He church of england issued a formal apology to LGBTQ members of the Anglican Communion who have felt left out by the institution even as officials decided to continue to ban same-sex marriages in their churches.
“We want to apologize for the way the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people, both those who worship in our churches and those who do not,” the church’s bishops wrote in “Living in Love and Faith,” a report. released Friday following a six-year consultation period on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
“For the times we have rejected or excluded you, and your loved ones, we are deeply sorry,” the statement continued. “The occasions in which you have received a hostile and homophobic response in our churches are shameful and for this we repent.
“As we have listened, we have been told time and time again how we have failed LGBTQI+ people. We have not loved them as God loves them, and that is profoundly wrong. We affirm, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQI+ people are welcomed and valued: we are all children of God.”
CHURCH OF ENGLAND BISHOPS SCHEDULED TO MAINTAIN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN, WILL ISSUE APOLOGY TO LGBTQI+ PEOPLE
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby leads the opening service for the 15th Lambeth Conference at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent on July 31, 2022.
(Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)
The apology came days after the church announced that the bishops would uphold their historic teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman during their general synod in London next month.
Instead, the bishops offered proposals urging “prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God’s blessing” in same-sex couples, According to a recent press release.
The proposals include “a variety of draft prayers” that clergy can use to bless same-sex couples “who have marked an important stage in their relationship, such as a civil marriage or civil union,” the statement said.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (front, fourth from right) with bishops from around the world at the University of Kent in Canterbury during a group photo during the 15th Lambeth Conference on July 29, 2022.
(Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he would not use the new prayers, which clergy can use at their discretion.
“Because of my pastoral care and responsibility to be a focus of unity for the entire Communion, I will not use them personally lest I compromise that pastoral care,” Welby said. he said during a press conference on Friday.
Calvin Robinson, an Anglican deacon from the breakaway Free Church of England who recently claimed his Church of England ordination was “snatched away” because of his conservative theological views, condemned the bishops’ recent proposals as “a clear misrepresentation of the law” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (centre right) with bishops from around the world gathered at the University of Kent in Canterbury for a group photo during the 15th Lambeth Conference on July 29, 2022.
(Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images)
“In the secular world, there are many options for people living alternative lifestyles: civil unions, gay marriage, etc. There is not an ‘equality’ or ‘rights’ issue here,” said Robinson, who explained that her belief is that the Bible and Christian teachings are “quite clear” that marriage was instituted by God between a man and a woman to form a foundation for families.
“The bishops understand this; instead of proposing to alter the doctrine, they are trying to circumvent it,” Robinson said. “To allow the ‘blessing’ of same-sex relationships is essentially to allow the blessing of sin; that’s dark. Christ taught us that we are all sinners but that we must repent, ask for forgiveness and turn away from our sins. The Church is now trying to undermine the Word of God by encouraging people to live in sin.”
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Robinson predicted that the Church of England position “will not end well”.
