Archbishop calls for bishops to show depth and dispassion

01 August 2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for bishops to show depth and dispassion in their discussion on human sexuality.

In a video-taped message played to the bishops during worship, Dr Rowan Williams told bishops that today’s discussions were not designed to revisit the core position on human sexuality adopted by the Lambeth Conference 10 years ago because ‘that’s where the vast majority of the Communion still stands.’

But he said there was ‘unfinished business’ from that resolution because: ‘It is not only about the reaffirmation of a traditional reading of scripture, it is also about how we engage sensitively with each other in our different readings of scripture and our different pastoral approaches to people who have gay and lesbian lifestyles, inclinations, and so-forth.’

The Archbishop referred to a motion at the Lambeth Conference 20 years ago which asked for ‘deep and dispassionate study’ of the issue and added: ‘Many people would say that we haven’t had much of either depth or dispassion in our recent debates.’

He added: ‘We need to go very deep because the questions are significant ones.

‘The question of sexual morality is essentially about how human beings glorify God and represent his love in the fullest most integral way that they can in their personal lives and their decisions: infidelity, obedience to revelation. And that’s why this is a major matter. So we need to go deep. We need to look at what we believe about human nature, human relationships, and about God and God’s nature, God’s relationship with us.

‘And we need dispassion. Not in the sense of being cold and analytical about it, but actually trying to see the question whole. Not letting our emotions, our prejudices immediately dictate not only a conclusion but also an attitude to other people.

‘So my hope and prayer for today is that that depth and that proper wholeness of perspective will emerge as we converse with one another.’


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