felix hominum

N.T. Wright: "Simply Lewis"

you can understand falsehood from the standpoint of truth but not the other way around, just as someone who knows light can understand darkness but not vice versa

From NT Wright's essay "Simply Lewis":  reflections on a master apologist after 60 years.

My Oxford tutors looked down their noses if you so much as mentioned him in a tutorial. This was, we may suppose, mere jealousy: He sold and they didn’t. It may also have been the frustration of the professional who, busy about his footnotes, sees the amateur effortlessly sailing past to the winning post.

A very interesting essay posted over at Touchstone.  NT Wright reflects on "Mere Christianity"

Lewis himself would have been the first to say that of course his book was neither perfect nor complete, and that what mattered was that, if it brought people into the company, and under the influence (or “infection”) of Jesus Christ, Jesus himself would happily take over—indeed, that Jesus had been operating through the process all along, albeit through the imperfect medium of the apologist.

And, as another imperfect apologist, I salute a great master, and can only hope that in sixty years’ time children yet unborn will say of me that, despite all my obvious and embarrassing failings, I too was used, in however small a way, to bring people under the influence and power, and to the love and kingdom, of the same Jesus Christ

There's a discussion of the article at Treaders.

+ Victoria Matthews letter to clergy

Note to self:  as we consider the views of our bishops, our first response must be to uphold them in prayer.

UPDATE: 7  +David Ashdown, Keewatin:  pastoral letter

UPDATE : 6  +Anthony Burton, Saskatchewan, has a letter posted here.

UPDATE; 5  +Claude Miller, Fredericton, has a pastoral letter:  link here

[excerpt]:  An editorial in the Winnipeg Free Press at the close of General Synod said "Canadian Anglicans took a hesitant, ambiguous step toward expansion of gay rights on the weekend." The editorial attributed our hesitancy to our desire to preserve the unity of a communion that includes "African and Asian branches [that] condemn homosexuality."

I challenge that stereotype. Our African and Asian churches no more speak with one voice than our Canadian church does, or our own diocese does for that matter. General Synod agreed with the St. Michael Report that blessing same-sex unions does not conflict with core doctrine of the Church and voted against granting permission for each diocese to make its own choice about blessing such unions.

We will continue to struggle with this issue because it is complicated and difficult, but to make it simple would be disrespectful.

UPDATE: 4  + Ralph Spence, Niagara;  press release;

News Releases:

A Message from Bishop Ralph and Bishop-elect Michael regarding the defeated motion on same-sex blessings at General Synod

Dear Friends,

Today, two important resolutions came before the General Synod of our Church.  The first proposed ýthat the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine (in the sense of being creedal) of the Anglican Church of Canada.ý  This motion passed.

The second, proposed to affirm the authority of a synod and its bishop to allow rites for the blessing of committed monogamous same-sex unions.  It passed clearly in the Order of Laity and in the Order of Clergy, but was narrowly defeated in the Order of Bishops.

We share in the profound sense of loss that many in our churches will experience in the wake of this decision, especially gay and lesbian Anglicans along with many of their family and friends.

Please be assured of our prayers and of our commitment to press forward in faith towards an ever more welcoming and inclusive church.

+Ralph, Bishop of Niagara

The Venerable Michael Bird (Coadjutor Bishop-elect)

UPDATE: 3  +Terry Buckle, Yukon, & Archbishop: Scott from Magic Statistics has his letter here

UPDATE: 2 +Derek Hoskin, Bishop of Calgary, writes his diocese: pdf here .

UPDATE: +Colin Johnson, Bishop of Toronto, writes his diocese:  here is the pdf.

+ Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Edmonton, has circulated a letter to her clergy.  It is also intended that a copy will be published in local media.

June 28, 2007

Dear Clergy,

The reporting about the resolutions voted on at the Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod has been confined to resolutions 186 and 187, both of which are narrowly focused on the blessing of same -sex unions,  In actual fact, there was a very interesting development at our Synod which showed remarkable consistency and faithfulness.

Early in the Synod we were asked to vote to accept the Canadian response to the Windsor Report on relations within the Anglican Communion.  Rather than signing on without question, the Canadian response is nuanced and carefully scripted.  We voted that belonging to the Anglican Communion matters to us and we are committed to the ongoing conversation.

