Church has difficulty with homosexuality © dpa
The Church of England remains divided on the ie of homosexuality. On Wednesday night, the synod surprisingly rejected a report by the bishops on sexuality. A defeat also for Primate Justin Welby.
In the debate, which lasted several hours and primarily dealt with the treatment of homosexual people in the church, the differences within the Anglican Church became clear. The subsequent rejection of the report also weakens the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at the head of the church, who was instrumental in the report and had called for equal treatment of homosexuals even during the debate in synod.
Clergy refuse to give consent
The clergy, of all people, had refused to give the bishops their approval of the report. 93 clergy voted for the report, 100 against, 2 abstained. In the House of Bishops, one bishop voted against the report. The laity voted 106 in favor, 83 against and 4 abstained. A majority in all three houses would have been necessary for the adoption of the report.
The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, pledged after the vote that the House of Bishops, would consider the comments of the debate carefully and prayerfully. There had already been protests that morning outside Church House in London, where the synod was meeting, against the report and the church's stance on homosexuality.
Another voting debacle
The vote on the bishops' report is another voting debacle, following the surprise failure of a synod vote on women bishops five years ago that plunged the church into a deep crisis. Then in 2014, after a lengthy mediation process, the synod voted to allow women in the episcopate after all.
For years, the ie of homosexuality has been controversial in the Church of England. Several married gay priests have already been suspended because priests are expected to live "exemplary" lives. The Church of England had banned its priests from marrying same-sex couples after marriage for same-sex couples was introduced by the British government. In addition, homosexual priests and bishops in the Church of England must be celibate.
In 2015, a married gay clergyman was unexpectedly elected to the Church of England's General Synod. Traditionalists protested and demanded that his election be declared invalid.