Archbishop pushes for fresh look at lifestyles

Cambridge News (England), Dec. 2, 2002
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/

The next Archbishop of Canterbury looks set to spark a new round of controversy within the Anglican Church after saying he could “see a case” for acknowledging same-sex relationships.

On the eve of his confirmation in the post, Dr concern with status.

“It seems to me rather sad, and rather revealing, that when it comes to sex we suddenly become much less intelligent about our reading of the Bible,” he told BBC2’s An Archbishop Like This.

“If the Bible is very clear – as I think it is – that a heterosexual indulging in homosexual activity for the sake of variety and gratification is not following the will of God – does that automatically say that that is the only sort of homosexual activity there could ever be?

“My own personal conclusion is that I can see a case for acknowledging faithful same-sex relationships.”

Dr Williams said he just wanted “the debate to be an honest one”, with “a recognition that what at first sight seems absolutely straightforward when you look in the Bible . . . when you look a bit harder, may not be”.

In the documentary, Dr Williams said: “The Anglican Church has bought very deeply into status.

“It’s one of the most ambiguous elements in the whole of that culture – the concern with titles, concern with the little differentiations, the different coloured buttons . . . the rosettes on the hat, as it used to be.

“And there have to be points where that gets challenged.There’s something profoundly – I’ll say it – anti-Christian in all of that.”

Dr Williams studied theology at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

After graduating with a first class degree and moving to Oxford University to carry out research on Russian Christianity he returned to Cambridge in 1977.

His first academic appointment was at Westcott House, the Church of England theological college based in Jesus Lane.

Three years later he became lecturer in divinity at Cambridge University.

After turning down several college posts to accompany his lectureship he became honorary curate at St George’s Church, Chesterton.

Previous entry:
Next entry: church confirms its liberal new archbishop

More articles about Rowan Williams