The absurd, disgraceful, and nonsensical place in which the Church of England finds itself over sexuality should be a source of shame to its bishops.
Quite apart from anything else, they have contrived – through bungling, fudge and first-order ineptitude – to produce liturgy for same-sex relationships without properly deciding all the theological issues first. This was effectively admitted by Christopher Cocksworth – a bishop with a leading role in the process – as long ago as last February, if not quite in those precise words. It was a startling confession from one so intimately involved with this sorry farrago.
Justin Welby has failed to teach from the Bible on this issue. Indeed, he has seemingly failed to say anything significant from Scripture about it, full stop. In the service for ordaining bishops, they promise to ‘teach the doctrine of Christ as the Church of England has received it … refute error … and hand on entire the faith … entrusted …’ It is a woeful neglect – a grave betrayal of trust.
