by David Skidmore
Lambeth Conference Communications

After two weeks of closed-door discussions, sexuality moves to the public forum of the full Lambeth Conference this week with the release of the draft report from Section One (Called to Full Humanity).

At two pages-the shortest of any of the six subsections in the 36-page main report from the section-the sexuality report stakes out a middle-ground position, affirming past Lambeth Conference statements on the sanctity of marriage but also opposing homophobia and "any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

The report declares that sexuality, as understood by scripture and Christian tradition, is "intended by God to find its rightful and full expression between one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage." Holy matrimony, continues the report, is "a life-long, monogamous and unconditional commitment between a man and a woman."

While affirming marriage as the only acceptable means for sexual expression, the report recognizes that gays and lesbians are loved by God, and that all baptized members of the church, regardless of their sexual orientation, "are full members of the Body of Christ."

Strong support from section

The report, which tackles five key social issues in addition to sexuality (human rights and human dignity, environment, modern technology, euthanasia, and international debt), received overwhelming support from the section's 200 bishops.

According to the report, some forms of sexual expression are "inherently contrary to the Christian way and are sinful," including adultery, incest, pedophillia, promiscuity, prostitution, female circumcision and rape. Homosexuality, though, is not included in the list. "We must confess that we are not of one mind about homosexuality," acknowledges the report. The report also urges churches to encourage young people to abstain from sexual activity.

Bishops, states the report, generally subscribe to four main perspectives on homosexuality: those who see homosexuality as a disorder, but subject to healing; those who see genital sexual activity by homosexuals as going against scripture and the church's teaching and, if unrepented, serving as a barrier to salvation; those who regard committed homosexual relationships as outside biblical norms but preferable to promiscuity; and those who advocate the ordination of homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Most bishops are not ready to bless same-sex unions or ordain non-celibate homosexuals, observes the report, and many bishops support a moratorium on these actions. Lacking a consensus on the scriptural, theological, historical and scientific questions surrounding homosexuality, the bishops are asking the Primates and Anglican Consultative Council to develop a way to monitor the communion's work on these issues, the report said. Exactly how this procedure should be developed was unclear. Though not calling expressly for a commission to address these questions, the report uses language similar to that in the 1988 resolution that established the Eames Commission on women in the episcopate.

Resolutions address sexuality

Sexuality is also addressed in six resolutions proposed by the two of the four sections and by regional meetings representing nine geographic areas of the communion. Three of the resolutions will be subject to debate and are scheduled to be considered, along with the draft section report, at a full conference plenary on Wednesday.

The debatable resolutions from Section One, the West Africa Region and the Central and East Africa Region each affirm biblical teaching on holy matrimony but part company on homosexuality. Section One's resolution (I.10) calls for the church to "minister pastorally" to all people regardless of their sexual orientation, and to condemn homophobia, domestic violence and the commercialization of sex. It also echoes the section report recommendation by requesting that the ACC and the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates monitor any work done in the communion on sexuality, and see that the information is shared among the provinces.

The regional resolutions from Central and East Africa and West Africa label homosexuality as sinful and call on non-celibate homosexuals-and bishops who ordain them-to repent their actions.

Central and East Africa's resolution (V.1) declares all sexual promiscuity, which it states includes sexual relations between homosexuals, as sin. It also states that people who "practice homosexuality and live in promiscuity, as well as those bishops who knowingly ordain them or encourage their practices," are in conflict with scripture and the church's teaching.

The strongest condemnation is put forward by the West Africa resolution (V.35) which calls on the conference to declare that "homosexuality is a sin which could only be adopted by the church if it wanted to commit evangelical suicide."

Affirming traditional teaching

The three remaining resolutions, which have been placed on the "agreed list" and are thus not subject to debate unless at least 50 bishops request it, affirm traditional Anglican understanding of sexual morality, but steer clear of any explicit reference to homosexuality. Two of the resolutions, from Section Four and the Southeast Asia Region, endorse the Kuala Lumpur statement on sexual morality, a report issued following the meeting of 80 bishops in Malaysia, in February, 1997. The most specific is Southeast Asia's resolution, which notes that no Anglican province has voted to change the "traditional ethical teaching on homosexuality" and calls on the conference to receive and recognize the Kuala Lumpur statement. The third, from the Latin American Region, is less specific, recognizing only "the importance of strengthening Christian family values" and reaffirming "traditional Anglican sexual ethics."

The language in several of the resolutions has drawn criticism from centrist and progressive bishops who see it as inflammatory and prejudiced against gays and lesbians. At a meeting Monday afternoon, the bishops discussed their concerns about the wording of resolutions condemning homosexuality as sinful, particularly the West African resolution equating the church's acceptance of homosexuality with "evangelical suicide."

Both agreed and debatable resolutions must be endorsed by the full conference before they can take effect. Resolutions adopted by the conference carry a moral and pastoral authority for the communion, but are not legally binding on any province. Debatable resolutions are subject to amendment, merger with other resolutions, or addition to the agreed list. Agreed resolutions can be considered for debate through petitions submitted by 50 bishops before the plenary begins, or by 100 bishops during the plenary.