Letter from the Revd Dr Peter Toon to the Church Times

Sir,

I offer a comment on the appointing of homosexually active priests to the office of bishop by providing two examples.

1. A “gay” priest as a matter of conscience ceased his “relationship[s]”, lived in a celibate manner for some time, excelled as a parish priest and then was nominated and appointed bishop, without seeking this “promotion” and intending to stay celibate.

2. A “gay” priest living in a “faithful partnership” decides to cease this partnership and to seek to live as a celibate when (but not before) he is offered the office of a bishop.

The first example may be said to reflect Christian thinking and behaviour while the latter could be charged with opportunism and of lacking repentance (although it may be genuine repentance).

Repentance for sin in some cases requires public penance and certainly always requires amendment of life. And penance can include non-admission both to Holy Communion and to privileges and offices of the Church.

Further, it has always been the case that some men have been refused ordination because of what they committed as crimes or sins before they became active Christians. The reasoning here can be that there is always the possibility that those crimes/sins will be used to bring discredit upon the person and/or the church and thus destroy his ministry. Perhaps the appointing of (once) actively gay men, however talented and affable they be, to the office of bishop comes in this category.

Yours truly

Peter Toon,
The Rectory,
Biddulph Moor, ST8 7HP