Lesbian and Gay Christians Comment as Anglican Primates (senior bishops) Meet in Ireland (21 February 2005)


As the 38 Primates (senior bishops) of the global Anglican Communion gather for their meeting in Ireland this week the Reverend Richard Kirker General Secretary of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) made the following statement today (21st February)

“The Primates Meeting has no authority to decide matters for the Anglican Communion. Like all the other 'Instruments of Unity' it has an advisory role, it is not the executive arm of Anglicanism.

“The Primates Meeting has only been in existence since 1978 and in no small way we feel the responsibility for the current impasse is due to the failure of this newly created group. It is amazing to us that we should now be looking to the Primates to solve a crisis that is mostly of their own making. Primates meetings are not renowned for setting a good example of how to engage positively with lesbian and gay Christians. They are therefore of doubtful value in being able to determine the real contribution we have been, and are making, to the Anglican Communion; for instance, in its missionary and evangelistic endeavours.

“Five of those attending have already declared the Windsor Report to be fatally flawed (Note 1), and refused to accept its assessment or recommendations.

“Lesbian and Gay Anglicans are not expecting much of this meeting. We hold to our position that we will not be the sacrificial lambs in the pursuit of some short term unity as we have made clear in our letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Note 2).”

Ends

Notes
1. The Statement from the five Primates can be found here: www.acicanada.ca/statement
2. LGCM’s response to Rowan Williams’ Advent letter can be found here: OpenLetter

Enquiries: Rev Richard Kirker + 44 (0)20 7739 1249

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement [LGCM], Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG, UK

Office Tel & Fax 020 7739 1249
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