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Bishop John's Letter to the Diocese of Tasmania 27 June 2003 |
Blessing of same-sex unions and the appointment of a practising homosexual bishop
Dear Friends No doubt most of you will have heard of the controversy in recent months about the decision by a Canadian Anglican Diocese to officially sanction a liturgy to bless same-sex relationships. Since that time, an American Diocese has nominated as Bishop a priest who lives in a homosexual relationship*, and a UK Diocese has caused confusion and hurt in its appointment of a Bishop who while now living in a celibate relationship is unrepentant of his past homosexual practice. These decisions breach in word and/or spirit the agreement reached on these matters at the last Lambeth Bishops' Conference. The decisions are in clear denial of our Anglican belief on this issue and the Bible on which this belief is based. They therefore impugn the importance of Anglican unity and our worldwide Anglican fellowship. I am saddened by their disregard for our Anglican fellowship and their flagrant disrespect for the processes of Anglican unity. I have written to the respective Bishops asking them to reconsider and reverse their decisions. In the August Tasmanian Anglican I will be writing in more detail on this issue. Please continue to pray for all those affected by these actions: for those Anglicans left marginalised by the actions of their diocesan authorities, for those same authorities that they might have the humility and courage to review and reverse their decisions and for the many Christians feeling abandoned by these compounding actions. Yours in the fellowship of Christ Shalom
Bishop John Harrower
* Please note that this corrects a misunderstanding that Canon Gene Robinson left his wife and family for his homosexual partner. I apologise for the error. (amended 18 July 2003) |
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