Morning

It is now 11:30 AM and we have just returned from the daily morning press conference. The discussion of the Human Sexuality Sub-Section of Section I (Called to Full Humanity) will commence at 3:30 PM today, which is 10:30 AM EST. Please pray very hard for the two and half-hours that are expected to be consumed by the debate.

None of the Integrity folk got passes to sit in the very limited (25 seat) section on the floor. Without that vantagepoint, we will have to rely on others as whether the votes are close or not (unless there is a count, in which case the tally will presumably be announced). We will endeavor to let you know as soon as possible, but it will undoubtedly be after the conclusion of the session.

We will be joining Changing Attitude and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement in distributing a series of flyers with Bible verses and inclusive quotes from the conference. Reportedly, we will be joined by OutRage, the secular lesgay group which regularly protests the Established Church, including the recent disruption of the Canterbury Easter service and a scaling of the walls of Lambeth Palace during a reception for African bishops several years ago. I say "joined by" in only the broadest sense -- we will distance ourselves from them to the maximum extent possible. We hope they won't yet be here when we distribute at 12:30.

It;s still not clear whether there will or won;t be debated over the Report of the Sub-Section. It's not great, but it's ok. It now appears that while the original resolution we posted Monday will be put forward, the substitute we sent you yesterday will be moved at the outset by Bishop Buchanon on behalf of the Subsection. Archbishop Njongonkulu Noungane of Cape Town said that there are 8 pages of submitted amendments. Some are no doubt on the original and some are on the substitute. They are submitted from both sides. Also unclear is the fate of the regional resolutions. The Archbishop, who chaired Section 1, said people in the subsection were not happy that others who had not engaged in two weeks (reportedly 800 hours of discussion) on the subject were also submitting resolutions. Whether there upset will affect those resolutions is not clear.

As a very rough reckoning, I would say that the CofE is 10 years behind ECUSA, with several churches like Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil somewhere in between, while the Ugandan, Kenyan, Nigerian, and South East Asian churches are about 10 years behind the CofE. Yes, I really believe that;s the spacing 00 visit here for an extensive period if you don't believe me.

Noontime

We gave out our little cards with Bible and Lambeth verses beginning at 1:00 PM. There was remarkably little resistance to taking them. Probably because they were so small.

No one from OutRage ever showed up.

The most striking event was a three-part confrontation. Rounds 1 and 2 involved Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of the Diocese of Enugu in Nigeria and Richard Kirker of LGCM. Round 3 involved Bishop Chukwuma and David Russell, Bishop of Grahamstown, Province of South Africa.

Round 1 involved Bishop Chukwuma literally screaming at the top of his lungs at Richard about him being a sinner. All Richard could get in were frequent requests to be heard. The media loved it. There were numerous television cameras. Watch the BBC overseas news tonight if you get it. In New York, it's on WLIW (Channel 21) at 11:00 PM. Let me know.

Round 2, following lunch, was even more bizarre. Bishop Chuckwuma continually tried to lay his hands on Richard's head (Richard is rather short, for those of you who have never met him), and succeeded a few times despite Richard's steadfast resistance. He continued to scream that Richard was a sinner. Your usual idiot television newsman kept saying to them both, "Do you see any way in which you will be able to reach agreement on this issue?" After he had asked it ten times, even the rest of the media laughed out loud. Richard finally launched his torpedo. He was, he reported, born in Nigeria and grew up there. This got the bishop's attention and he briefly quieted down. Then Richard said, "The first person I ever had sex with was another Nigerian boy when I was 16." "You brought it in!" said the bishop, resuming screaming. What wasn't clear to me was how Richard "brought it in" if he was born there, and if it was in-born in Richard (as a European), then that would contradict the bishop's expressed theology that homosexuality is chosen and that one has merely to give it up.

Round 3 followed hard on Round 2. Bishop Chuckwuma had now taken a sign from an anti-gay group (whom I did not see, but I guess must have been there somewhere) and went over to other lesbians and gays. This time Bishop Russell went over to Bishop Chuckwuma. Russell said, "That kind of attitude will never bring anyone over to your position."

C: "How would you know, you are a sinner?"

R: "Yes I am a sinner, but you are one as well."

C: "No, I am not a sinner. At least I am not as bad a sinner as you. You are a homosexual." [It was obvious that Chuckwuma didn't realize that Russell was a bishop since he was not wearing a purple shirt. Today, the first really hot day since I've been here, saw many bishops incognito.]

