A new biography of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby highlights an interview recorded a decade ago in which Welby describes homosexuality as a “lightning conductor” in the struggle for dominance of the Church of England. From Christian Today:
In a conversation recorded a decade ago when he was a canon at Coventry Cathedral but only made public today, the future Archbishop asked: “How can we go around the world trying to talk about reconciliation…when we don’t live it out in our own community?”
Some at the cathedral did not want to invite evangelicals to preach, “because they’re homophobic European versions of the Taliban,” he is quoted as saying in a new biography out this week. Others refused liberals, “because they don’t preach the gospel.”
Welby was of the opinion that “we’re going to have to take some risks if the cathedral community is going to find a safe place to work out its issues in a reconciled way, not with conflict.”
In the recording of the conversation, he made his own position clear, that “sexual practice is for marriage, and marriage is between men and women, and that’s the biblical position.” Such a view was pastorally difficult, he admitted, “but it’s what the Bible says.”
Read more here. The new biography is “Archbishop Justin Welby: Risk-taker and Reconciler” by Andrew Atherstone.
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Amen, JC Fisher. For far too long, far too many Christians have forgotten (or ignored) the fact that Jesus said not “Follow the Bible,” but instead said, “Follow me.” All things are subject to him as Lord, including the Bible — which must be read through the lens that he is.
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” (John 5:39-40)
The “It’s What The Bible Says” hermeneutic is the OPPOSITE of what Jesus preached (“…but I say unto you”).
Until ALL Anglicans, starting w/ the ABC, understand the JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD, which the Bible merely illustrates, there can be no real Anglican “Communion” (above and beyond the topic of homosexuality).
JC Fisher
Welby has failed to lead the Church of England to equality for all couples, regardless of gender. He tried to kill the marriage equality bill in Parliament, and now the C of E is going after a priest who married his husband.
His avoidance of conflict has produced much more conflict and has brought discredit to the C of E.
The nonreligious are rejoicing that the C of E has been shooting itself in the foot.
More people have come to the conclusion that religion is usually homophobic.
Gary Paul Gilbert