24 November 1997

There follows below the text of the Archbishop of Canterbury's response to Bishop John Spong of Newark's letter to the Primate of the Anglican Communion.

"I acknowledge receipt of your letter addressed to Primates of the Anglican Communion and I am also copying this brief reply to them.

I am saddened by the hectoring and intemperate tone of your Statement which appears to leave little room for the dialogue you demand. You claim the high ground of science and reason; you argue that the view of those who disagree is 'tired and threadbare' and their leadership lacks integrity. Furthermore, you attack personally those of us who disagree with your opinion and in doing so you distort the theologies and reasons why we are led to conclude that there is no justification for sexual expression outside marriage.

I would invite you, Bishop, to re-read my Christmas Letter in which I express my hope that bishops coming to Lambeth will come to 'give' and 'receive'. I assure you that there will be open and honest debate on all issues that concern our Communion. I expect that to characterise the discussion on the issue of homosexuality. I understand that you feel passionately about this and that you have the support of a significant number of Bishops. However I would ask you in turn to recognise that a very large number of bishops from all over the world disagree with you with equal passion. You seem to be under the impression that the Kuala Lumpur Statement is the work of South Asian bishops.

This is not the case. It was agreed by a conference of some eighty participants representing the majority of Anglican provinces in the southern hemisphere. The most recent Dallas statement, which expresses similar sentiments on sexuality, also drew bishops from many parts of the world. I draw your attention to these facts because I want to be sure that everyone fully realises the divide potential of this, not just for the Communion, but for people more generally. If bishops come to Lambeth wanting a showdown on this issue, I am quite clear that there will follow a very negative and destructive conflict which will put even further back the cause of the people you represent. I have no wish to lay further burdens on any groups, but the tone of your paper, ironically, risks creating such a situation. If we each come to listen to others in the spirit of our Lord whom we all try to serve, then we shall all benefit from our common discussion.

I hope that the bishops will ask me to set up an International Commission to consider these issues. The Conference will be less inclined to do so, however, if you, or, indeed, others on the opposite side of the argument, intend to split the Conference open on this matter. Do come in peace, do come to learn, come to share - and leave behind any campaigning tactics which are so inappropriate and unproductive, whoever employs them. I urge you to come in a constructive spirit."