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Introduction
To bless or not to bless? That is the question.
Can a church pray for and invoke the blessing
of God on those wanting to be in a committed
relationship which will involve same-sex sexual
practice?
I. APOSTOLIC TRUTH
The apostles and sexual ethics
So what did the apostles teach about sexual
practice? Some key texts make clear that they
regarded a rigorous sexual ethic as an integral
part of apostolic teaching and Christian
practice:
For other passages, see for example Rom. 13:1114, 1 Cor. 5:1-13, Eph. 5:3-14, 1 Pet. 3:1-7, 4:1-6.
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C S Lewis, Mere Christianity, Fontana, 1955, p.86.
Adiaphora?
The question now is: Is this theological baseline correct? Or should this teaching, which
has evidently guarded the apostles own
teaching, now be changed? What room for
manoeuvre is there for a supposedly apostolic
church? Can this teaching be adapted in ways
which are still obedient to the apostles, or will
any such change be effectively an act of (what
might be termed) apostolic disobedience?
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The
Necessary
differentiation
Alternative:
visible
Forms of differentiation
At this point we move into completely
unchartered waters: how does one set about
this tragic task of dividing the Church of
England?
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E. DEPO:
A fifth possibility would be delegated episcopal
oversight from orthodox bishops (again akin to
that currently provided for those opposed to
the ordination of women) for those unable to
accept any departure from apostolic teaching
and practice in relation to human sexuality, but
without the creation of a society or association
for those who remained loyal to apostolic
teaching and practice.
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October 2016
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