In the CHURCH TIMES of London (13th Dec.2002) there is printed, next to the Editorial Comment, an essay by the retired Bishop of Birmingham, Hugh Montefiore, a distinguished, caring liberal, under the heading, "Why forgive divorcees but not gays?"
On the basis of my experience in the USA, I have been expecting such an article from a distinguished churchman for the last month, since the recent decision of the C of E on marriage of divorcees in church.
The Bishop welcomes this recent decision of the Synod of the Church of England to allow the marriage of a divorced person (with spouse still alive) to another person (according to guidelines to be supplied by the House of Bishops) in church using the regular church service. He points out that this decision has taken a long time in coming and that it represents a new interpretation of the teaching of Jesus. What was once seen as impossible is now possible, because the statements of Jesus in the Gospels have now been interpreted so as to allow now for this possibility, not to forbid it.
Turning to the question of homosexuality, the Bishop is prepared to accept the traditional interpretation of Paul's words as condemning all forms of homosexuality in his day as expressions of lust. Yet "when two people of the same sex seek to lead a faithful life of mutual love and support" he argues that Paul's teaching does not apply for here they are not motivated by lust but by genuine care for one another, and further they are disposed by nature to seek a same-sex partner. In this case he chooses to call their relation[ship] a handicap rather than a sin. It is a handicap because they cannot procreate children which is a prime aim of matrimony.
He concludes: "I find it very strange that those who condemn all homosexuality do not permit this scriptural hermeneutic, even if they do not hold it themselves, while, at the same time, they are able to permit a hermeneutic that allows the possibility of marriage after divorce. It is hard to avoid a homophobic conclusion."
Of course, what the Bishop is now saying aloud in England has been said in similar ways in the USA for a decade or more. It has been said and continues to be said by both liberals and by evangelicals, catholics and protestants, in the large American denominations and in many seminaries.
In the modern context of the tremendous pressure of the culture of human rights along with that of self-esteem with self-satisfaction, once you loosen the moral law of the Church and, in the name of tolerance or charity, make concessions, it is difficult to know where to stop. In fact, a momentum is generated which, as long as the cultural context remains what it has recently been in the West, will seemingly continue to move on. We are witnessing such a moving on with apparently no signs of slowing down or doing a U-turn.
As a long-time evangelical high churchman (or high-church evangelical), what I continue to find most puzzling is the energy and vehemence of the Evangelical opposition (in USA, Canada and England) to the blessing, approval or even partial approval of same-sex partnerships while, simultaneously the virtual silence of the same Evangelical voice against the modern divorce culture in the churches and its effects. For example, I have heard little in England from Evangelicals against the recent legislation - in fact all the evangelical bishops in synod voted for it. Yet I have heard much against the new Archbishop of Canterbury because he ordained a homosexual person.
One possible reason for this seeming imbalance is that (according to figures supplied by Christianity Today not long ago) the percentage of divorced and remarried people in evangelical churches is amongst the highest for all kinds of churches.
To be scriptural, to be consistent, and to live within the best tradition of the Church of God, it would seem that the modern Church must begin to refuse (under normal conditions) to bless both second marriages (when a previous spouse is still alive) and the claimed faithful partnerships of same-sex couples. To take such action will require tremendous courage, wisdom, patience and mercy.
If there is no change made in the way the Church treats the marrying of heterosexuals persons, then it seems inevitable that all of us within a decade or so will be accepting the unions of homosexuals as normal and acceptable.
Sunday December 15, 2002
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
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