The Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, has joined the major international Anglican fellowships in opposing decisions by the Church of England on human sexuality.
The C of E's General Synod has approved plans for services to bless same-sex couples and a timetable for allowing clergy to enter into same-sex marriages.
The move was opposed by a broad coalition of English Anglicans known as The Alliance. It includes groups such as the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), Church Society and the Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) network.
The Synod vote passed narrowly in a vote by houses. It was carried in the House of Laity by only four votes. It means services of blessing for same-sex couples, similar to weddings, could begin in England next year.
… a grievous abrogation of its responsibility to uphold the primacy of scripture in the life and ministry of the church.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
“The leaders of the Church of England seem intent on leading the Church away from the biblical teaching and doctrine passed down through the centuries and shared by millions of Christians in the Anglican Communion today." said the CEEC in a statement after the vote.
Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the GAFCON Primates Council, said: "The recent decision of the General Synod to approve the use of prayers of blessing for same-sex couples is to bless what God does not bless, and is nothing less than prayers which sanctify sin”.
The chair of GAFCON Australia, the Rev Peter Smith, described the decision as not unexpected, but still “grievous in the extreme”, adding, “Those who overturn the plain teaching of Scripture on such a foundational doctrine as lifelong marriage between a man and a woman have departed from the Lord’s teaching”.
In his statement, Archbishop Raffel said, “The decision of the Church of England Synod is a grievous abrogation of its responsibility to uphold the primacy of Scripture in the life and ministry of the Church. To reject God's plan for human sexuality is a failure to love people experiencing same-sex attraction and who, like all humanity, are made in his image and designed for his purpose.
“I’m very grateful for the gracious and courageous way in which many English brothers and sisters in Christ have taken a stand in their General Synod for biblical authority and the trustworthiness of Jesus’ teaching on human identity and sexuality. We express our support for the coalition known as The Alliance, which has, in love and integrity, been a clarion voice for truth.
Archbishop Raffel noted that The Alliance includes Anglicans who experience same-sex attraction, “who gladly and courageously affirm the teaching of Jesus concerning marriage and sexuality. We honour them all”.
“I’m grateful, too, for those whose conscience has not allowed them to remain in the Church of England but who remain committed to Anglican doctrine and mission as members of the Anglican Network in Europe under Bishop Andy Lines. [We] assure them, too, of our friendship and fellowship in the mission of the gospel in which we are fellow workers."
Photo: C of E Synod in session (from Synod livestream)
