Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby 'affirms validity' of 1998 church declaration that 'gay sex is incompatible with scripture' but insists he will not punish vicars offering same-sex weddings amid pressure from conservative bishops.
- 1998 declaration said same-sex unions should not be legitimised or blessed
- Justin Welby said this resolution, known as Lambeth 1.10, was 'not in doubt'
- But he said churches in some places have had to 'change traditional teachings'
- 650 bishops from 165 countries gathered for the 15th Lambeth Conference
The Archbishop of Canterbury has affirmed the validity of a 1998 church declaration that gay sex is 'incompatible with scripture', while insisting that he won’t punish churches who conduct same-sex weddings.
In a speech to more than 650 bishops at the Lambeth Conference, Justin Welby tried to appease conservative bishops who want to insert an anti-gay marriage clause into the gathering’s official resolution.
The Global South Fellowship, a group which includes all African Evangelical congregations - some in countries where homosexuality is still illegal - plans to hold an unofficial poll this week reaffirming the language of the 1998 declaration, known as Lambeth 1.10, which asserted that gay marriage is not condoned by the church.
The leader of the global Anglican church also tried to placate those in favour of LGBTQ inclusion by insisting that he does not have ‘the authority to discipline or exclude a church’ if they conduct or bless same-sex marriages.
Mr Welby faced criticism for his attempt to please both sides, with one prominent Anglican saying he was ‘trying to ride two horses at once, which is impossible’.
Blogger: 'No punishment for conducting 'gay weddings?' This runs heavily against Scripture! Perhaps these non-Christian bishops may now wish to legitimise adultery as a logical next step in diluting, and finally abolishing, Christianity. How about bestiality and polyamory?
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