Lambeth Conference
Jul. 7th, 2008 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lokifanYou guys might know that it’s the Lambeth Conference this week. The Lambeth Conference is the biggest meeting of the Anglican church there ever is: every bishop from the Church of England can attend.
This one is big news. The General Synod voted today to ordain female bishops. Can I get an Amen? :d
They’re also talking about ordaining gay men as bishops. Unsurprisingly, I absolutely support both these measures! I’m an atheist but I grew up in the Church of England, and I’m worried about what’s going to happen. I am, after all, a bisexual woman and I want others like me to able to advance.
It’s complicated, though. The Anglicans have managed to avoid splitting the church over this, at least in the UK: following the proud C of E tradition of waffling! But the ordination of Gene Robinson, a non-celibate gay bishop, has caused massive problems. Now it looks like the conservative parts of the church, including many of the African bishops, are going to leave. Schism hasn’t quite happened yet, but they’ve decided to make themselves their own council; they’ve been in talks with the Vatican. Such a split can only be a bad thing for the Church and the liberal cause – this council’s raison d’etre would be resisting reform!
The dean of St Albans’ Cathedral, my local, is named Geoffrey John. Some of you might have heard of him; he was going to be a bishop, but turned the job down because he wanted to stop exactly this from happening. He’s gay, and celibate; he has a long-time partner but they don’t even live together. Well... officially they don’t live together. Those of us who know them better turn a blind eye to certain pertinent facts. Which is not at all to say they’re sleeping together – I’m sure they aren’t – but how much Geoffrey’s partner’s home is actually used is what you’d call open to question.
Even those of us who’re resolutely secular should be concerned by this. The conservatives are basically saying they’ll leave for the express purpose of having a church that’s more sexist and homophobic than the Anglican community at large is willing to be. There are no other issues driving them. Even Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury and therefore the leader of Anglicans worldwide) is becoming publically exasperated. They’ve got no legitimacy, this new council.
Besides, a lot of Anglicans don’t like Rowan Williams and will blame him. Which is completely unfair – this one is entirely due to the conservatives – but it’ll happen. I love Rowan Williams and he’s tried so hard to prevent schism; the idea that he’ll be blamed for this really upsets me. He’s a great man, he’s clever and willing to listen, committed to ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. He also has a healthy appreciation for Only Fools and Horses. I remember that when he attended a wedding I was at, a year or so ago, he was brilliant. Astonishingly patient with all those seeking photo-ops, and entirely agreed with me that The Simpsons is a programme chock-full of family values!
The conservative Anglican bishops held their own conference a few weekends ago in Jerusalem, boycotting the Lambeth Conference. They did their own thing, and declared their sexist, homophobic, arguably-not-backed-by-Gospel beliefs. Unfortunately, they had perhaps not checked the dates for the conference well enough. You see, that weekend had another big event happening in Jerusalem...
The Gay Pride parade.
Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humour?
This one is big news. The General Synod voted today to ordain female bishops. Can I get an Amen? :d
They’re also talking about ordaining gay men as bishops. Unsurprisingly, I absolutely support both these measures! I’m an atheist but I grew up in the Church of England, and I’m worried about what’s going to happen. I am, after all, a bisexual woman and I want others like me to able to advance.
It’s complicated, though. The Anglicans have managed to avoid splitting the church over this, at least in the UK: following the proud C of E tradition of waffling! But the ordination of Gene Robinson, a non-celibate gay bishop, has caused massive problems. Now it looks like the conservative parts of the church, including many of the African bishops, are going to leave. Schism hasn’t quite happened yet, but they’ve decided to make themselves their own council; they’ve been in talks with the Vatican. Such a split can only be a bad thing for the Church and the liberal cause – this council’s raison d’etre would be resisting reform!
The dean of St Albans’ Cathedral, my local, is named Geoffrey John. Some of you might have heard of him; he was going to be a bishop, but turned the job down because he wanted to stop exactly this from happening. He’s gay, and celibate; he has a long-time partner but they don’t even live together. Well... officially they don’t live together. Those of us who know them better turn a blind eye to certain pertinent facts. Which is not at all to say they’re sleeping together – I’m sure they aren’t – but how much Geoffrey’s partner’s home is actually used is what you’d call open to question.