Next on the agenda was the St. Michael Report by the Primate's Theological Commission.  Asked to give a theological opinion on whether the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine, the answer was a clear "yes" but not of core doctrine.  It was explained that core doctrine, sometimes called dogma, speaks of who God is and God's saving activity.  In short it can be said to speak of the doctrines of the Holy Trinity and of the Incarnation.  This core doctrine is the content of the Apostles' and Nicene creeds.  Thus the Report concludes that the blessing of same-sex unions would be a matter of doctrine but it is not so important as to warrant schism.  (It should not be communion breaking.)  This resolution also passed easily.

Next came a series of resolutions about process.  An attempt was made to require that resolutions 186 and 187 be deemed to have passed only if the received a 60% majority.  However at this point tin the proceedings there was considerable confusion about the voting procedure requirements.  It is possible people did not know what was being voted on.  Whether they understood or not, the resolution to require 60% failed and a simple majority was now required for resolutions 186 and 187.

Resolution 186 states that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada.  In other words the blessing of same-sex unions is not in the conflict with the proclamation of God as the Holy Trinity and as the Word made flesh.  As one bishop later commented, even the most conservative African primate should be able to agree with that.  This resolution passed by a slim majority.

Lastly, in an atmosphere that seemed more like filibuster than debate, a resolution was presented and passed asking the Primate's Theological Commission and Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee to prepare a report and educational materials in advance of 2010 General Synod about whether the blessing of same-sex unions is a faithful, Spirit-led development of the doctrine of marriage.  Remember, the St. Michael Report said the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine but until now no one has been asked to try to actually develop a doctrine of same-sex unions.  It also asked for a theological rationale to accompany the new Canon 21 on marriage, which is come before General Synod 2010.

in short, the Anglican Church of Canada General Synod consistently demonstrated that it is more interested in considering redefining marriage than continuing the debate about blessings.

The outcome of these various resolutions is that our Primate stays at the table of the Primates' meetings; it afford full membership to our Anglican Consultative Council members; and it allows time for further theological reflection at all levels of our church, including all bishop of the Anglican Communion at next year's Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England.

In addition to the above, pastoral provisions provided by the Bishop's Letter of April 30th, 2007 ensures further inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the Anglican Church of Canada.

In Christ
+ Victoria
Bishop of Edmonton
Anglican Church of Canada

If any other Canadians know of Bishops' responses, I 'm sure it would be helpful to gather them together as we pray and think through where the Spirit is leading the Church.

This letter in Download letter_to_clergy.pdf

BREAKING: Canadian Bishops Seek Oversight of African Clergy, Laity

[Toronto:  Church House]

In a move that many had predicted, a number of Canadian Bishops have appealed to African Primatial Archbishops to give them oversight of conservative clergy and laity.  The move came in the wake of a contentious vote at the Anglican Church of Canada's recent General Synod.  While a majority of clergy and laity voted in favour of a resolution to allow same sex blessings, the motion was defeated in the House of Bishops by a slim margin.

"What we have here is a situation in which the bishops no longer feel they can oversee such dioceses",  read an official statement from the office of the new Canadian Primate, Fred Hiltz.  "It is unfortunate that the Bishops have decided to go this route, as we thought that the issue could have been decided by a game of street hockey.  I could have remained neutral and simply yelled out CAR whenever the need arose."

There is no word yet as to whether or not their African counterparts will grant the dissenting bishops new clergy and laity, although an announcement is expected later today.

idea seed Mad Priest

A brief list of bloggers who were at General Synod

Despite any theological differences we may have, we are all united in the blogosphere:

No particular order or description; click and look around.

Delegates:

Neale Adams:  Draw the Circle Wide

John Oakes:  General Synod Blog

Nfld & Labrador Youth:  E: \mmaus

Charles Wilson:  my gs07 blog

Steve London:  Our Hearts are Restless

Observers:

Preston Parsons:  Baby Priest

"Essentials Live Blog":  AEC Blog

what does "not in conflict" mean?

I suppose that I will join the 3 dozen other Anglicans in Canada who will wish to ponder this one out.  The rest of them are probably having a nap, as the legislative spirituality of General Synod can be draining to the soul.  So what exactly is one supposed to make of this statement?

