And, in other news (not wanting to say “I told you so”, but…)
Row over sexuality splits church
By Alex Kirby
(from BBC News Online)Appointments of several gay men as church leaders are testing Anglican tolerance almost to breaking point.
I expected the new archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to steer a course different to his predecessor but this is rather worrying. Rev David Phillips (general secretary of the UK’s Church Society, which represents evangelical Anglicans) told BBC News Online
We think a split is inevitable, both within the church of England and the whole communion. We’re surprised at [an openly gay man, Canon Jeffrey John, being appointed as assistant bishop of Reading] - we wouldn’t have expected it so soon, and it shows how things are changing under Rowan Williams.People like Canon John are sincere, and both sides are convinced they’re right, so I can’t see any way forward. I don’t think the Anglican fudge can work in the long term.