Rowan to respond by Tuesday
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is thought to be adding finishing touches to his substantive response to the actions and decisions of the Episcopal Church's General Convention. A public statement seems likely by tomorrow or Tuesday. Bishop Gene Robinson has just released an to gay and lesbian Christians.
We had a wide-ranging discussion about the General Convention on today's Sunday Sequence. You'll hear Susan Russell, the president of of the pro-gay campaign group Integrity, describe the Convention's final resolution as 'spineless'; the conservative internet columnist David Virtue explains why he thinks 'the game is now over'; journalist and commentator Andrew Carey, though he won't be drawn on what his father, Dr George Carey, is thinking at the moment, tells us he's not sure if the next Primates' Meeting can now go ahead; the Reverend Briony Morton, a pro-gay vicar in Brighton, expresses her bitter disappointment at Rowan Williams's rather cold response to the election of Anglicanism's first female primate; and Stephen Bates of the Guardian shares his experience of interviewing the Episcopal Church's new presiding-bishop, who gave the impression that she wouldn't be concerned terribly much if her church was required to walk apart from the Anglican Communion.
To listen to the interviews and discussion, click here, select Listen Again, and scroll forward about 34 minutes.
Comments
I doubt that Rowan Williams is capable of a decision, to be honest. I was excited at his original appointment, but he has been a dithering disappointment to all sides of this dispute since the beginning. His appalling behaviour in the case of Jeffrey John is a stain on his reputation.
Hi David Green, Oxford
You issued a scorching attack on me under the "definition of homophobia" section recently in which you were starkly mistaken on several points.
I would be most grateful if you would acknowledge my response.
Sincerely
PB
As a Minister of the Dutch reformed Church in the Netherlands, I follow the decisions of Archbisshop Rowam Williams.
Let me first say that as a Minister of the Christian Church I hear a lot of comments on homosexuals pro or contra, and as a member of a Christain Community I am absolutely interested what happens in other Countries or Churches.Personal I have an opinion about homosexuality from a Pastoral perspectieve. The reason that I speak from a Pastoral perspektive is, dat a Conference on Homosexuality is not the place where such items should be solved, and ethics should not always be discussed.That is not the place where this kind of decisions are made, because these questions belon in the parsonage, and not in other places.
But my contribution to the decision of Archbisshop Williams is, dat where The Church is not able nor mature enough te make decisions, the Church should wait, and let the Spirit of God do his work.That may seem not to be a solution, but it is an old agreement of the Church, that were the Communities are divided, that the leaders of the Church should not formulate decisions.
Think about this, its an old wisdom, but it can overcome many problems
With warm greetings, specially to the Archbisshop