Thursday, February 16, 2017

Archbishop of Canterbury issues statement after Synod setback for Bishops' report

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that Bishops will go on thinking after the Synod vote on their report on marriage and same sex relationships. 

Archbishop Justin said the vote was "not the end of the story, nor was it intended to be. As bishops we will think again and go on thinking, and we will seek to do better. We could hardly fail to do so in the light of what was said."

Archbishop Justin said "How we deal with the real and profound disagreement - put so passionately and so clearly by many at the Church of England’s General Synod debate on marriage and same-sex relationships today - is the challenge we face as people who all belong to Christ. To deal with that disagreement, to find ways forward, we need a radical new Christian inclusion in the Church. This must be founded in scripture, in reason, in tradition, in theology; it must be based on good, healthy, flourishing relationships, and in a proper 21st century understanding of being human and of being sexual."

Here is the full statement.