At the end of the recent General Synod when an alliance of orthodox Christians and pro-gay progressives defeated the Bishops\u2019 report on Marriage and sexuality, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued a rallying cry to a perturbed and divided Synod and whatever part of the wider Church was listening in.<\/p>\n
It had three elements:<\/p>\n
1- \u201cWe need a radical new Christian inclusion in the Church.<\/p>\n
2- \u201cIt must be based on good, healthy, flourishing relationships, and in a proper 21st century understanding of being human and of being sexual.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
3- \u201cThe way forward needs to be about love, joy and celebration of our humanity; of our creation in the image of God, of our belonging to Christ \u201d\u201c all of us, without exception, without exclusion.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The problem these words present, is that they involve a distortion of Christianity. They preference a non-Christian ideology that gives us a sub-Christian or even perhaps an anti-Christian version of the faith.<\/p>\n
That is a very serious charge to make. Because if it is true, it challenges the authority of an ancient office and both the direction and integrity of the Church of England.<\/p>\n