• I am not in conflict the President of France.  That doesn't mean a whole lot.  It might mean that we don't have much to do with each other, or simply that we have never met:  we are neither friends nor enemies, and so we don't have a chance to be in conflict. (I'm sure we would be if we ever had to share a cab together).
• It might mean that one can be a Christian and yet hold that the practice of SSB does not contradict the basic "core doctrine" of the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Resurrection.  Some folks might have trouble with that, but then again some folks might not.  It is sort of the MC Hammer "Can't touch this" version of doctrine.  We can be fellow Christians, but disagree on secondary doctrine.
• It might mean that SSB is not in conflict with core doctrine, but it might be in conflict with secondary doctrine.  It might be shown to be in conflict with the doctrine of marriage, for instance.
• It might not be in conflict with core doctrine, but be in conflict with good "order and discipline".  Maybe it is a category error in the resolution.  As one person said to me after the vote:  "It's like saying that pineapples are not in conflict with picket fences".  Don't know on that one.
• It might mean that it can't be in conflict with ANY subsequent doctrine:  surely the walls of a house cannot be in conflict with the foundation. 
• It might mean that we have no idea what we are talking about.

Those are just a few possibilities.  I'm sure there will be more.

Ingham, homophobia & the apostles' fellowship

Canada's only Anglican bishop to authorize the blessing of homosexual unions said yesterday the refusal by his fellow bishops to approve the rite for the national church is the product of institutional inertia rooted in homophobia.

Bishop Michael Ingham of the Vancouver-area diocese of New Westminster said homophobia, hiding behind interpretations of scripture, remains an acceptable prejudice in Canadian Anglicanism.

"There are members of our church who staunchly defend that. In my view, [it] is a total misreading of scripture and a misuse of the Bible to oppress people. But they clearly want to continue to do that."

From the Globe & Mail
which also has an interesting online poll

It is this sort of response which prevents us from being able to "agree to disagree".  Those who uphold traditional teaching on marriage are simply reduced to the ad hominem "homophobic".

the fun begins: Rwanda to skip out on Lambeth

COMMUNIQUE FROM THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS OF THE PROVINCE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF RWANDA

In response to the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Honourable Rowan Williams, inviting the bishops to the Lambeth Conference 2008, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, who met in Kigali on 19 June 2007, resolved not to attend the Lambeth Conference for the following reasons:

Our Primates represent the bishops, clergy and laity from their Provinces. Therefore what they decide as representatives cannot be taken lightly when it engages the faith of the churches they represent. The invitations to Lambeth 2008 have been issued in complete disregard of our conscientious commitment to the apostolic faith once delivered.

The manner in which the invitations to the bishops of Rwanda were issued is divisive as some of our bishops were not invited. The bishops that provide oversight to the Anglican Mission (AMiA) are not “Anglican Mission bishops,” but rather bishops of the Province of Rwanda given the responsibility to lead Rwanda’s missionary outreach to North America. We are a united body and will not participate in a conference which would divide our number.

The invitations to Lambeth 2008 not only contravene the Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10 but also the positions taken in the communiqués that have been agreed upon in previous Primates’ meetings and in the “Road To Lambeth” document prepared for and accepted by the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) bishops...

...Therefore, in view of the above, in good conscience, the bishops of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda have resolved not to attend the Lambeth Conference 2008 unless the previously stipulated requirement of repentance on the part of the TEC and other like-minded Provinces is met, and invitations are extended to our entire House of Bishops.

here.

If bishops are not core doctrine

As they were considered a matter of adiaphora by Hooker in the Laws,

then might one also argue that episcopal crossing of boundaries is not in conflict with the core doctrine (in the sense of being creedal) of the Anglican Church of Canada?

Just a thought that came to me on the plane ride, with a variety of scenarios ensuing.

There and back again

It's Tuesday morning, Steve London & I in the Winnipeg airport, heading home.

speaking of digestion...

This one will take a while to digest.

your general synod breakfast.

New West Resolution withdrawn

Moved by: Mr. Stephen Schuh from the Diocese of New Westminster

Seconded By: The Rt. Rev’d Michael Ingham from the Diocese of New Westminster

Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.

