Dr [Alastair] Redfern said the topic of homosexuality came up a number of times during the conference and that it was decided more discussion was needed before any decisions were made.<\/p>\n
But the conference had not changed his views.<\/p>\n
He said: “The American church has consecrated as a bishop its first practising homosexual.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s wrong and it’s wrong in the view of most of the people at the conference.<\/p>\n
“We expect the highest standards of people in this position.”<\/p>\n
The bishop said this did not mean he and his fellow bishops were condemnatory of homosexuality.<\/p>\n
He said: “Just as we say to any unmarried person that you should get married before you have sex, we say the same to homosexuals.<\/p>\n
“The teaching of our church is that sexual activity belongs in marriage between men and women, and I hold by that.”<\/p>\n