NEAC sends support to American cousins

This article appeared in the Conference edition of the Church of England Newspaper on 23 September 2003 and is reproduced here with their permission.

Leading evangelicals from NEAC4 have sent a message of support to the parishes and dioceses in North America who have courageously defended the Church's traditional teaching on sexuality.

"We know of the attacks that you have had to withstand in recent months and years. These attacks on so many areas of our shared biblical faith have been severe and stressful for many of you and we weep with you," read the letter from the Steering Committee of NEAC4.

"We pray also that he who is our Lord and Saviour will encourage you all to stand firm."

Parishes in Vancouver, Canada, who declared themselves out of communion with their diocesan bishop after he sanctioned blessings for same-sex unions have received international support since their stand.

Dioceses and parishes in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America have been so upset by the approval of the election of the first actively homosexual bishop that they are also looking at re-alignment.

A seminar at the conference last night on the issue of homosexuality made it clear why the orthodox Christians in North America and around the world, believe so passionately about it being a debate that cuts right to the heart of the authority of scripture.

The arguments of pro-gay lobbies in the Church "betray an arrogance with regards to the Biblical text, and miss the mark" said Edith Humphrey, speaking on the implications of the New Testament on same-sex eroticism.

She said that they are wrong to refer to the institution of slavery and say that we have moved beyond the limited understanding of the early Church, as homoerotic behaviour is not analogous to slavery, nor to the ministry of women in the Church. "The human authors of the scriptures, moved by the Divine Author, wrote in particular historical contexts. But this fact should not be used as a pretext for bypassing explicit teaching or perspectives which our age finds difficult."

Humphrey accused liberals of wanting "to put skewed human experience in place of Jesus, Paul, and the historic Church, and to declare that we have transcended the clear voice of Scripture on this issue. In place of the communion of saints and the teaching of the apostles they put a new gospel of so-called inclusivity, and tell us to bless what needs to be healed."

In a reference to those who are backing the Bishop of New Westminster's decision to bless same-sex unions, she said that it was a new way of "putting asunder" what God has joined.

Looking at the Old Testament, Gordon Wenham added to the Biblical evidence for the argument against same-sex unions being acceptable. "God wants the earth to be filled with creatures made in his image, with human beings. This of course can only be achieved by the union of the two sexes, not by same-sex unions. Thus in the first command given to the human race, 'Be fruitful and multiply' heterosexual complimentarity is implied."

He also pointed to the health risks of homosexual practice, warning that research had shown "it is much more dangerous than smoking or alcoholism."

The Rev Dr Andrew Goddard, a tutor at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, agreed that the Church must stand firm, but said that it needed to be inclusive to homosexuals at the same time. "The Church cannot give the impression that it agrees with the world. It cannot suggest that what two consenting adults do in private is not a matter for the church."

He added: "In all our debates we must remember that we all stand together - male and female, gay and straight, married or single, in a partnership or promiscuousness - as sinners."