Bishops urge gays to repent

BISHOPS AT the Lambeth Conference were locked in bitter disagreement over homosexuality on the eve of today's final debate of the subject, which threatens to split the world-wide Anglican Church.

The gulf between African bishops and conservative evangelicals on the one hand, and the liberal wing of the Anglican Church particularly in the United Kingdom, North America, Australia and New Zealand on the other meant that attempts to reach any consensus proved virtually impossible.

The liberal bishops had come to the 10-yearly conference with the hope of persuading the church to accept same-sex relationships and the ordination of practising homosexuals, both of which occur unofficially.

The opposing camp refuses to countenance the idea, with some African bishops claiming that homosexuality does not even exist on their continent.

In the end, the clause rejecting "the legitimising or blessing or ordaining of those involved in same-gender unions" was dropped from the main resolution.

But in ditching the clause, the steering committee headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, could not stave off conflict. For today no less than five resolutions condemning homosexuality will be debated at the plenary session. The alliance of bishops from developing countries and evangelicals will push for amendments.

One of their resolutions from the Central and East Africa region, urges "healing and correction" for "all those who suffer or err through homosexual or other kinds of sexual brokenness". Bishops who have knowingly ordained practising homosexuals must "repent", they say.

Another resolution, from the West Africa region, maintains that "homosexuality is a sin, which could only be adopted by the church if it wanted to commit evangelical suicide".

Until now, the Anglican Church has gone to great pains to deny that the issue of sexuality poses any real threat to the unity of its 38 provinces.

However, yesterday, the Rt Rev Paul Barnett, the Bishop of North Sydney, Australia, broke ranks and admitted: "This issue could contribute very significantly to the unravelling of the Anglican Communion at this time."

One of the disputes yesterday centred around the word "chastity". The statement "chastity is right for those who are not called to marriage" was one of the phrases which went by the board at the very last minute.

Earlier in the day, the Rt Rev David Crawley, the Bishop of Kootenay, Canada, had explained why the word "chastity" was better than "celibacy".

Some people thought the word "celibacy" was a monkish word. "Chastity" was more broad-based," he said. He admitted that the word "chastity" was open to interpretation.

The Rev Chris Wardale, 52, a parish priest in Darlington who is one of two "out" practising gay priests in the UK, said yesterday that he would describe his relationship with his partner of 15 years as "chaste".

"If we in our consciences and before God feel ourselves to be part of that loving, faithful relationship, that is what we are."