GAFCON UK has published a paper outlining what it describes as violations of Lambeth Resolution 1:10, in the blessing and celebration of same-gender marriages in the Church of England.
The last quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 will include meetings of the Church of England’s House of Bishops and the General Synod. Many are asking whether or not the Church of England will “hold the line” on sexuality. Unfortunately, the lines drawn by Lambeth 1.10 have already been crossed, in some cases, going as far back as 2002. This document catalogues some of the ways in which Lambeth 1.10 has been violated within the Church of England.
The document goes on to single out the Anglican Church of Canada, The Episcopal Church, and the Scottish Episcopal Church as demonstrating “a clear pattern of violations,” including blessings and ceremonies themselves, and a failure to discipline clergy for engaging in such activities. The authors then list by name members of the Church of England clergy whom they find to be in violation of Lambeth 1:10. They further complain that
Clergy and lay leaders are allowed to use their positions of leadership to advocate for the violation of Lambeth 1.10: Members of the Pilling Commission revealed an openness to considering violations of Lambeth 1.10: “…we do not all believe that the evidence of Scripture points to only one set of ethical conclusions. In short, Christians who share an equal commitment to Scripture do not agree on the implications of Scripture for same sex relationships.” (para 235). Church of England clergy openly advocate for violating Lambeth 1.10 through advocacy organizations such as Changing Attitude, Accepting Evangelicals, Diverse Church, and Synod Evangelicals for Good Disagreement.
Even the blessing of Pride parades has fallen foul of Gafcon’s list of violations.
While reaching out to the LGBT community could be an example of evangelism, the ways in which these events unfolded have been ambiguous at best and at worst are at odds with Lambeth 1.10.
The authors conclude,
While orthodox believers certainly hope that the Church of England does not go further in violating Lambeth 1.10, the situation in England as it currently stands is already a scandal within the Anglican Communion.
To restore order and a credible Christian witness, the upcoming meetings of the House of Bishops and General Synod would need to not merely avoid going further in violating Lambeth 1.10, but it would need to take constructive steps to rectify the numerous public (and presumably private) breaches that have been strategically taken by some to undermine the teaching of the Communion.
Read the full report here.
Thinking Anglicans has a round-up of news stories and reactions to the Gafcon list. One notable response has been the creation of a website dedicated to those who have been listed as violators, those the authors left out, and their supporters. The website invites individuals and parishes to add their names and messages in support of the “Lambeth 110.”