Bishop’s rethink over gay relations

Feb 6 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Bishop of Liverpool has appeared to make a profound shift in arguing the Bible may actually sanction same-sex relationships.

Bishop James Jones used the bond between Jesus and John the Disciple, and David and Jonathan as possible Biblical examples of close relationships between men.

Regarded as a conservative evangelical, Bishop Jones expressed the views in a piece for a book, A Fallible Church, in which he apologises for objecting to the appointment of gay cleric, Dr Jeffrey John, as Bishop of Reading, in 2003.

In reference to the Theology of Friendship report, the Bishop discusses John “leaning against the bosom, breast, chest of Jesus” and describes an “emotional, spiritual and even physical” friendship between David and Jonathan, who are recorded in the Old Testament books of Samuel. Jonathan’s love for David is described as “passing the love of woman.”

Later on in the piece, the Bishop asks the questions “Was their friendship sexual? Were they gay? Was at least one of them homosexual? Were they both heterosexual? Were they bisexual?”

With the answer “You assume that it is a person’s sexual inclination that defines their personhood.

“Is it not possible to say that here are two men with the capacity to love fully, both men and women?”

He also apologises for his conduct towards Dr Jeffrey John, now Dean of St Albans, after he was one of nine bishops to sign a public letter opposing his proposed consecration.

Dr John eventually withdrew his acceptance of the post after bowing to pressure because of his 27 year relationship with a man, although he said he was now celibate.

He writes: “I deeply regret this episode in our common life. I still believe it was unwise to try and take us to a place that evidently did not command the broad support of the Church of England, but I am sorry for the way I opposed it and I am sorry too for adding to the pain and distress of Dr John and his partner.”

The piece entitled Making Space for Truth and Grace has been seen as a change of direction for the Bishop.

Dr Mike Homfray, who served on the Bishop’s Theology of Friendship Group but withdrew from the Anglican church because of perceived homophobia said it was the Bishop’s “most profound shift”. He said: “I think Bishop Jones is saying he is now more able to live with difference and diversity and that it is necessary to keep the issue open and allow continued dialogue.

“Unless he was open to the possibility of embracing change, then he wouldn’t be suggesting this as a way forward.

“That doesn’t mean that he necessarily fully embraces it himself, though.

“Not yet, anyway. But he has moved.”

In relation to David and Jonathan, Dr Homfray said: “They may have had sexual contact – but that doesn’t make them ‘gay’ in Western sense.

“No-one in the Bible can have that label simply because it is a term with all sorts of social and cultural meanings.”

A statement from the diocese of Liverpool said: “The Bishop’s essay is asking us to find a new and more open way forward that doesn’t compromise people’s convictions, respects conscience and understands people’s hurts and vulnerabilities in this debate.

“He is making a plea for continued debate in which there is both truth and grace.”

laurasharpe