Seeker

Every now and again I read a post on someone else's blog that I wish I'd written myself. Dave Faulkner's post on Big Circumstance today is one of those. In 'An Appeal to Both Sides of the Christian Debate about Gay Marriage' he appeals for the exercise of Christian love and respect between those of opposing opinions. He cites several areas where Christians need to listen to each other: petitions Bible science epistemology ethics Like him I have been appalled by some of the sloppy thinking and wrong facts in certain petitions. Like him my views on the sexuality debate have changed from ten years ago, but are still rather confused, so I too need to work hard on studying and listening more. It was James Jones, the Bishop of Liverpool who (quoting the Dean of Liverpool?) used the phrase 'diversity without enmity' in a 2010 address . He said that diversity without enmity  "provides  a safe and a spiritually and emotionally healthy place...

Perhaps I should entitle this post 'Church of England shoots itself in the foot - again!'  Yesterday I noticed the announcement that the Church of England has appointed a group to advise the House of Bishops on human sexuality. This is part of a process towards a consultation document to be produced by the House of Bishops in 2013. This is intended to propose ways forward following the 'listening process' the church has undertaken since the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution on Human Sexuality . What I failed to notice yesterday was the composition of the Advisory Group. They are:  Sir Joseph Pilling (former Permanent Secretary Northern Ireland Office) The Rt Revd Michael Perham (Bishop of Gloucester) The Rt Revd Keith Sinclair (Bishop of Birkenhead) The Rt Revd Jonathan Baker (Bishop of Ebbsfleet) The Rt Revd John Stroyan (Bishop of Warwick) Notice anything about this list? Not even 1 woman, not even a 'token' woman. Maybe that's not possible. ...