The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has revealed that he was threatened with parliamentary action to force same-sex marriage into the Church of England. He made the comment while addressing the global Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) in Ghana, where he expressed his concerns about recent reforms and the dismissal of his opinions by some members of the General Synod.
The General Synod, the Church of England’s legislative assembly, passed a motion earlier this month to allow the blessing of same-sex couples in civil partnerships. This move has been met with both support and criticism from within the Church.
During his address, Mr. Welby suggested that the discussion of rules about sexuality in the Church of England has come about due to growing atheism in the UK. He argued that Christian values of community and mutual responsibility have been marginalized in favor of individualism in the global north.
The archbishop also commented on the changing religious landscape in the UK, where a majority of people now belong to no faith at all. “They are not Christians, they are not Muslims, they are not pagans, they are not Jews, they are not Hindus. They do not belong,” he said.
The issue of same-sex marriage has been a divisive one within the Church of England, with many members holding opposing views on the matter. While some argue that it is a matter of social justice and equality, others maintain that it goes against biblical teachings.
As the Church continues to grapple with these issues, Mr. Welby has urged for respectful dialogue and an emphasis on the shared values of the Christian faith. “We are called to be a family, a fellowship of the Spirit, with Christ at the center,” he said.
The discussion of same-sex marriage in the Church of England is likely to continue, as members work to reconcile their differing views and navigate the changing religious landscape of the UK.
