vocations process. The 48-page document states that "homophile orientation and its expression in sexual activity do not constitute a parallel and alternative form of human sexuality as complete within the terms of the created order as the heterosexual." "A paper introducing the item to Synod members noted that the tone, language, and some of the assumptions in 'Issues' are now contextually inappropriate, and appear prejudicial and offensive to many people," the CoE statement said. Charles Bączyk-Bell, an openly gay Anglican priest from London, said the document was dated even at the time of publication, and that it had been used to screen people out of the ordination pathway. "Now it has gone... it opens the way for liberalisation of the church's policy on same sex relationships and means we can stop using it as a kind of reference text," he told Reuters. [[nid:719634]]
The Sun
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Church of England removes outdated sexuality document for clergy selection
LONDON: The Church of England's governing body voted on Tuesday to do away with requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offensive. The document, titled 'Issues in Human Sexuality,' described 'homosexual practice as especially dishonourable' and called on homosexual Christians to lead a life of abstinence. The mother church of 85 million Anglicans worldwide said the decision, which marks another step towards making the Anglican faith more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community, was independent of the ongoing 'Living in Love and Faith' process that is exploring sexuality and marriage. The CoE's decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples in 2023 deepened divisions both at home, where it is the established church, and in Anglican strongholds in Africa and Asia, where homosexuality remains illegal in some countries. The motion to change the vocations process was passed overwhelmingly at a meeting of the General Synod, made up of bishops, clergy and laity, the CoE said. It added that the move does not alter the Church's doctrine. The paper was originally intended as a teaching document, but had assumed a more definitive role to set out expected conduct within the Church's discernment and vocations process. The 48-page document states that 'homophile orientation and its expression in sexual activity do not constitute a parallel and alternative form of human sexuality as complete within the terms of the created order as the heterosexual.' 'A paper introducing the item to Synod members noted that the tone, language, and some of the assumptions in 'Issues' are now contextually inappropriate, and appear prejudicial and offensive to many people,' the CoE statement said. Charles Bączyk-Bell, an openly gay Anglican priest from London, said the document was dated even at the time of publication, and that it had been used to screen people out of the ordination pathway. 'Now it has gone ... it opens the way for liberalisation of the church's policy on same sex relationships and means we can stop using it as a kind of reference text,' he told Reuters. - Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Church of England votes to remove outdated document on sexuality from clergy selection
LONDON (Reuters) -The Church of England's governing body voted on Tuesday to do away with requiring those who want to become clergy to agree to a 1991 document on sexuality, saying some of the assumptions in the paper now appeared prejudicial and offensive. The document, titled "Issues in Human Sexuality," described "homosexual practice as especially dishonourable" and called on homosexual Christians to lead a life of abstinence. The mother church of 85 million Anglicans worldwide said the decision, which marks another step towards making the Anglican faith more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community, was independent of the ongoing "Living in Love and Faith" process that is exploring sexuality and marriage. The CoE's decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples in 2023 deepened divisions both at home, where it is the established church, and in Anglican strongholds in Africa and Asia, where homosexuality remains illegal in some countries. The motion to change the vocations process was passed overwhelmingly at a meeting of the General Synod, made up of bishops, clergy and laity, the CoE said. It added that the move does not alter the Church's doctrine. The paper was originally intended as a teaching document, but had assumed a more definitive role to set out expected conduct within the Church's discernment and vocations process. The 48-page document states that "homophile orientation and its expression in sexual activity do not constitute a parallel and alternative form of human sexuality as complete within the terms of the created order as the heterosexual." "A paper introducing the item to Synod members noted that the tone, language, and some of the assumptions in 'Issues' are now contextually inappropriate, and appear prejudicial and offensive to many people," the CoE statement said. Charles Bączyk-Bell, an openly gay Anglican priest from London, said the document was dated even at the time of publication, and that it had been used to screen people out of the ordination pathway. "Now it has gone ... it opens the way for liberalisation of the church's policy on same sex relationships and means we can stop using it as a kind of reference text,' he told Reuters. (Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Anglicans may get rotating global figurehead under reform plans
Those who oppose same-sex relationships cite scripture as authoritative on sexual ethics, while others argue that ancient texts should not be applied directly to modern understandings of sexuality. SHIFTING GRAVITY The Communion's centre has been shifting from Canterbury for decades, with its churches in Nigeria, Uganda and Kenya together home to a third of all Anglicans, countries where homosexuality remains illegal. While attendance at CoE churches has risen in the past four years, that follows decades of falls, and Linda Woodhead, head of theology at King's College London, said the CoE had hurt its reputation in Britain by trying to preserve its historic global leadership. 'It's not keeping the allegiance ... of the population for which it's meant to be the official established church,' she said. The CoE declined to comment on the suggested reforms as the selection of the 106th archbishop is under way. The Anglican Communion office said the proposals 'would not take away' the archbishop's historic global role, but explore ways to share some responsibilities. GAY CLERGY The disconnect in the Communion is felt acutely by gay clergy like Charles Bączyk-Bell in London, who had to marry his partner in an Anglican church in New York, as the CoE stands by its teaching that marriage is between a man and woman. He said he sometimes found it very difficult to hold together his identity with that of a CoE priest. 'There was a sense of sadness that we couldn't do it about friends and family at home ... it's meant to be the day when you feel most at home,' he said. Baines said the next archbishop shouldn't be fearful, given they will inherit a 'broken Communion'. Bishop Joanne Grenfell supports a more collegiate model. 'I feel passionate about the Anglican Communion, but the role of Archbishop of Canterbury, that's enormous,' Grenfell said. 'Perhaps a bit too big for one person.'
