Wednesday 20th August 2003

The Election of a bishop in the Episcopal Church in the USA who declares himself to be in a homosexual relationship has raised grave issues for the whole Anglican Communion, of which the Church of Ireland is an integral part.

At General Synod 2003, in the Presidential Address, it was stated that the House of Bishops has been involved in a study of the issue of same sex relationships and hopes in due course to issue a discussion document to facilitate wider study throughout the Church of Ireland. There are deeply held views on the issue of homosexuality in the Church of Ireland and there are serious implications concerning the use of the Bible to be addressed. There are also many individuals with a real sense of hurt and alienation surrounding this whole issue. For all these reasons it is important that this study takes place and not simply in response to events in the USA.

The immediate issue relating to the danger that this election presents for the unity of the Anglican Communion is to be addressed at a special meeting of the Primates in October. We regret the threat to the unity of the Anglican Communion caused by this election at a time when the Christian Church faces such grave issues in a divided world.

The Church of Ireland has a clear statement of its own position with regard to maintaining Communion with other Churches. This is set out in the Declaration to which all clergy must subscribe. The Declaration itself refers both to matters of faith and also to the ordering of an Episcopal Church. It then states : “The Church of Ireland will maintain Communion with the sister Church of England and with all other Christian Churches agreeing in the principles of this Declaration and will set forward, so much as in it lieth, quietness, peace and love among all Christian people.”

It is clear that what happens in another part of the Anglican Communion cannot change the Church of Ireland and that we have a duty to do all that we can to maintain as high a degree of unity as possible with those from whom we differ.

Our prayer must be that God will deepen our understanding of these issues, so that we may discern a way forward that is faithful to Christ and sensitive to the needs of the Church and of the world. In the past many issues have led to division between Christian Churches and that division has often crippled the mission of the Church. It is our task today, whilst differing on many issues, to maintain the communion to which God calls us.