The Guardian and other sources are reporting on the election of the Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain, an openly-married gay vicar, to the General Synod of the Church of England.
Andrew Foreshew-Cain, the vicar of St Mary with All Souls, Kilburn and St James, West Hampstead, said he was “pleased but shocked” at his election in the London section of the nationwide ballot to the church’s governing body. “I wasn’t expecting to get on – I thought the clergy were too conservative to vote for a progressive like me,” he told the Guardian.
His election reflected a hope “for a more inclusive and tolerant church”, he added. “People would not have voted for me if they didn’t want to see the change we represent.” …
Another gay vicar, Bertrand Olivier of All Hallows by the Tower, in the City of London, was also elected after what he described as a “polarising” contest.
“The next five years will be quite important as the Church of England continues to consider how it deals with gay marriage as the rest of the world moves on,” he said.
The Revd Canon Jeremy Pemberton, who took the church to tribunal over his inhibition to perform priestly ministry after his marriage last year, is also hoping for a synod seat; the result of that election will be decided later this week.
Foreshew-Cain was “informally rebuked” by his diocese, but no action has been taken to restrict his ministry.
The Guardian continues,
Andrea Williams of Christian Concern said Foreshew-Cain should not be allowed to take his seat. “Andrew Cain’s ongoing activism should no longer be tolerated. His actions are designed to undermine the church and her teaching on marriage. This result should not be recognised and he should be swiftly removed from church leadership,” she said in a statement.
Read the Guardian report here. You can follow the Synod election results here.
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I am not familiar with how the Church of England Synod works, but I am guessing it is equivalent to our General Convention's elected delegates. The American branch has had consecrated bishops from the LGBT community for quite a while and we also have more and more laity and clergy from the LGBT community. So, the election of Fr. Andrew shouldn't be a big surprise-it's just a sign of the times-change is in the midst! Might as well get used to it. The important thing is that we no longer hold people back due to them being of the LGBT community. That has to stop. The American branch passed same sex marriage and the U.S. Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal,so it's forward we go. Congratulations to Fr. Andrew.
TBTG! 😀
If gay people are not at the table, no decisions should be made about them. Efren seems to agree as this is a matter not discussed in the "Word of God," if by that is meant the Bible
Blessings on all three of them in their witness.
Perhaps we should censor and excommunicate those who are mean and hateful for conduct unbecoming Christ-like!
I agree with Andrea Williams. No clergy or lay member must be allowed to willfully undermine the church in its rightful teachings on anything as supported by the Word of God. They should not be recognized but disciplined or excommunicated instead.
its rightful teachings on anything as supported by the Word of God.
"You keep using [those] word[s]. I do not think it means what you think it means ."