Anglican Communion leaders have decided they will not consider a measure that would reaffirm the biblical definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
Just before the Lambeth Conference in London, a major gathering of Anglican Communion bishops that happens about every 10 years, organizers announced they would be making changes to a resolution that would have reaffirmed the biblical definition of marriage, but pushback from liberal attendees and others said they were opposed to the change, The Christian Post reports.
The original draft language of the resolution, known as the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity, called for "a reaffirmation of Lambeth I.10 that upholds marriage as between a man and a woman and requires deeper work to uphold the dignity and witness of LGBTQ Anglicans."
But this week, the conference said that the resolution would not change and instead stated that "many Provinces continue to affirm that same-gender marriage is not permissible … Other Provinces have blessed and welcomed same-sex union/marriage after careful theological reflection and a process of reception. As Bishops, we remain committed to listening and walking together to the maximum possible degree, despite our deep disagreement on these issues."
Bishop Tim Thornton, the chair of the Lambeth Conference's Lambeth Calls subgroup, released a statement, saying that the committee listened "carefully and prayerfully to what bishops and many others have said in response to the draft Calls, especially that on Human Dignity."
"Archbishop Justin has invited the bishops of the Anglican Communion to come together as a family to listen, pray and discern – sometimes across deeply-held differences," Thorton said.
Meanwhile, Jayne Ozanne, an LGBT activist in the Church of England, said she supported the announcement this week but added that it "does not appear to address any of the concerns relating to [the] process that so many have flagged up, nor does it recognize the breakdown in trust that there is now in relation to the [discussions on sexuality and identity] here in England."
The U.S.-based Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland have both accepted same-sex marriage in the church.
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