R: "No, I am a heterosexual in a very happy marriage."

C: "Your Church in Europe is dying." [This was a theme Chuckwuma had used numerous times with Richard. Of course the French Roman Catholic Church is dying at an even faster rate than the CofE]"

R: "I'm from South Africa. Archbishop Desmund Tutu supports the inclusion of homosexual persons in the Church."

C: "Desmund Tutu is dead spiritually."

Late afternoon, the Debate:

The debate began at 3:30 P.M.,

Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of Ireland, moderated. His delightful Irish accent and manner really helped relieve the tension.

Eames began with an Irish joke, ending with "if I were going to Dublin, I wouldn't start here." That was intended to be a commentary on this debate. Then we had an extensive prayer. "It is very obvious that there is a confused history regarding our resolutions," he said. He wanted to let the conference set its own rules. The accepted procedure was to first decide among the various substitute motions before moving on to the amendments thereto. "Rules are for people, rather than people for rules," said Eames, a former lawyer.

Duncan Buchanan, Bishop of Johannesburg, began by taking responsibility for the confusion of yesterday. They were so busy deciding between two alternative resolutions and then consolidating them. It was almost too late. He was now supporting the substitute that his sub-section had written.

"This resolution does not commit to anything other than traditional chastity in marriage or singleness". It, however, recognizes that those with homosexual orientation also merit the concern of the church. "Love of Christ rather than fear and violence." "We cannot unbaptize those people [us!] and they are as precious to God as any of us." "Let us be faithful to the truth -- not by excising words from documents, but from holding a mirror of compassion to them." Lambeth is only an advisory conference, hence "advise" is the appropriate term to use in section e. The work done in the Communion is considerable. What is needed is a mechanism for monitoring that work. He ended with a plea to allow difference in points of view to be treated with "integrity and graciousness."

John Sentamu, Bishop of Stepney, London, withdrew his alternative made unnecessary by the sub-section substitute.

Catherine Waynick, Bishop of Indianapolis, spoke in support of her alternative that essentially would have decided on nothing but would have left in the monitoring. This would include the negative documents. It called for choosing not to choose.

Next to speak was Eustace Kamanyire, Bishop of Ruwenzori in Uganda, supporting a substitute by the Central & East Africa Region [the Provinces are divided into regions here]. This was an even tougher resolution. It called on all who "practice" homosexuality or ordain them to repent. "Homosexual practice is condemned in both Old and New Testaments, and is therefore a sin." He called on the conference to "speak the truth in love." The resolution stated: "all sexual promiscuity is a sin, [sic] is convinced that this includes homosexual practices, between persons of the same sex." "Those persons who practice homosexuality and live in promiscuity."

The next conservative substitute, by the Latin American Region, was withdrawn by Morris Sinclair, Bishop of Northern Argentina and Presiding Bishop of the Southern Cone. Sinclair has been one of the leading conservative lights before and during Lambeth.

The final substitute was offered by Peter Adebiyi, Bishop of Owo in Nigeria, which was sponsored by the West Africa Region. It was Resolution V.35 that we distributed on Monday -- the "evangelical suicide" resolution. He began by commending CMS [the Church Mission Society, a British ultra-Evangelical organization] for their work in West Africa. "They came holding the Bible. Our forefathers accepted the Christian faith through the Scriptures. Scripture is superior to intelligence or experience."

William Moses, Moderator of the Church of South India asked that time limits be set. "We have far better things to discuss than this trivial matter," he said. [The Churches of North India, South India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and I believe Ceylon are all first time members of Lambeth. They have been observers in the past. They are all union churches including Methodists, Presbyterians, and others. It does bring a strong Calvinist bent into the proceedings.]

Debate was limited to 3 minutes.

Wilson Mutebi, Bishop of Mityana in Uganda, spoke in favor of the sub-section version. "The Church is built on the Bible. Homosexuals and deviants teach what is opposite Scripture."

Archbishop Richard Goodhew of Sydney [another outspoken opponent of lesgays in the Church] also supported the sub-section version. "We all wish to be compassionate." "Go and sin no more." This is "a first order issue." Women's ordination, he said, involved a balancing of scriptural issues -- there are contradictory passages. "Homosexual activity is always viewed negatively in Scriptures" 2nd Corinthians, which they had been studying collectively as a Conference, warns against those who "carry another Gospel."

