A New Archbishop Of Canterbury

by PRASHER, G. | Category: Focus | Nov 2002

Dr. Rowan Williams has been nominated to succeed Dr. Carey as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, and is due to be enthroned early next year. Renowned for theological distinction, gifted as a communicator and admired for devotional earnestness, his appointment has been welcomed by many Anglican Church leaders.

However, two evangelical groups within the Church of England have taken strong exception to his appointment because of Dr. Williams' personal views on certain sexuality issues. For he has openly expressed disagreement with the official position of the Church of England on sex before marriage and the ordination of practising homosexuals as priests. The conservative evangelical group Reform therefore asked him to make certain affirmations or withdraw from his nomination as Archbishop. These included:

- Affirming the received teaching of the Church that all its members abstain from sexual relations outside holy (heterosexual) matrimony.

- Affirming the ordination only of those who themselves will teach, and seek to model in their own lives, the received teaching of the Church that all its members are to abstain from sexual relations outside holy (heterosexual) matrimony.

Dr. Williams felt unable to concede these affirmations. ' My personal views are on record', he wrote, 'and I have not found reason to change them ... I can and I do state what is the majority teaching of the Church, as I am bound to do. But I can't go beyond this and say that I believe what I do not accept'. Nor did he consider that these matters were 'a defining issue' in relation to his acceptance of the archbishopric. This point was developed by one of his supporters who reasoned that the central areas of Christian belief include the Trinity and the Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord. In all these major matters Dr. Rowan is 'thoroughly orthodox'. It was inappropriate to 'raise sexuality into this central sphere of Christian doctrine' and regard it as an issue which should affect Dr. Rowan's appointment.

Homosexual issues were prominent at the 1998 Lambeth Conference, a gathering of Anglican bishops from all 'provinces' of their worldwide communion (held every twelve years). Liberally minded bishops proposed agreement to the ordination of practising homosexuals as Anglican priests and the sanctioning of marriage between homosexuals who were committed to long-term relationships. Strong opposition to this on scriptural grounds by bishops from third-world 'provinces' was a notable feature of the debate. The liberal proposals were rejected by a decisive majority of votes. Against that background it is understandable that many Anglicans feel apprehensive lest Dr. Rowan's influence as Archbishop of Canterbury may strengthen liberal trends on this subject within the Anglican Church leadership.

Similarly any compromise on scriptural standards regarding sex before marriage would be deeply divisive. This also is seen by many Anglicans as a black and white issue because of what they perceive as clear scriptural teaching. Others are critical of such certainty, suggesting that alternative understanding of the scriptures may lead to less rigorous conclusions. Yet what conclusion can be reached other than the sinfulness in God's sight of extramarital sex in view of such scriptures as the following?

'Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites ... will inherit the kingdom of God' (1 Cor.6:9,10).

'Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body (1 Cor.6:13).

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband' (1 Cor.7:2).

'Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge' (Heb.13:4).

As onlookers from outside the Anglican communion we may well reflect on Paul's reference to things 'contrary to sound doctrine'. Among these he included fornication and sexual perversion with such things as murder, profanity and perjury (1 Tim.1:9,10). Our safeguard amidst all the crosscurrents of conflicting views is to accept the plain statements of God's Word on sexual issues, and uncompromisingly make them our rule of life.

PRASHER, G. | Nov 2002
Focus