On the appointment of Bishop John Sentamu to be Archbishop of York
The Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians welcomes the appointment of the Rt Revd Dr John Sentamu, currently Bishop of Birmingham, as Archbishop of York. This is an imaginative and courageous appointment. Bishop John is passionate about bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to those on the margins of society, and has done much to tackle racism in the Church and society.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, nominated him recently for a seat on a panel to help resolve disputes over the church’s attitude towards homosexuality. Although he stands by the Lambeth Resolution of 1998, which rejects homosexual practice as ‘incompatible with scripture’ and rules out gay marriage in church, he is on record as condemning homophobia in the strongest terms. We look to him to facilitate genuine conversation between those who affirm lesbian, gay and bisexual people within the Church, and those who find this difficult. Bishop John said yesterday – ‘What I hope is that when people violently disagree with one another in the same family, they will find a language for living together and ways of talking to one another’.
Dated 19 June 2005
Civil Partnership Act 2004
It takes some getting used to – this newfound state of being included and not excluded. It feels like waking up one morning to find that the barriers outside which you have camped for so long have miraculously shifted. They moved overnight without your knowing and suddenly you are no longer outside the circle but have found a place within it. What a bewildering mix of feelings – surprise, delight, disorientation, disbelief … but no, it’s true! Overwhelmingly, in both Houses, the votes of the UK Parliament declared ‘Yes!’. The dignity of committed same-sex relationships has been resoundingly affirmed.
Yet, flicking through the newspapers, or listening to radio and TV broadcasts the day after, you might not have guessed. After the noisesome clamour of all the debates of 2003, ‘how silently, how silently’ this came. A ‘wondrous gift’ indeed for Advent. But of course! No fanfare of trumpets greets the dawn – nor did they on that resurrection morning, when a small group of bewildered women rose to find a boulder moved and newfound hope dispelling fear.
Hats off to all those whose patient, painstaking, courageous work has come to such fruition. Like that other biblical story of good neighbourliness, it is not those conspicuously wearing the label ‘holy’ who have been in the forefront of shelling out the time and expense required. So ‘three cheers’ for today’s ‘Good Samaritans’ – organisations, like Stonewall, who have worked tirelessly for the good of all. And ‘three cheers’ for all the individuals whose lives, lived courageously, have convinced their friends, family and colleagues not to fear.
Sigrid Rutishauser-James
Advent 2004
A response to the Windsor Report
Living together with difference is the hardest thing for any group of people to do. The Windsor Report asks Anglicans world-wide to hush their noisesome strife and ‘make space’ for one another so that each may dare to see and be seen, and to hear and be heard more truly. It asks those who feel most discomforted by the differences threatening to drive members apart to acknowledge their opponents’ distress, to feel it with them, and to show this by openly speaking words of regret. This little bit of ‘making space’, of ‘fellow feeling’, born of recognising the other as brother/sister in Christ is the beginning. It requires courage, trust and the willingness to believe the best of the other. And this can only be done when each sees the other ‘in Christ’ – equally welcomed, equally flawed, equally dependent on the One from whom and in whom all life has its beginning and its end.
The members of the Eames Commisssion, have seen one another ‘in Christ’. At the outset, when the names of those who had been appointed were made known, the chairman Robin Eames owned that he wondered how on earth they were going to be able to work together. The Report reveals that they have indeed succeeded. Arguably, this, more than the Recommendations themselves, offers the Communion the hope it needs for the future. Not only have the members of the Commission shown that ‘making space’ for the other is needed, but they have demonstrated that it is indeed possible.
To many, particularly those outside the Church, what has been offered may appear derisory and, to some, fatuous. To others the Report will appear a betrayal of truth or of justice for there are those on both sides who feel alienated by what it does not say. But is there any alternative to the painstaking, self-giving, vulnerable work proposed? For the work is familiar. It belongs to the work of Christ who, in utter vulnerability, pursued that same costly road, dying in weakness to be raised in strength. The choice is there for each one who would follow: cling to the identity you now know or move on in faith to what is yet to be.
Sigrid Rutishauser-James
November 2004
Reflection on the Appointment of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire
EFLGC is at the interface of Christian faith and sexuality, and many of us have developed and continue to develop in our understanding of these two aspects of our lives. The reflection below considers the ordination of a bishop who is in an active, committed, gay relationship and its effect on different people:
Delight that Gene Robinson has been elected as Bishop – it is a huge encouragement to LGBT people worldwide.
Distress at the reactions of some other Christians - the strength of reaction and the language used has, at times, been appalling.
Deep concern for LGBTs who are hurt by the bombardment of opposite views - the high media profile does much good in exposing more of the inadequacy of some viewpoints, but each time the issues hit the headlines many ordinary lives are raked over and some are shot down.
Eagerness and renewed resolve to do all in our power to promote conversation, person to person, between those of differing viewpoints and to work towards a better place for all.
Sigrid Rutishauser-James
12 August 2003
A comment from the EFLGC on the appointment and withdrawal of Canon Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading
Within evangelical churches of all denominations there are lesbian, gay and bisexual Christians. Many remain silent about their sexuality for fear of ostracism, while those whose sexuality has become known have often been barred from positions of leadership or asked to leave the church. This means there is little to challenge the prevailing views within evangelical circles – views often based on the lack of knowledge of the real lives of lesbian and gay people.
The Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians is an organisation that aims to support evangelical Christians who are homosexual or seeking to explore their sexuality, to help others re-examine their understanding of sexuality, and to encourage members to witness their faith and their conviction about sexuality to others.
Canon Jeffrey John was appointed as Bishop of Reading in the Church of England on the basis of his abilities, potential and Christian calling. After welcoming the news of his appointment the EFLGC was dismayed at his subsequent withdrawal. These events and particularly the words spoken have stirred feelings of injustice, deep pain and fear amongst lesbians and gays, their families and friends.
Canon John has handled this situation with honesty, dignity and restraint. We hope the discussions which follow can continue in this spirit, so that all concerned will speak and listen to one another with respect.