Even those of us who’re resolutely secular should be concerned by this. The conservatives are basically saying they’ll leave for the express purpose of having a church that’s more sexist and homophobic than the Anglican community at large is willing to be. There are no other issues driving them. Even Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury and therefore the leader of Anglicans worldwide) is becoming publically exasperated. They’ve got no legitimacy, this new council.
Besides, a lot of Anglicans don’t like Rowan Williams and will blame him. Which is completely unfair – this one is entirely due to the conservatives – but it’ll happen. I love Rowan Williams and he’s tried so hard to prevent schism; the idea that he’ll be blamed for this really upsets me. He’s a great man, he’s clever and willing to listen, committed to ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. He also has a healthy appreciation for Only Fools and Horses. I remember that when he attended a wedding I was at, a year or so ago, he was brilliant. Astonishingly patient with all those seeking photo-ops, and entirely agreed with me that The Simpsons is a programme chock-full of family values!
The conservative Anglican bishops held their own conference a few weekends ago in Jerusalem, boycotting the Lambeth Conference. They did their own thing, and declared their sexist, homophobic, arguably-not-backed-by-Gospel beliefs. Unfortunately, they had perhaps not checked the dates for the conference well enough. You see, that weekend had another big event happening in Jerusalem...
The Gay Pride parade.
Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humour?
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-08 11:15 am (UTC)When the men against it were speaking of the reasons why, they mentioned the apostles and that Jesus chose men because Jesus knew.... what? What did Jesus know?... I knew they didn't want women, heard a lot of reasons before including women had a family to look after and family life was eroding...
Their view of women as inferior came through loud and clear. Undeserving of speaking directly with/for God. Wow. In this day and age, unbelievable. Remember Tutu speaking of accepting gays? That no God of his would be so intolerant? I loved him for that.
And the thing is, most religions seem to have this hang-up of women and gays. Will we ever see a female Dalai Lama? Are there women Hindu priests? Women Imans? Buddhist monks? I do know they have women Rabbi. I haven't read up in depth on religions, but from a layman's view, most religions seem to be just another tool for men to have the power.
It's annoying. But I'm pleased that at least this branch of Christianity is willing to discuss it, and changing for the better.
PS - I love the Vicar of Dibley :)
I fail so hard!
Date: 2008-07-19 03:02 pm (UTC)heard a lot of reasons before including women had a family to look after and family life was eroding...
!!! I never heard these reasons! You're right, it's totally unbelievable. It's like the Church of England is wrangling over these issues that the rest of the country settled already. No wonder it's seeming less relevant.
And yes, I love Tutu. Tutu and Williams are both great men, and it hurts my head that when we have these people right at the top, and the General Synod voting female bishops through, everything is still so difficult.
But you're right, on the whole this branch of Christianity is changing for the better. Rowan Williams > Cardinal Murphy O'Connor.
And I reckon you're right. Not to come off all shrill feminist, but Religion Is Often A Tool Of The Patriarchy.
PS - the babe with a bobcut and a magnificent bosom should be a bishop!
Re: I fail so hard!
Date: 2008-07-30 05:02 pm (UTC)You shameless flatterer! *g*
Seriously though, my flist is so full of antisocial hermits that I never expect comment replies, and as I tend to be like them often, I don't mind at all :) So, no worries.
Besides, you've been busy writing! I've been flitting in and out of the net lately, so only just caught up (which is not caught up at all, really, missing huge chunks of people living and I'd feel guilty if I didn't feel so rushed off my feet with my own flipping living) - and one thing I can clearly see is you writing up a storm. *resolutely does not release Death-by-Envy Ray*
Re: I fail so hard!
Date: 2008-08-01 01:24 am (UTC)I've been flitting in and out of the net lately
I'm exactly the same - and I feel especially guilty because I have people leaving me lovely comments, and I'm always a week behind commenting on anything of theirs!
Hopefully I can write up a storm enough to get all my fest fics in on time! And, of course, then I'll find time to destroy the Death-by-Envy Ray before it can destroy Metropolis!