BE IT RESOLVED:

Notwithstanding any decisions taken by this its 2007 Synod, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada affirms that the present practice of the Synod and Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster in authorizing the blessings of covenanted same-sex unions in eight (8) Parishes of that Diocese shall continue in the Diocese of New Westminster pending further resolution by General Synod.

The motion has just been withdrawn

At the end of the vote, what Edmonton did

It's about 4:45 at the end of a long day.  The motion to allow same sex blessings was defeated.

In our group there are different perspectives and people voted differently.  And so I asked all of our delegates to simply hold hands as a table, and pray together

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all, evermore, Amen.

There were tears in every eye.  I voted against the motion, but if my heart does not break for those who weep, then I am no follower of Christ.

More later...

Sunday morning at General Synod

We are getting underway here as our morning Eucharist has finished.  We will be looking at the resolution srelated to same sex blessings.

keep us in your prayers.

and ps, for play by play stuff go here or for video go here

Reflections on Conflict & Core Doctrine motion

What we have before us now is that we declare something to be not in conflict with core doctrine.

The important question to ask is whether it is in conflict with Secondary Doctrine, that is, doctrines which give shape to the particular form of discipleship known as Anglican Spirituality.  In my work on a large university in Campus ministry, I worked alongside and with several faith groups and at least 9 different Christian denominations on a regular basis; I also worked with students from a number of what are called “independent” and non denominational churches.  In our various Christian gatherings we could all agree on saying a creed together – that is one way we are united in Christ. 

Baptismal doctrine has been raised at this synod several times.  Yet I could not agree with the Baptists about the secondary doctrine of baptism.  I could not agree with my roman catholic friends about the nature of certain of their doctrines.

And in eucharistic fellowship, there is a limit within our Anglican variety which distinguishes the celebration at the Eucharistic table from, in some significant sense, the meal of saltines and grape juice which may or may not have words of institution accompanying it.

Within our Anglican tradition there are varieties, but within certain boundaries and parameters which distinguish us and our particular vocation as a church from our sisters and brothers who share with us core doctrine, but who are from other , or non – denominational churches.

It is precisely our vocation which calls us to be thoughtful in these secondary doctrines - this is the thrust of the St Michael Report.  And it is those secondary doctrines which are important as we discuss SSB's.  Otherwise, in the name of unity we might as well join up with the biggest show in town with which we can say the creed.  Or alternatively collapse into a thousand islands of interpretation.

This church has not done the work of testing the ecosystem of secondary doctrine – we have not as a church discovered where the pulling of the circle in this new direction would leave us with an ellipse.

Quote of the day #2

"They are so far into the closet, they can almost see Narnia."

spoken during the presentation of the St Michael Report

straw polling time

We are having an "east coast" reception, where the real work of the synod will be done...

A voice on the Synod floor from one Aboriginal Youth

My name is Dean Sewap from Cree Pelican, the Diocese of Saskatchewan.  If this is passed I would feel that to be faithful in my walk with Jesus, I would need to leave the Anglican Church.  I don't want to leave.  I love my church.  First nations parishes feel strongly about this but I feel that our voice is not being heard.  Please be patient with us.  Now is not the time to go ahead with this.  God bless you.

Update: Dean has been elected to the Council of General Synod

Lutherans Defeat Same Sex Blessings Resolution

After much thoughtful, considerate and respectful discussion, reflection and prayer the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) voted to defeat a motion before delegates at the Eleventh Biennial National Convention to encourage Synods to develop ways “to best minister to people who live in committed same-sex relationships, including the possibility of blessing such unions”. The motion was voted on by secret ballot during the afternoon session on the third day of convention. The motion received 181 votes in favour and 200 votes in opposition.

from at  

Anglican Church of Canada becomes Municipal Gov't

Resolution C002:

That this General Synod:

• Ban the use of tobacco products, exclusive of ceremonial use, in and around all venues for national meetings of the Anglican Chruch of Canada
• Strongly encourage the diocese of the AC of Canada to ban the use of tobacco products at all levels
• Encourage Anglicans in all physical, psychological and spiritual ways to cease their personal use of tobacco products

I assume this is going on the agenda tomorrow.

On the other hand, the votes on the SSB resolutions will be coming up soon, about half an hour or so.

for those looking for play by play bloggin'

The you can check what Peter is doing at this blog.

we are currently dealing with receiving the St Michael Report, so I will try to give updates at appropriate times. keep us all in your prayers.

