By David Skidmore
Lambeth Conference Communications

The vote of the Lambeth Conference, Wednesday (August 5), affirming traditional views on homosexuality, has not silenced the voices of gay and lesbian advocates in the church.

Over 80 percent of the bishops voted to condemn homosexual practice as sin, but supporters have made it clear that they will continue to pressure the church to fully include its gay and lesbian members. If nothing else, they point out, the vote has served as a catalyst for unity among Anglican gay and lesbian organizations.

Bishops pledge continued support

In a statement released Thursday (August 6), over 100 bishops pledged to continue to work for the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Christians in the life and ministry of the church. Acknowledging the difficulty gays and lesbians have experienced in having their concerns heard at the conference, the bishops apologized for "any sense of rejection that has occurred because of this reality."

The statement, said the 113 bishops, is a sign of their commitment to listen to and reflect theologically with gays and lesbians. "It is our deep concern that you not feel abandoned by your church and that you know of our continued respect and support." The bishops, representing ten provinces (Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Southern Africa, the United States, and Wales), said gay men and lesbians deserve "a more thorough hearing" than was accorded them during the conference, and called on Anglicans everywhere to continue in "prayerful, respectful conversation on the issue of homosexuality."

Five primates signed the letter: Archbishop Glauco Soares de Lima of Sao Paulo and Primate of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil; Archbishop Michael Peers, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada; Archbishop Robin Eames, primate of the Church of Ireland; Bishop Richard Holloway, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; and Archbishop Alwyn Jones, primate of the Church in Wales.

New alliance formed

Lesbian and gay activists also have responded to the vote by creating a new inter-Anglican coalition-the Alliance of Lesbian and Gay Anglicans-that will work for "the unconditional inclusion and full participation of gay and lesbian people in all facets of the church's life throughout the Anglican Communion," according to a statement released Thursday. The coalition's eight founding organizations include Changing Attitude and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, both based in the United Kingdom; and Integrity based in the United States and Canada.

The coalition seeks to have the communion affirm six points: that sexuality is a gift of God; that homosexual and heterosexual orientations are morally neutral; that lesbians and gay men in "faithful, committed, life-giving and holy" relationships should be honored; that all baptized Christians should have full access to all orders of ministry of the church; that these goals are consistent with Anglican tradition; and that the full inclusion of gay men and lesbians is based ultimately "on the total witness of Holy Scripture."

Based on a survey taken earlier in the conference by the Lesbian Gay Christian Movement (LGCM), bishops may not be as staunchly conservative on homosexuality as was indicated in the vote Wednesday. Two-thirds of respondents supported the creation of an inter-Anglican commission on sexuality, and the "full participation" of lesbians and gay men in the life of the church. Though slightly less than half supported the blessing of homosexuals living in committed relationships, over 80 percent opposed discrimination based on sexual orientation. Just over half said they would not ordain a non-celibate homosexual person. The survey was completed by 10 percent of the 739 bishops present.

Integrity to continue United States efforts

In a separate statement, the U.S. Integrity group said the vote, while exacerbating the division in the Communion over sexuality, would not deter it from working towards the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in ECUSA. The hundreds of homosexual clergy in the Episcopal Church will continue to carry out their ministry, and more will be ordained, said Integrity. "Celebrations of lesbian and gay unions will continue," it said.

Integrity also called on the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council to be faithful to the resolution's directive that a listening process on sexuality be established throughout the Communion. On the positive side, noted Integrity, the status of gay and lesbian Christians is now on the minds of the entire Communion.

While disappointed in the final resolution, Bishop Frederick Borsch of the Diocese of Los Angeles (ECUSA) said he was encouraged by the provision recognizing that all baptized persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, are full members of the church. Still, he found the original resolution presented by the sexuality subsection to be more affirming and "more understanding and welcoming to all persons."

The issues surrounding homosexuality, he noted, are "still very much a part of us," and all bishops need to continue "to listen to the experience of gay and lesbian persons."

Bishop Luiz Prado of Pelotas (Brazil) said he would have a hard time explaining the decision to his diocese, particularly young people who are looking for a message of acceptance from the church. He also said he was concerned about how legislative solutions to such momentous issues will affect the life of the Communion. Responding to the growing challenge of urbanization will made more difficult by decisions framed by a narrow biblical understanding, he said.

"How will our Communion in future times decide political and moral issues?" he asked. "Is the way of voting the right one?"