Bishops from Sydney speak about the ‘tragic disruption of fellowship in Anglican Communion’

Archbishop Peter Jensen and the five regional bishops of the Diocese of Sydney have released a statement on the ‘crisis in the Anglican Communion’.

They refer to the appointment of a gay activist to be Bishop of Reading in the UK, the blessing of same sex unions in the Diocese of New Westminster, Canada, and the election of the Rev Gene Robinson, a clergyman living in a homosexual relationship, to be a bishop in New Hampshire Diocese, USA.

The Sydney bishops say these developments “have created a tragic disruption of fellowship and led to a watershed in relationships within the Communion,” and they emphasise that those who support them cannot be welcomed into the Diocese of Sydney.

“It is sadly inevitable that these recent challenges have severely damaged the fellowship of the Communion. We appreciate the strength and boldness of those many Primates who have spoken out against these developments. For our part, we cannot welcome into our Diocese those who have abandoned the teaching of Scripture in such a flagrant manner,” they say.

“We remain in communion with those who oppose these developments, even if the action of their bishop causes a separation from their own diocesan fellowship.  Unless there is a change,  the Communion is now lessened, becoming more like a federation or network of churches related by history and ties of affection, but containing fractures of relationship which must be healed if true communion is to be restored.

“Reversal of our Biblical and historical stance on sexual immorality is too drastic to pass without comment and action.  Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ who rules and guides his church by his word requires that this level of difference cannot be overlooked,” they continue, saying, “the moment for silence is passed.”

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UK Media are advised that Archbishop Jensen will be in London from 23 June to 27 June and would be available for interviews at appropriate times. He can be contacted via the Rev William Taylor at St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, London.  The Archbishop is in the UK to give a series of lectures that were arranged two years ago.

The complete text of the statement follows:

Statement from the Archbishop of Sydney and the Regional Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney on developments in the Anglican Communion

We,  the Archbishop and Bishops of the Diocese of Sydney are Evangelical Anglican Christians who testify that through the preaching of the gospel, Jesus Christ has saved us from sin and its consequences.  We rejoice at the authority of the Bible which not only rules how we are called to live individually, but also provides a clear expression of the bonds and responsibilities of how we are called to live together.

Three recent developments in the Anglican Communion have created a tragic disruption of fellowship and led to a watershed in relationships within the Communion.  The first is the distortion of Christian marriage in the officially sanctioned blessing of same sex unions in the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada. The second is the appointment of a leading advocate for gay rights as a Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford despite decades of sexual behaviour outside Biblical limits. The third is the election as a Bishop in New Hampshire of a clergyman who left his wife and family for a homosexual relationship.

It is sadly inevitable that these recent challenges have severely damaged the fellowship of the Communion.  We appreciate the strength and boldness of those many Primates who have spoken out against these developments. For our part,  we cannot welcome into our Diocese those who have abandoned the teaching of Scripture in such a flagrant manner. We remain in communion with those who oppose these developments,  even if the action of their bishop causes a separation from their own diocesan fellowship. Unless there is a change, the Communion is now lessened, becoming more like a federation or   network of churches related by history and ties of affection, but containing fractures of relationship which must be healed if true communion is to be restored.

It is perfectly clear from the circumstances surrounding these recent events that they are the culmination of over thirty years of compromise with western culture and plain disobedience to the teaching of Holy Scripture.  Biblical Christians have made allowances time and time again in order not to express or exacerbate division. But, as has been so clearly recognised by the many Primates and others who have begun to protest, we have reached a point where to go on would be to become parties to spiritual and moral confusion.

This form of secularism has particularly afflicted the western world. But there remain many faithful Christians throughout the west who are dismayed and who speak up for the word of God. Most recently there are the parishes in New Westminster who have refused to have communion with their Bishop while he endorses same sex unions. It is a prime duty of orthodox Anglicans everywhere to support such minorities and to insist that they are authentically Anglican. We applaud the willingness of Bishop Buckle of the Yukon to act as a Bishop for these parishes, and rejoice that many primates have expressed their solidarity with and commitment to links of communion remaining in place with these faithful people.

The moment for silence is past. There are many ways in which the diversity among churches of our communion demonstrates different redemptive gifts. But the departure from centuries of agreed Biblical authority constitutes departure from the fellowship that has linked us together.  Reversal of our Biblical and historical stance on sexual immorality is too drastic to pass without comment and action.  Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ who rules and guides his church by his word requires that this level of difference cannot be overlooked.  The point at issue is the lordship of Jesus Christ expressed through the supreme authority of Scripture. Although obedience to the word of Christ can at times be difficult and require sacrifice,  his way of discipleship is always to be trusted and relied upon. This is the issue on which we must, with awareness of our own weaknesses,  make our position clear, and offer our recognition and support to those who continue to do the same.

We therefore call upon our fellow bishops in the Anglican Communion to join with those who are making clear their abhorrence of adultery and all sexual immorality,  and their commitment to the Bible as the supreme authority in doctrine and ethics for our churches.

The Most Rev. Dr Peter Jensen
Archbishop

The Rt Rev. Reg Piper
Bishop of Wollongong

The Rt Rev. Robert Forsyth
Bishop of South Sydney

The Rt Rev. Dr Glenn Davies
Bishop of North Sydney

The Rt Rev. Peter Tasker
Bishop of Liverpool

The Rt Rev Ivan Lee
Bishop of Western Sydney

20 June 2003