"The emergence of Gafcon was inevitable and does express the deep concerns about the homosexual issue felt by all Anglican Christians worldwide"

"We want one thing and one thing only - to restore communion and fellowship."

"Ostensibly, GAFCON had nothing to do with homosexuality"

"a follow up editorial, by eight of their writers, that said that GAFCON leaders have effectively declared the end of the worldwide Anglican Communion"


These are all quotes from the first few hits on Google...  There is so much interpretation about what is the issue, whether this is a gay issue or not, whether bishops should be allowed to be gay, or whether their partnerships should be blessed...  No wonder the LGB community is feeling just as embittered about this whole thing as much as the liberals and traditionalists are...  Not to mention the secular humanists and atheists probably looking on in the wings, with wagging fingers, saying "I told you so!!!  See, religion is evil!"

I watched the BBC documentary on Battle of the Bishops tonight, although must confess to missing the first half, and I felt incredibly disappointed with the whole affair.  I thought the content of the programme was quite good, so well done to the BBC - I'm not sure what real truth happened there and can't judge as to what's been omitted, if anything, but the case wasn't made overly disrespectful in either way...

But on both sides, there did seem to be a lot of pride flying about, a lot of running around looking important and a lot of pointing at each other saying "I believe the other group's actions are a demonic attack on the church".

One African was interviewed even saying that he'd been told that being gay was the one that stopping him from going to Heaven.  And this is the side that's claiming it's the liberals that are teaching a false gospel...

One man even quoted from Titus 2:12 that God gave us the power to say no, so therefore homosexuals have no excuse to continue...

Well, also reading from Titus, Paul writes:

"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."

Before watching the programme, I never had much time for liberals.  I thought they were wishy-washy people who could never take the time to understand Scripture properly.  Now I can understand why they got together - because mis-interpretation and mis-use of Scripture is really dangerous.

I have my own views on whether homosexuality will exclude people from heaven based upon my understanding of the Bible, whether there should be gay bishops and whether we should be blessing same-sex partnerships.  But, it's not really the point I want to make, because we all most likely have views, even if the view is "I don't know..." and I don't claim to have any more profound insight on this matter than anyone else.

Most of the time, the hardest issue about having these conversations is understanding what is being discussed.  Non-Christians have their own view on what the word "sin" means, which may be very different from our own.  So trying to discuss whether homosexuality is a sin is doomed to fail from the start.  Most Christians can't even agree a view on why there shouldn't be gay bishops.  No wonder there's no decent dialogue going on and people are feeling so discriminated and hurt.

As someone who worships at an Anglican church, I just weep for it, as I personally feel both sides have a complete inability to say "Hang on, I might have got this wrong..." rather than thinking "Yes, now I have found my soapbox on which to stand and declare all my prior issues and sensitivities!"  Please, think about how the world we are here to save might be looking at us.

Perhaps this blog is guilty of the same...  I hope not, but recognise the danger.  Apologies if I've got it wrong...  Just needed to gush a bit at the computer.........

As a complete aside, you can find me in a newly joined Facebook group, "I want to be banned from Gafcon too", I found whilst reading this article.  I only joined as it made me laugh out loud...  It turns out that one of the guys who is banned is on the group.  Then I felt a bit stupid.  But I'm riding with it for now...

See Gaston, Facebook can be fun :)