Michael Gay Bourke, Suffragan Bishop of Wolverham, Diocese of Litchfield, was the first non-basher to speak: "The Bible can be used both as source as faith and as a way to oppress people." He said his wife worked with those with Huntingdon's syndrome. "Two centuries ago they and others with mental illness were burned as witches." "The Bible was used to justify racism in South Africa." "We should use humility in interpreting texts. We should rely on Spirit of Jesus," which he then went on to explain. "Lambeth is not going to say homosexuality is all right, but we need to listen to homosexual people. Listening to their stories is especially important if you think homosexuality is sinful -- listening is the only way to overcome homophobic societies all around the world."

Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, also spoke in support of the sub-section's new version. He was a member of it. He claimed that it "attempts to unify the Communion." He called it a strong statement of traditional values. He also disagreed with Moderator Moses that this is "a trivial issue, it is a Gospel issue." Part (c) is important. The Gospel not there without (c)." He also endorsed Archbishop Peers' amendment tipping a hat to the Kuala Lumpur Statement.

Alexander Malik, Bishop of Lahore, Church of Pakistan, was the first to oppose the sub-section version. It is "unclear, impotent." "It does not uphold Scripture." He opposed the use of the word "homophobia," which he said was used against all those who oppose homosexuals. "Opposing homosexuality is not gay bashing -- it is a matter faith, doctrine, and dogma." "What if someone comes asking you to bless their relationship with their pets? Will that happen at the next Lambeth? [At this point I could not resist saying in the news briefing room, where fifty or so journalists and others with press credentials were watching the proceedings on a monitor: "That already happens every St. Francis' Day!"] "What is so new about this issue that put it on the agenda? We have known about this since Sodom and Gomorrah." "Homosexuals betray the cause of Christ." [Can we blame him on the Presbyterians, also?] "To all offenders of sexuality, I say God has created you in his image, but God hates your sins like all other sins. You can be part of the church's fellowship, but how can you be a priest or bishop if you don't uphold the teaching?"

John Neil, Bishop of Cashed & Ossory, Church of Ireland, also commended the sub-section version. "It would be a pity if whatever we do is approved by only a tiny majority. It would loose all moral authority. Any outright condemnation would divide us, and any affirmation would likewise divide us. This [substitute] resolution assures that more work must be done." "Faithfulness to Gospel is different in different cultures and situations, and what may be a way to avoid evangelical suicide in one province must not get in the way of letting the love of Christ act in another."

Michael Lugor, Bishop of Rejaf in the Sudan: "If founders of the Church rose from their graves, they would laugh at us." "We know nothing of homosexuality in the Sudan. We only know the Gospel." [Perhaps that's why they would be laughing!] "Let them [us] go apart and confess their sins to God. Why did they come to this world (wide gathering?)?"

At this point, there was a fire bell at the Business School, which houses the media center. We were all out of the room for a considerable period.

The sub-section substitute was adopted in lieu of the other substitutes. According to Larry Stanmar of the Los Angeles Times, who got one of the few ringside seats, it was by voice vote.

When we returned we were dealing with amendments to the sub-section substitute.

The one being debated was not on the official list but had somehow jumped up in the list. It was submitted by Archbishop Donald Mtetemalaof Tanzania. It called for inserting at the beginning of paragraph (d), the pastoral paragraph: "While rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture."

A bishop from South Africa whom I couldn't identify was speaking when we returned.

Robert Ihloff, Bishop of Maryland, nest spoke. It took me awhile to tell whether he supported or opposed it. He stated that he has not ordained any homosexual persons. There is a moratorium on blessing unions in his diocese. Nevertheless, he is "committed to dialogue."

David Gitari, Bishop of Nairobi and Archbishop of Kenya supported the motion "to make it clear we reject homosexual practices. This way we can go home happy."

Kathy Roskam, Suffragan Bishop of New York. I love Kathy and she has worked very hard here. "We will have a divided church if this amendment passes." "If affirming homosexuality is evangelical suicide in his region, to condemn it is evangelical suicide in my region. If you win it will be a phyric victory."

Sehon Goodridge, Bishop of the Windward Islands West Indies: "The problem is homosexual practice -- not ordination." [Thank God, those of us who are lay got some of the blame.]