The resolution on the St Michael's Report (amended to include the phrase that SSB should not be communion dividing issue) passed before lunch.  My guess is about a 75-25 split.

It's about 2 pm and we are getting ready to have  a committee of the whole discussion of SSB.  Interestingly, there was a motion to have a piece of the agenda moved up to today:  a motion to mandate the Theological Commission to do more study.  The motion was defeated.  In the house of bishops, it appeared that all the Rupert's Land bishops voted in favour of the motion.

The instructions to house include: 

• we have clear motions before us; they are not ambiguous
• we are being asked to calrify whether we approve or disapprove of SSB's
• it is time to address the issue in a clear way at the GS

AFter a bit of presentation by some Council of General Synod members, the floor is now open to free discussion.

The live webcast should be on the anglican.ca website as we proceed.

We ask you to keep us all in your prayers as the discussions continue...

4 p.m.-ish:

It often seems ot me that the same kinds of discusion have been continuing, but one speaker from the Dioc of Calgary got the the heart of one of the major issues:  we have come to be a house divided on how we interpret Scripture.

Quote of the Day

On receiving public adulation:

"You know, when Jesus rode in to all that acclaim on Palm Sunday, I bet the donkey looked around and thought that it was all for him."

Bishop Mark MacDonald

Same Sex Marriage?

I'd settle for some sex marriage.

(a merry heart is good medicine)
book of Proverbs

How Bishop Matthews handled it.

Just in case any of the folks back home were wondering, we all just had a great time together over tea, red wine, and some local product called Fort Garry Dark.

Her message to the diocese that she would like to pass along, since you know, not everyone has this internet email thingy down pat...:

It is my great joy and I believe to the glory of God that the Right Reverend Fred Hiltz was elected the 13th Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Equally it is my joy and delight to announce that the Reverend Dr. Stephen Andrews, a member of the Primate’s Theological Commission, has been elected Prolocutor of General Synod.

Due to computer difficulties we are unable to share this message with the laity.  Please share this with your parishioners.

            Please pray for Fred and Stephen as well as the retiring Primate, Andrew Hutchison.

                                                            Blessings,

                                                            +Victoria

My own prayers for the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit go out for Fred, our Primate-elect.

Kenneth Kearon & I Solving World Problems...

Note the ray of divine light over my head.

Do you want to know what he said, or just supply your own caption?

Draw the Circle Wide

In southern Jordan.  Been there a couple of times.

Interesting story that has been making its way around about an Episcopal priest who also claims to be a faithful and practicing Muslim.  Her story first appeared in a diocesan newspaper a while ago (pg 9). 

I had read the story on the wires a few weeks ago, but I felt that sometimes a picture is worth...

Methinks the good revd. should try being a Christian and a Muslim In Egypt (see last paragraph) for a while.  Maybe she'd like to come with me next time I go and see what happens. 

The Garden at the top of Mt Tabor - traditional site of the Transfiguration.

Yes, there is a circle.

 

The Anglican Planet General Synod party

Need I say more?  Not much blogging right now... got , ummm,  other things to do.

A reminder before going to a microphone...

Craig Romkema lives with his family in a log house in the Midwest. He types his poems on a computer, with physical support to stabilize his body.  Craig is a person living with autism and cerebral palsy.  After graduating from high school with honors, Craig spent a year writing, and is now attending college part-time.

Encounter

“Answer!”
I told my mouth
but the message
froze,
while seconds dragged into minutes
and the restless woman
said fast
goodbyes
swiftly dashing
assumptions of
intelligence
behind her.

Words are
power;
speechlessness,
an endless abyss;
garbled speech,
a target for dishonor;
persistent rotten storytelling,
a huge annoyance;
boring tapes that demean my image.

You whose language flows
coherently,
whose ideas sparkle like wine
on the tongue,
remember your gift
and use it well,
for me.

From Craig's collection "Embracing the Sky:  Poems Beyond Disability" .

ps to Dr. Mabuse:  Our Sarah Joy (she'll be 6 next month) lives with Down Syndrome.

Neale Adams of New Westminster is blogging

His blog is Draw the Circle Wide

Update:  Also from New West comes blogger John Oakes

A day with the Lutherans...

