Evangelical Leaders Urge Bishops Not to Change Church Teaching on Gay Relationships [UK]

The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 10/14/16 | Staff Reporter

[marshmallow]

More than 80 evangelical leaders in the UK have written to the College of Bishops

More than 80 evangelical leaders in the UK have written to Anglican bishops saying that the church must not alter her practice or teaching on homosexuality, arguing that it would mark a departure from their “apostolic inheritance” and the moral teachings of the Bible.

The letter which is signed by 83 leaders from different churches and organisations, states: “The Bible is clear that God has given the marriage of one man with one woman as the only context in which physical expression is to be given to our sexuality. We believe that we flourish, whether single or married, as our lives are brought into harmony with God’s intended design.

“Any change in the Church’s teaching or practice – such as the introduction of provisions that celebrate or bless sexual relationships outside of a marriage between one man and one woman – would represent a significant departure from our apostolic inheritance and the authority of the Bible in matters of faith and doctrine. It would also, inevitably, be a further step on a trajectory towards the full acceptance of same-sex sexual partnerships as equivalent to male-female marriage.”

The letter follows two previous letters to bishops from members of the Church of England’s General Synod, which urged the Church to uphold biblical teaching on this issue.

The latest letter also concedes that the Church of England has not always handled issues surrounding sexuality well. It states: “We recognise the damage caused by judgmental attitudes. We have sometimes failed to recognise acts of great kindness and humanity. We have elevated some sins above others. We have ignored the plank in our own eye. There is much work ahead, not least in ensuring that our communities offer sacrificial hospitality and......

[marshmallow]

Francis would probably disagree but I consider this more akin to the spirit of true ecumenism, rather than last week's "Festival of Happy Talk" with Archbishop Justin Welby in the Vatican.

[Rurudyne]

The tragedy is it was only 83, not 83,000.

I wonder how many are left in England who haven’t bent the knee to this latter day Baal?

[Da Coyote]

Not to worry. The CoE already presents their Obamaholes to the muzzies, who have clearly stated what future they intend for gays.

[miss marmelstein]

Something is wrong here. We see young men flocking to islam not only for the raping and pillaging and murdering (which, I admit, is its chief delight) but also for the very strong stance it takes on its own peculiar morality. It’s what first attracts young men in prison - no drugs, no booze, no sleazy sex outside of marriage except with goats. And yet, we see Catholics and Protestants watering down and watering down their own brand of Christianity and abandoning its militancy. Isn’t that exactly what they are doing wrong?

(Anybody seeing what I’m seeing and saying it better?)