Welby says he is unclear on whether homosexual sex is sin
Originally published in The Christian Institute
The Anglican church in Scotland has been disciplined for dropping the biblical definition of marriage, Justin Welby has announced.
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In June, The Scottish Episcopal Church stated that its understanding of marriage was no longer one man and one woman, but instead merely “in accordance with the civil law of Scotland”.
It will now be barred from decision-making processes within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Grief
Speaking during a meeting of Anglican leaders, the Archbishop of Canterbury said: “There were a lot of expressions of disappointment, strong feelings from many of the provinces.”
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But he added, “it was more of a family that’s having to face the fact that something’s happened that is causing grief than a sort of club that doesn’t like one of its members”.
The leader of the Scottish church was adamant that it had made the right decision and in recent weeks its churches have held same-sex weddings.
Rejection
Last year, the US Episcopal church was suspended from the Anglican Communion for three years for “a fundamental departure from the faith” over marriage.
It changed its church law in 2015 to remove reference to marriage as being between a man and a woman.
GAFCON, a conservative grouping of Anglicans said at the time that the “continuing brokenness of the Communion” has been caused by “the persistent rejection of biblical and apostolic faith”.
No clear answer
Earlier this week, Justin Welby said he could not give a clear answer on whether homosexual sex is a sin because of major differences in the Anglican church globally.
He said: “I am having to struggle to be faithful to the tradition, faithful to the scripture, to understand what the call and will of God is in the 21st century and to respond appropriately with an answer for all people – not condemning them, whether I agree with them or not – that covers both sides of the argument.
“And I haven’t got a good answer, and I am not doing that bit of work as well as I would like.”
Sadly people believe that because we are in the 21st century….and things have changed….Gods word should also change. This is a clear acknowledgement by such people that they do not acknowledge that God is a Holy God, a Righteous God and that God does not need to keep up with fashion…God is the same God today as He was when He created all…..We have no right to dictate to God that He should fit in with us…and if members of the clergy believe this…then they never knew God in the first place and should either repent and find Him or leave the Church and find worldly employment instead…