Canon Phil Ashey: The Bishops Have Spoken

Posted February 1, 2014

The Bishops of the Church of England have spoken.  In response to the Pilling Report recommendation that clergy and Parochial Church Councils (PCC’s) may “publicly mark” a civil partnership within the church, the bishops wrote:

“We accept the recommendation of the Pilling Report that the subject of sexuality, with its history of deeply entrenched views, would best be addressed by facilitated conversations, ecumenically, across the Anglican Communion and at national and diocesan level and that this should continue to involve profound reflection on the interpretation and application of Scripture. These conversations should set the discussion of sexuality within the wider context of human flourishing…”

The bishops also stated:

“…we are clear that the Church of England’s pastoral and liturgical practice remains unchanged during this process of facilitated conversation.

“No change to the Church of England’s teaching on marriage is proposed or envisaged. The House of Bishops will be meeting next month to consider its approach when same sex marriage becomes lawful in England in March…”

Does this mean that there won’t be any blessings of gay couples in the Church of England? Does this represent the bishops decisively rejecting these unbiblical innovations (pending facilitated conversations)?  In all likelihood, no.   I’m reminded of the saying, “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Remember,  the leadership of The Episcopal Church here in North America made exactly the same commitment with regards to the “official” teaching on marriage while at the same time permitting such blessings to take place–unofficially–in increasing numbers until there was no turning back. Traditional bishops in the Church of England ought to consider this and ask themselves:  is there any reason whatsoever that the same will not happen in the Church of England? the rest here

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