Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, is facing intense scrutiny after he publicly parted ways with the doctrine of the Anglican Church and the teachings of Scripture on sexuality.
Welby, 68, recently appeared on “The Rest is Politics,” a podcast hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. During the show, the archbishop said, “All sexual activity should be within a committed relationship … whether it’s straight or gay.
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“We’re not giving up on the idea sex is within marriage or civil partnership or whether marriage is civil or religious and that, therefore, we’ve put forward a proposal that where people have been through a civil partnership or a same-sex marriage … they should be able to come along to a church and have a service of prayer and blessing for them in their lives together.”
The official teaching of the Church of England states “sexual intercourse, as an expression of faithful intimacy, properly belongs within marriage exclusively,” classifying marriage as a lifelong union of “one man with one woman.”
The archbishop’s remarks have sparked a bevy of responses from detractors, including from The Alliance, a cohort of CofE groups that hold to a biblical sexual ethic. In response to the backlash, Welby released a formal statement on the matter.
“Archbishop Justin was giving a personal view that reflects the position now held by himself, the Archbishop of York and many other bishops regarding sexual intimacy,” read the statement. “He has been honest that his thinking has evolved over the years through much prayer and theological reflection … and he now holds this view sincerely. It reflects his commitment to continuing to welcome, love, and include LGBTQ+ people more fully in the life of the church.”
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Reprinted with permission from faithwire.com. Copyright © 2024 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
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