The editorial in the current issue of The Church of Ireland Gazette says that the unity of the Church of Ireland’s has been imperiled by the events surrounding the civil partnership of the Dean of Leighlin.
Concern is expressed that the further study referred to last week by the bishops in both their formal statement and their pastoral letter – on biblical, theological and legal issues surrounding same-sex relationships and civil partnerships – could be “a charter for years-long argumentation”.
The editorial points out that controversy over same-sex relationships has been to the fore in the wider Anglican Communion for over a decade and that, while the ‘Windsor process’ of consultation bought more time, “more time turns out to have been precisely not what was needed”, continuing: “Now, the [Anglican] Communion has reached breaking point and we have two Primates’ Meetings and a whole new Anglican Church in North America.”
The Church of Ireland must learn from the experience on the matter at Anglican Communion level, the editorial suggests, urging that the further study that is needed be completed “expeditiously”.
The full text of the editorial follows.
A WAY FORWARD
The statement which the Bishops issued following their residential meeting last week and their subsequent Pastoral Letter together point a way forward in the quite alarming circumstances in which the Church of Ireland finds itself at this time. There has indeed been considerable disquiet in the Church, to use the Bishops’ term, following Dean Tom Gordon’s entering into a civil partnership, a decision which he has said was with his Bishop’s knowledge even before he was appointed last year to the position of Dean of Leighlin. It is not an exaggeration to say that, as a result of this whole scenario, the Church of Ireland’s very unity is imperilled. For that reason, it is somewhat concerning that the Bishops refer to a need for yet further study and research on related biblical, theological and legal issues, because such could be a charter for years-long argumentation. We need to study such matters, but we also need to do so expeditiously.
We can learn from the experience at Anglican Communion level – but will we? There, the issue has been debated, seemingly interminably, for well over a decade. The Windsor Report’s big idea, the Anglican Covenant, seems to be drifting into the mists of obscurity and irrelevance. The ‘Windsor process’ bought more time, but more time turns out to have been precisely not what was needed. Now, the Communion has reached breaking point and we have two Primates’ Meetings and a whole new Anglican Church in North America. The dragging on has been because, of course, the Anglican Communion cannot legislate for the Communion as a whole. However, the Church of Ireland can legislate for the Church of Ireland, and so a clear regulation of the issue before us is needed urgently if we are not to find ourselves in a situation resembling that of the Anglican Communion in all its woes.
The Church of Ireland probably can contain itself for the process which the Bishops have outlined, but it will be difficult. The conference which has been proposed will not be held until the spring, but this does allow time for proper preparation for the gathering which, assuming the matter proceeds to the General Synod, will in turn inform the mind of the Synod with its power to legislate on Church matters, including matters of doctrine. Given the circumstances, the best path for all concerned is to enter into this process with grace and with the clear aim of discerning, as we stressed in our 16th September editorial, the right way forward to guard the Church of Ireland in unity, truth and holiness.