Church of England now on the border of being heretic apostate
Supporters of a change in the Church of England’s stance on sexuality have voiced dismay after a new panel of bishops to help “discern” its future course on issues such as same-sex marriage was chosen seemingly dominated traditionalists. These amazed liberals neither know nor understand the scriptures. They violate Romans 1:27 and in fact are included in God's condemnation by supporting the notion of homosexual marriage as prohibited by scripture.
The 10-strong “Bishop’s Reflection Group” appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York includes a string of prominent evangelicals and some seen as staunch conservatives but no-one who has openly advocated a change in teaching or practice on the issue.
Liberals voiced anger while opponents of any change also privately hailed the make-up of the group, set up after a four-day gathering of all the bishops last week, as better than they expected from their point of view. The Church of England is on the border of being apostate.
The Church of England has been openly divided over the issue of sexuality for a generation, at a time when social attitudes have shifted rapidly with first civil partnerships and then same-sex marriage becoming legally possible.
It officially campaigned against the introduction of same-sex marriage and secured special legal exclusions preventing gay weddings in Anglican churches because of theological objections.
Nevertheless almost three years ago an official Church of England commission, chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling, a former civil service mandarin, called for it to consider blessing services in all but name for gay and lesbian couples.
But he also recommended the church engage in a process of “facilitated conversations” bringing clergy and lay members from different backgrounds together in small groups behind closed doors to talk frankly about the subject in an effort to breaking down divisions.
How can sin ve dealth with? Repentance and turning to Christ. But some don't repent turn again to their sin and still claim to be C of E ministers.
The process was completed earlier this summer with a special private meeting of members of the Church’s ruling General Synod, passing the baton to the bishops to decide the next step. They could potentially draw up new legislation on sexuality to put before Synod next year.
The bishops began those discussions at a meeting in Oxford last week. They gave no details of the talks but disclosed afterwards that a special panel was being set up to guide the process. Chaired by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, who is widely seen as an honest broker, and including three women, it contains a large broadly evangelical contingent.
Significantly, it includes the Rt Rev Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone, the former head of the conservative evangelical group Reform, who biblically and strongly opposes any endorsement by the Church of homosexuality.
The Rt Revd Julian Henderson, the Bishop of Blackburn, who is also a member, is viewed as one of the most conservative bishops on the issue.
He signalled an uncompromising stance on sexuality in an article in the Church Times last month in which he insisted that traditional interpretations of the Bible should not be replaced with “anthropological” arguments.
He has also publicly supported a group called “Living Out” which supports Christians who say they “experience same-sex attraction” but reject the gay “lifestyle”. Its members are mostly single and celibate but some are married to people of the opposite sex. Yet both orientation and behaviour are sinful.
Now listen to this quote which ignores scripture, history and the writing of Paul and reflects the spirit of this world alone:
“Knowing that there was not one LGBTI voice or openly supportive bishop in the group there was not one word of pastoral concern for the pain that they knew that the statement would cause.“ Sadly, I fear this is a step backwards and only adds weight to those who believe the Church of England is institutionally homophobic, effectively putting politics ahead of the lives of real people.”
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