Church of England
[Church of
England drops gay bishop opposition: The Church has already agreed to allow
people in civil partnerships to become clergy] "The announcement, from the
Church's House of Bishops, would allow clergy in civil partnerships to become
bishops if they promised to be celibate.
Conservative evangelical Anglicans say they will fiercely resist the development
in the synod.
The issue has split the church since 2003 amid a row over gay cleric Jeffrey
John becoming Bishop of Reading.
Mr John, now Dean of St Albans, was forced to step down from the role after
protests from traditionalists.
He was also a candidate for Bishop of Southwark in 2010 but was rejected.
Evidence emerged that this was because of his sexual orientation.
Evangelicals have warned they would be willing to bring in bishops from overseas
to avoid serving under a gay bishop.
The Church has already agreed to allow people in civil partnerships to become
clergy, provided they promised they would remain celibate, and repent for active
homosexuality in the past.
Those conditions are now to be extended to clergy becoming bishops.
BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said given the tension
surrounding the issue of sexuality, the Church's decision to allow men in civil
partnerships to become bishops represented a major concession and one with
considerable symbolic significance."
Church of England drops gay bishop opposition
Lev. 18:22
Related:
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Ah well - the Church of England has been a mess for a long time."
Yep. They have
to promise to be celibate.
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Come on sd, have some originality in your thread title..."
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