Could ye not watch with me one hour?

And so our Lord found the disciples asleep on the ground...

But back to our "joint day" with the ELCIC.  The day is basically an all-day eucharist, with time for questions, presentations, discussion and lunch.  I must confess I left just after the exchange of the peace. which took place just after dessert and coffee.  It's still going on.  There was a presentation by Sallie McFague of the Vancouver School of Theology.

Quote of the Day:

"We are not our own:  we belong to the earth." 

I must give McFague credit for bringing our attention to the rather gluttonous manner in which many of us live, and the less than adequate stewardship of creation which results from this.  The theme of the whole day is "water";  in the context of justice, the global economy and global warming. 

I decided to immerse myself in the subject, hence I am skipping out of the rest of the afternoon and going to the pool at the hotel.

See you at the sessions this evening, where will be voting on:

Resolution Number: A226

Subject: Principles for Revision of Common Worship Texts

Moved by: The Rev. Dr. Richard Leggett from the Diocese of New Westminster

Seconded By: The Rt. Rev. Michael Bedford-Jones from the Diocese of Toronto

Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.

BE IT RESOLVED:

That this General Synod direct the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee to prepare principles and an agenda for common worship texts revision.

Resolution Number: A183

Subject: Report of the Windsor Report Response Group

Moved by: The Rt. Rev. Colin Johnson, Diocese of Toronto

Seconded By: The Ven. Peter Fenty, Diocese of Toronto

Note: The mover and the seconder must be members of the General Synod and be present in the House when the resolution is before the synod for debate.

BE IT RESOLVED:

That this General Synod endorse the report of the Windsor Report Response Group, as adopted by the Council of General Synod (March 2007), and that the following be forwarded, along with the report, to the Anglican Communion Office and the Provinces of the Anglican Communion.

The Anglican Church of Canada:

reaffirms its commitment to full membership and participation in the life, witness and structures of the Anglican Communion;
reaffirms its commitment to the Lambeth Quadrilateral, as received by our church in 1893;
expresses its desire and readiness to continue our participation in the ongoing life of the Communion through partnerships and visits, theological and biblical study, in order to foster Communion relationships, including the listening process and the development and possible adoption of an Anglican covenant;
reaffirms its mutual responsibility and interdependence with our Anglican sisters and brothers in furthering the mission of the church;
notes that, in response to the Windsor Report, the Diocese of New Westminster expressed regret, and the House of Bishops effected a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions;
calls upon those archbishops and other bishops who believe that it is their conscientious duty to intervene in Provinces, dioceses and parishes other than their own to implement paragraph 155 of the Windsor Report and to seek an accommodation  with the bishops of the dioceses whose parishes they have taken into their own care; and
commits itself to participation in the Listening Process and to share with member churches of the Communion the study of human sexuality which continues to take place, in the light of Scripture, tradition and reason.

"Orthodoxy is transformative" - Archbishop Sentamu to General Synod

UPDATE:  the full text is here.

A bit from this morning's address:

The word orthodoxy, from Greek, means teaching what is right and true; and in Christian tradition, this leads to glorification - 'being changed from glory to glory' - orthodoxy is transformative.

That is why I am persuaded that our sexual affections can no more define who we are than our tribe, ethnicity or nationality.  At the deepest ontological level, therefore, there is no such thing as 'a homosexual' or 'a heterosexual, or a 'bisexual;  there are human beings, male and female, called to redeemed humanity in Christ, endowed with a complex variety of emotional potentialities and threatened by a complex variety of forms of alienation.  In Christ - and in him alone - we know both God and human nature as they truly are;  and so in Christ alone we know ourselves as we truly are.  There can be no description of human reality, in general or in particular, outside the reality in Christ.

...Jesus was telling his disciples that if you want to meet God face to face, the nearest you are going to come to it on this planet is to look into the faces of your brothers and sisters - and especially your sisters and brothers who have been declared unrighteous, unclean, unacceptable.
It isn't that we find God there, it's that God finds us there.  [orig emphasis]

from the text of the address of Archbishop John Sentamu to the session of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada
June 20Dr. John

I have a hard copy of Sentamu's address in my hands.  If I run across a scanner or an online version, I'll let y'all know.