Gay bishop
The Church of England finally have failed spectacularly once again when it comes to the advancement of gay clergy!
Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, was under consideration for the post of Bishop Of Southwark and would have replaced the Right Rev Tom Butler, who retired earlier this year. When the news of John’s second Bishop candidacy was leaked last week the prospect of the first openly gay bishop in the Church of England, anger from many conservative voices from with in the church warning of a massive break up.
The disclosure also infuriated members of the Crown Nominations Commission, the body that present the names of two candidates to the prime minister for selection. Their decision that John wouldn’t be one of the two followed two days of heated debate, during which Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams was said to be absolutely furious at the breach of secrecy, he saidwould not be pressured into backing a particular candidate or vetoing another.
The outcome has come as deep disappointment for John's supporters, "This is painfully disappointing news for Jeffrey who has once again lived through a week in which his identity and reputation have been pored over, analysed and attacked once again by conservative forces in the church in a way which I can only describe as poisonous." said one support on his blog.
Leading novelist and writer of gay and lesbian fiction Anne Brooke said " I'm very angry and deeply disappointed that once again the Church of England has taken an historic opportunity and trashed it. When, oh when will gay people (not to mention women) be seen as equal in the church's eyes? Honestly, surely this injustice and inequality is enough already. It does deeply sadden me that the church leadership fails every time to see things as most of us actual churchgoers do. When will we have leaders who really represent us, or who have the courage simply to stand up for what is right and just and generous? I do feel very let down by this. I'd like to see an openly gay bishop in my lifetime, and a female one too, but I wonder if that's too much to hope for?"
Jason Shaw
GayAgenda.com's UK Correspondent
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