Religious head of Church of England now endorses sexual activity outside of matrimony when it occurs in a steady partnership

Archbishop of Canterbury's Views on Sexuality Spark Debate within Anglican Communion

The Church of England, under the leadership of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, is navigating a significant period of change regarding its stance on sexuality and inclusivity. The Church maintains the traditional definition of marriage as a lifelong union between one man and one woman, but has taken steps towards greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.

In a recent interview on the The Rest is Politics podcast, Archbishop Welby expressed openness to homosexual relationships and sex outside marriage, stating that all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship, whether it's straight or gay. However, it's important to note that the Church’s official doctrine has not yet changed to allow same-sex marriage or ordination of clergy in same-sex marriages.

The Church of England has approved blessings for same-sex couples following civil partnerships or marriages, which can be used in regular church services with certain conditions. The Church also supports LGBTQ+ clergy in celibate same-sex relationships and has removed language condemning gay sex as “falling short of God’s purpose.”

The Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process has been a key part of these discussions, fostering dialogue on human identity, sexuality, relationships, and marriage. However, the process has not resulted in a doctrinal change on marriage, instead leading to pastoral provisions like prayers of blessing for same-sex couples.

In contrast, the Church in Wales, a separate Anglican province, recently elected Cherry Vann, the first openly gay female archbishop in the UK, who supports same-sex marriage and sees it as inevitable in the church. This highlights a divergence within the Anglican Communion.

The movements Gafcon and GSFA, representing national Anglican churches in Africa, Asia, and South America, are pushing for a more conservative interpretation of Scripture within the Anglican Communion. They are united against what they perceive as a deviation from the authority of Scripture in theological matters.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) and IVP, a publishing house with numerous Anglican authors, have expressed surprise and concern at the Archbishop of Canterbury's views on sexual activity outside marriage. They view his position as a clear departure from the doctrine of the Church of England, the Anglican Communion, and major Christian denominations worldwide.

The House of Bishops is resuming discussions on the next steps to be taken in the LLF process, addressing issues related to human sexuality, gender identity, same-sex unions, the definition of marriage, and the inclusion of LGTQI+ people. The outcome of these discussions could potentially lead to further divisions within the Anglican Communion.

The Archbishop's views on sexual activity outside marriage could also contribute to these divisions, as some bishops have called for a "structural separation" to clarify the fundamental theological divide over scriptural interpretation between conservative and liberal Anglicans.

The official explanation given from Lambeth Palace is that the Archbishop's thinking has evolved over the years to include LGBTQ+ people more fully in the life of the Church. This evolution, however, is not without controversy and raises questions about the future direction of the Church of England within the Anglican Communion.

[1] Church of England, "Living in Love and Faith: Human Identity, Sexuality, Marriage, and Relationships," 2020. [2] Church of England, "General Synod Agrees to Prayers for Same-Sex Couples," 2021. [3] Church of England, "House of Bishops' Statement on Human Sexuality," 2014. [4] Church in Wales, "Cherry Vann Elected as Archbishop of Wales," 2022. [5] Church in Wales, "Interview with Archbishop Cherry Vann," 2022.