Free Republic

LONDON (AP) — The Church of England formally apologized Friday for its treatment of LGBTQ people, even as it said that same-sex couples still won’t be allowed to marry in its churches. The apology from the church’s bishops came in a report following five years of debate on the church’s position on sexuality. The report will be delivered to the church’s national assembly, the General Synod, which is meeting in London next month. “We want to apologize for the ways in which the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people – both those who worship in our churches and those...

The Church of England has said that there is “no official definition” of a woman. The Telegraph has the story. Senior bishops have insisted that until recently, the answer to questions such as what constitutes a woman “were thought to be self-evident”. However, now “additional care” is needed.The stance comes as the institution struggles to remain relevant and progressive amid declining congregant numbers and in an increasingly secular society. However, while it has been welcomed by liberal wings of the Church, the comments, from the Bishop in Europe, have provoked criticism – with gender-critical campaigners claiming “whether your starting point...

Press Conference The press conference began with an overview of the assembly from Bp. Hanson. We begin in a “spirit of confident hope.” The story has not yet been written, but it will be written this week. “We have an opportunity . . . to bear witness to a culture that often wants to polarize.” We are “not always of one mind, but united in faith.” That unity is exhibited first and foremost in worship. ELCA will consider AIDS and Malaria strategies. Each day we’ll study scripture, hear it read, sung, debated. We will consider continuing our ecumenical engagement by...