The academic consultant to the Church of England Evangelical Council has responded to a recent pastoral letter issued by the Church in Wales, which addresses the topic of same-sex 'marriage'.
In the letter, published earlier this month, bishops of the Church in Wales apologised for 'prejudice' against same-sex couples.
Bishops stated that the Church was not ready to approve same-sex 'marriage', but also admitted that the "debate is not over" – reflecting similar suggestions made at the Church of England's General Synod earlier this year.
In addition to this, the bishops went as far as stating that those in same-sex relationships ought to be "fully affirmed as equal disciples of Jesus Christ".
In response, Dr Martin Davie, academic consultant to the Church of England Evangelical Council, has refuted the bishops' statements, arguing that biblical truth must be upheld in love.
'What God has created does not alter'
Dr Davie, a prominent theologian, clearly outlined that an eventual move toward accepting same-sex 'marriage' in the Church in Wales would be an act of disobedience:
"The fundamental theological reason why the Church in Wales should not change its teaching and practice is because the Bible makes clear (Genesis 1-2, Mark 10:2-9) that God has created human beings as male and female and has created marriage as a lifelong exclusive relationship between one man and one woman and as the sole legitimate context for entering into sexual union."
He then went on to note the bishops' admission of ongoing discussion around the topic and the inference that the current position may shift, were it to gain enough support:
"[B]ecause the Church's current teaching and practice reflects the way that God has created human beings and created marriage it can never rightly be changed regardless of what a majority in the Church in Wales might want or what the Anglican Communion might decide. What God has created does not alter because of changes in human opinion."
Genuine pastoral care
In the Church in Wales' pastoral letter, bishops claimed that those in same-sex relationships should be recognised as "equal disciples."
"While as a Church we remain unable to bless the committed partnerships you form in marriage or in civil partnership, yet we commit ourselves as bishops to work for a Church in which you can be fully affirmed as equal disciples of Jesus Christ or seekers after truth."
Dr Davie responded to this, emphasising that to provide care and support for those with same-sex attraction does not constitute affirming a same-sex lifestyle.
"[T]o truly love someone and to offer them genuine pastoral care means seeking to help them to become the people God wants them to be and among other things this means helping them to live lives of sexual holiness involving sexual faithfulness within marriage and sexual abstinence outside it."
Alongside the letter, the bishops also published a series of prayers which may be said with a couple, following the celebration of a civil partnership or civil marriage between same-sex couples.
Christian Concern's Chief Executive Andrea Williams has described this as a clear step towards the relaxing of the Church in Wales' teaching on marriage.
She commented:
"The reality is that whatever bishops may say (and in some cases do) in terms of upholding biblical marriage, the movement towards same-sex 'marriage' in both the Church of England and the Church of Wales, is continuing apace – despite the 'triple lock' which originally aimed to exempt the church from same-sex 'marriage' legislation."
Conversations 'will continue'
In February, Andrea Williams issued a response to Archbishop Justin Welby's presidential address at General Synod.
Her response addressed the same concerns as Dr Davie about the ongoing discussions surrounding same-sex 'marriage' in the Anglican Communion.
"We know these conversations will continue, and we know that liberal members will continue to push their agenda under the guise of 'love and acceptance'," she said.
"Yet true love and compassion does not discard or distort God's good pattern for human flourishing."
'True freedom is found in repentance'
Andrea continued:
"True freedom is freedom from sin, which is found in repentance and the surrendering of human desires to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not freedom to continue holding to disobedience of the Word."
Dr Joe Boot, Director of the Wilberforce Academy, has also written a piece addressing the discussions surrounding the General Synod, where he explores the topic in greater depth, arguing that there can be no unity within the church if biblical truth is compromised.
Related Links:
Spiritually discerning the redefinition of marriage by Dr Joe Boot
'No unity at the expense of truth': A response to Justin Welby's Presidential Address
Response to the Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of the Church in Wales (CEEC)
Same-sex marriage statement (The Church in Wales)