Reading the continuing reaction to the fact that a C of I cleric is in a civil partnership, I have found myself returning to a sermon preached earlier this year in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin by Canon Ginnie Kennerley.
There is much in it which is both prayer and thought provoking. Some will definitely disagree with it – and regrettably there will be some who will not even bother accepting the challenge of reading a different point of view which mught disturb fixed mind-sets. The Canon however has framed her views with compassion, scholarship and Christian charity. Indeed in the light of the news from Cashel diocese, this sermon is prophetic in the real sense of that word.
Here is an extract – and if you wish to read more, there is a link at the end to get you to the full sermon.
Canon Kinnerley said: It wouldn’t surprise me to be told that many of us here, while declaring ourselves “gay friendly” and intolerant of homophobia, still find ourselves confused by what seems to be the condemnation of same-sex relations in the Bible. And while I am personally convinced after much study and meditation, that there is nothing in scripture which condemns faithful and committed sexual relationships between partners of the same gender, I have to recognise that there are many Christians who have not yet come to the same conclusion. I may hope that the Holy Spirit will so lead them, but I must also be aware that we can all fall into the trap of interpreting scripture to fit our own world view, rather than allowing it to challenge our preconceptions. So I think some all-inclusive Bible study sessions are called for.
We ourselves may also harbour, even subconsciously, elements of the traditional fear of homosexuality because we have not got around to carefully reconsidering all the traditional views we grew up with. We need to do that work, not only for our own peace of mind, but so that we can help others to leave behind the once common view that all homosexuals are promiscuous, predatory and possibly paedophile, and to recognise the moral uprightness of the committed gay partnerships around us. Such couples demand our respect, our acceptance and full and unquestioned inclusion in the community of the church. They have been deeply hurt by the refusal of fellow Christians to offer them that acceptance and respect, and it is time we took steps to heal that hurt, by opening our hearts and holding out our hands to invite them in, asking forgiveness for our hard-heartedness.
That our church authorities have still not seen fit to offer such inclusion seems to me a scandal and a failure of Christian vision and leadership. It might even be seen as political cowardice. BUT, but, but . . . it is not quite so easy. Even our own House of Bishops is divided on the matter, and as I already pointed out, we do need to respect the conscientious views of others, even when they are hurtful to us or to our friends. And the prophet needs to keep in touch with all the people. So the only way forward I see is that of dialogue, mutual listening, in a setting in which we all pledge ourselves to be deeply open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is how we proceeded thirty years ago in the Women’s Ministry Group in the Church of Ireland – no bra-burning or banner waving, but instead persistent invitations to discussion and a search for mutual understanding in which, while we expressed hurt at being rejected, we still invited our opponents to express their anxieties and misgivings.
Changing Attitude Ireland has, I know, already made a start on this, approaching individual bishops to request conversation on the central issues; but far better than this one-at-a-time approach would be a meeting with a goodly number of bishops and opinion-leaders in the church simultaneously. Ideally we might hope for a widely attended Conference led by individuals who have studied the issues in depth, from biblical, theological and psychological perspectives. It will not be an easy road so long as the Anglican Communion remains conflicted and indeed confused on the issues; but it is a road we are called to take.
Inclusion, not exclusivity, is the Christian way – Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female, and, by extension, gay and straight. I cannot believe that our saviour (who is not recorded as ever having addressed the issue of same-sex relationships) could lead us in any other way. But let us proceed gently and with understanding of the fears of those who differ from us. A little rhyme by Edward Markham shows us the way:
“He drew a circle that shut me out, Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win, We drew a circle that took him in.”……………………..
Food for thought indeed
Houston McKelvey