The Archdeacon of Down calls for bishop’s resignation. News Letter reports that the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship, the Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy, New Wine (Ireland) and Reform Ireland, have given warning that the legal and financial battles which have characterised splits in the north American Anglican church could happen here if the church does not address the issue.
The News Letter report states:
It will be difficult for the Church of Ireland to continue in its current form if the church does not make clear its position on gay unions, senior figures from the church’s evangelical wing have warned.
In the latest development of what is threatening to become a crisis for the largest Protestant denomination on the island of Ireland, four evangelical groups have released a statement asking the church to answer a series of questions.
The four groups claim to represent “a significant number of both ordained and non-ordained members of the Church of Ireland”.
It is understood that at least three bishops are members of one of the four groups behind the statement, underlining that the split in the church goes almost to the top.
The statement, which is signed by the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship, the Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy, New Wine (Ireland) and Reform Ireland, warns that the legal and financial battles which have characterised splits in the north American Anglican church could happen here if the church does not address the issue.
It says: “This raises specific questions and highlights issues that go beyond the particular circumstances of the individual concerned.
“The specific questions: Did Dean Gordon inform his diocesan bishop of his intention to enter into a civil partnership? Is this a celibate relationship? While the latter question may seem intrusive it is a recognition that a civil partnership does not necessarily presume a relationship that involves sexual intimacy and is beyond the Biblical mandate for sexual activity."
“If Dean Gordon’s relationship does include sexual expression then what are the implications for his pastoral and diocesan roles?”
The statement added: “The wider issues are already being played out in other parts of the world. Divisiveness and legal battles within the Anglican churches in both the United States and Canada; individual ministers and congregations seceding from the Church of Scotland.
“In the Church of Ireland there has been something of a stand-off on these matters yet if the orthodox view of marriage and sexuality is allowed to be shattered by the actions of Dean Gordon and others then it is difficult to see how a respectful fellowship can be maintained.”
The statement added that the evangelical groups want to see “a continuing and growing unity” within the church and said: “We acknowledge our common fallenness and acknowledge too that sexual sin is neither the only digression from God’s design for humanity nor is homosexual activity the only way God’s gift of sex is debased. We fear Dean Gordon’s action will cause pain and grief within our church and damage relationships with other Christian traditions in Ireland with whom we work closely at local as well as regional level.”
The groups said that “a fuller version” of the statement would follow in the coming days.
It is understood that meetings between Church of Ireland evangelicals north of the border are continuing amid debate about what they should do.
Another report in the News Letter states:
Another influential evangelical figure north of the border, archdeacon Philip Patterson, spoke out in opposition to the Rev Gordon’s partnership.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme, he said that the church now needed to make its mind up on the issue of homosexuality.
He added that the Rev Gordon’s bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Burrows, should resign as he had “undoubtedly” harmed the unity of the church by approving the same-sex union…
… An interview with Archbishop Harper was later broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme in which he said there had been a “relatively strong” reaction in Northern Ireland to the civil partnership.
But he added: “In the Republic, the reaction has been much more relaxed — it’s not been a major issue.”