Archbishop of Canterbury called to submit to Bible’s teaching on marriage

Archbishop Welby and the House of Bishops have been encouraged to submit to the authority of the Bible on sexual ethics by the leader of one of the largest Anglican churches in England.

Revd William Taylor, Rector of St Helen’s Bishopsgate in the City of London, urged Lambeth not to compromise the plain teaching of Scripture on same-sex relationships.

Last month, the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GFSA), which says it represents 75 per cent of Anglicans worldwide, said it could no longer “walk together” with the Church of England after they voted to bless same-sex partners.

‘Lambeth fudge’

Revd Taylor told Premier Christian News: “To try and put together a Lambeth fudge that wangles its way around in order to achieve false unity, and institutional compromise, you will end up dividing, dividing, dividing.

“There’s only one type of unity, and that’s under the authority of God’s Word.

“So my encouragement to Lambeth, and to those working on this, is the Bible is very clear: submit and surrender to the teachings of the Scripture and then we will have true Christian unity.”

St Helen’s, which has five Sunday services and a thriving youth work, recently restated its commitment to “sit under the authority of God’s word” and “to uphold the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sex”.

‘Rewriting God’s law’

In February, the CofE’s General Synod voted to welcome plans to offer “prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and for God’s blessing” for individuals who have been through a same-sex civil ceremony.

The motion to “commend” the bishops’ proposals required a majority approval from each House of the Synod – allowing the bishops to block amendments to their own proposals. They voted for it 36 to four, the House of Clergy voted 111 to 85 and the House of Laity voted 103 to 92.

Prior to the vote, the Chairman of the GFSA described the plans as a “collective failure” to defend biblical truth and doctrine.

The Most Revd Dr Justin Badi said: “They are re-writing God’s law for His creation; laws that are re-affirmed by Christ in the Gospel accounts.”