We have just ended a very special Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, in which, locally, we have shared in ecumenical celebrations
with other brothers and sisters in Christ from the Málaga area. It has been a
real blessing praying together with Roman Catholics and Protestants of
different traditions. But, like every year, all the good wishes of wanting to
carry on meeting and praying and working together on Kingdom-furthering
projects, are likely to end in just that: good wishes. At our local church, we
are keen to rekindle the flame of interdenominational prayer gatherings, which
used to be part of the life of our community until only four years ago. We are
not sure what shape that will take, but we are keen to explore Contemplative Fire type gatherings, and
a deeper involvement in the ecumenical Circle
of Silence here in Málaga, which meets monthly in one of the central
squares to stand in solidarity with, and pray for, refugees and migrants.
Ultimately, however, unity is a gift from God; and so is
diversity. We are blessed to be part of a diverse Christian community in
Málaga, where folk of different ages, genders, backgrounds, nationalities,
theological persuasions and sexual orientations, are able to share together the
same space. We think of ourselves (and call ourselves) and inclusive Christian
community. Yet, this past Sunday, we have been reminded by one of the
lectionary readings (1 Cor. 1: 10-18), that where there are people (community, human
relationships, etc) there conflict emerges. Or, put differently, that there is
no relationship without conflict. For
us, the question is not, whether we will ever experience conflict in our own
so-far-idyllic community? But rather, how will we manage conflict as a
community when it comes? Will we do it with generosity, openness and honesty, talking
to one another respectfully and with humility? Or will we start taking sides,
antagonising one another, and claiming that only our view is the right one, as
in the Corinthian church Paul wrote to?
In light of this, it is with deep sadness that I read the
recent House of Bishops’ report on civil partnerships last week. Sadness,
because despite being described as a “pastoral” document, it is one that is
going to cause more division and pain than unity and healing. But, also,
because on an issue such as human relationships, the leading pastors of the
Church of England seem to be concerned not with relationship, but with sex. In
fact, sex seems to be not just a concern, but an obsession. Is this the most pressing and
pastoral/report worthy social issue in Britain today? Where are our bishops,
some may ask, when a united pastoral response is needed to the ongoing refugee
crisis, to people-trafficking, to child poverty, to social inequality, to
teenage gang violence and knife deaths, or to the great social fracture
provoked by Brexit? The conclusion of the five-page-long “pastoral statement”
is that the church’s teaching on marriage remains “unchanged”, and that,
therefore, “clergy of the Church of England should not provide services of
blessing for those who register a civil partnership” – gay or (now) straight
(too). Now, we all recognise that this is a source of conflict among Christians
(including bishops) who have different views on the matter. Yet, the way in
which the senior leaders of the Church of England have sought to respond to
this conflict is neither pastoral, nor conducive to unity or real about
diversity. Rather, it continues to unnecessarily antagonise, to blatantly exclude
and to dangerously reduce and shrink the space of generous orthodoxy that
Anglicanism has historically inhabited.
