By Cheryl M. Wetzel, Editor, The Anglican Voice
According to Jonathan Wynne-Jones, reporter, THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH newspaper, London, 27 August, 2006, “The Archbishop of Canterbury has told homosexuals that they need to change their behaviour if they are to be welcomed into the church, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.”
The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, once a champion of the gay cause in Great Britain, has again disavowed this issue. He has repeatedly distanced himself from this issue since his institution as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Under persistent pressure from the Queen that the Anglican Communion not be allowed to disintegrate, and pressure from the Primates of the orthodox “Global South”, Williams has been forced to put aside his advocacy of the gay cause and act to preserve the Communion. The story cites the following comments:
-The tradition and doctrine of the Church has not changed because of the precedent of Robinson’s consecration.
-“Inclusive” as a church label is not a goal in itself. Williams prefers the word welcoming.
-Williams has rebutted the idea that gays should be included in the church "unconditionally."
-Williams is determined to preserve the Church from being torn apart over this issue and has questioned the tactics used by both sides.
"I don't believe inclusion is a value in itself. Welcome is. We don't say 'Come in and we ask no questions'. I do believe conversion means conversion of habits, behaviours, ideas, emotions," Williams stated. "Ethics is not a matter of a set of abstract rules, it is a matter of living the mind of Christ. That applies to sexual ethics."