The vote on the amendment was:

Yes: 389

No: 190

[This put the handwriting pretty clearly on the wall.]

Edwin Nyamubi, Bishop of Kagera, Tanzania, rose to state that after all the amendments, some still wanted the opportunity to vote against the resolution.

There was a closure motion, which was defeated 375 to 232.

We resumed with the fifth amendment on our list. The first four had all been either defeated or withdrawn.

Bishop Samson Muraluda of Taita Taveta in Kenya, offered an amendment to take out "homophobia" and substitute "irrational fear of homosexuals." The word, he said, "is often politically loaded to mean those who oppose any homosexual practices." We don't want to use a bashing word." [Homophobia is a bashing word!!!!] No one spoke in opposition and the amendment carried.

The next amendment was by Bishop Sewntamu of Stepney, which called for replacing "chastity" with "abstinence." He talked about the Church modeling the "splendor and glory of abstinence." Again, there was no opposition. The amendment carried.

Bishop Peter Selby of Worcester (C of E) pointed out that the amendment calling for listening to gay and lesbian people had been passed over. There was a procedural discussion and it was eventually put back on the docket. Bishop Bourke had presented it. Bishop Selby was the principal spokesman, however. "The resolution won't have authority if it doesn't respond to the people affected. We must listen." Amazingly, it was overwhelmingly approved.

Moses Tay, the infamous Archbishop of South East Asia and Bishop of Singapore, had submitted a resolution to have the monitoring done only on the provincial level. [I would have voted for this!] It was overwhelmingly defeated by voice vote.

Peter Chiswell, Bishop of Armidale, Australia [Sydney Province, of course], moved to substitute "approve" for "advise" in paragraph (e). This would certainly have passed but for David Crawley, Archbishop of British Columbia and the Yukon, and Bishop of Kootenay, speaking in opposition. "The Lambeth Conference can't approve or disapprove. What does disapprove mean? It's only advisory -- and only to one order. A.31 [the sub-section substitute] has been eroded. It is gradually acquiring a face of judgement and condemnation. We were asked to walk a mile on some of the earlier amendments which some of us voted against. Walk a few feet with us." The resolution was defeated.

Michael Peers, Archbishop of Canada, moved his above-mentioned amendment noting the significance of the Kuala Lumpur statement. It was approved.

Much to everyone's surprise, Archbishop Carey then stood. He thanked Archbishop Eames for chairing the session. There was heavy applause. He emphasized the need to listen to Scripture. He called it a painful debate, and while he supports it he knows not all are comfortable. "I stand wholeheartedly with traditional Anglican theology. There is no room for any sexual activity outside traditional marriage. But the dialogue continues." "We must not impugn motives of one another. Important though the issue of homosexuality is, we are discussing so many more important things at this conference." "If this Lambeth Conference is characterized by this issue, we have failed."

Before the final vote, Bishop Buchanan again spoke. He said "recognizes" doesn't mean "endorse."

After prayer, the final vote was announced:

Yes: 526 No: 70 Abstentions: 45

Unfortunately, the issue remained unfinished as the resolutions endorsing the Kuala Lumpur Statement were returned to the Resolutions Committee. It may come out later in the week.

Resolution 1.10 [As approved, August 5]

This Conference:

(a) commends to the Church the sub-section report on human sexuality;

(b) in view of the teaching of scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage;

(c) recognizes that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the Church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the Church and God's transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships, and we commend ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual people. We wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ;

(d) while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialization and commercialization of sex;

(e) cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same-sex unions, nor ordaining of those involved in same-gender unions;

(f) requests the Primates and the ACC to establish a means of monitoring the work done on the subject of human sexuality in the Communion and to share statements and resources among us;

(g) notes the significance of the Kuala Lumpur Statement and the concerns expressed in resolutions IV.26, V.1, V.10, V.23, and V.35 on the authority of Scripture in matters of marriage and sexuality and asks the Primates and the ACC to include them in their monitoring process.

The session was followed by a press conference that I will report on tomorrow. It is now 10:30 PM. I have had no dinner, the room is about 100 degrees, and I'm going to bed.

• Return to Louie Crew's collection of materials on the Lambeth Conference.
• Louie Crew's Anglican pages.
• Louie Crew's home page.
• Send mail to: lcrew@newark.rutgers.edu

Please sign my guestbook and view it.

Statistics courtesy of WebCounter.