Justin Welby, the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, has been accused of furthering division inside the Church of England and abandoning biblical ethics in consequence of recent comments made about homosexuality.
Speaking to the Cambridge Union, Welby said that he had been “thick” to oppose gay marriage, adding that he believed stable and faithful homosexual relationships to be a “huge blessing”.
The Church of England has been discussing its “Living in Love and Faith” (LLF) agenda on the General Synod in York. The LLF is neither pro nor anti homosexuality, but is a process designed to foster respectful dialogue and understanding between those that hold different views inside the Church.
Speaking to Premier Christian News, former General Synod member Reverend Jonathan Ford, said that the Church remained deeply divided on the difficulty of homosexuality.
“Living in Love and Faith is on the agenda, but it surely’s really a holding exercise – because they have into real trouble. They cannot discover a lead Bishop, and the bishops aren’t united on this in any shape, size, or form. There’s a way by which they’re all leaving this until the brand new Archbishop comes along. That’s certainly one of the primary things the poor person’s got on their desk … any individual’s going to need to own this mess and no one desires to own it.”
Rev Ford added that Welby’s latest comments were unlikely to assist matters.
“One of the things that is really nervous everybody is him saying: ‘Oh, I used to be a mug to follow biblical ethics.’ Biblical ethics have been the underpinning of civilization for the last 2,000 years,” he told Premier.
“If he says biblical morality isn’t any longer vital, then we’re all in really big trouble, because what’s morality then? If you say, ‘No more biblical morality’, well, what are we?”
He went on to say that nearly all of the Christian world was actually “quite conservative, whether you prefer it or not” and that the Church of England pursuing a liberal path would have global ramifications.
“So, it’s whether we’re a part of the fundamental thrust of Christianity, or a part of this very vocal, and really powerful, but liberal minority. Where does the Church of England fit? Where does the Church of England slot in its own community?” he said.
 Justin Welby, the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, has been accused of furthering division inside the Church of England and abandoning biblical ethics...){kind=link}