There are deep disagreements about homosexuality within the Anglican Communion – but a dialogue process often known as “through the media” has helped hold conflicting beliefs together

In recent years, churches in lots of Christian denominations have done this divided over LGBTQ+ issues.

Over the past six months, a whole bunch of congregations voted to depart the United Methodist Church about same-sex marriage and whether LGBTQ+ people must be clergy.

The Church of England, the unique and largest member of the Anglican Communion – the third largest Christian denomination on the planet – held a general synod in London in February 2024 to debate such issues. Bishops, priests and lay people from all Church of England dioceses voted against several amendments geared toward opposing liturgical same-sex blessings, essentially agreeing to disagree on the problems. The participants ended the discussions early and concluded: “too early” to definitely solve these problems.

With greater than 80 million believers in 160 countriesthe Anglican Communion has has been coping with LGBTQ+ issues for the reason that Seventies.

Congregations and church leadership disagree about whether homosexuality contradicts Christian scripture; whether clergy can perform same-sex marriages; and whether open and energetic LGBTQ+ people must be ordained to the priesthood and as bishops.

As a scientist specializing in History of Christianity and Gender StudiesI can confirm that the Anglican Communion's protracted, unresolved dialogue shouldn’t be that unusual. This is a long-standing strategy of resolving disputes called “through the media” or “middle path” that has to date succeeded in keeping individuals with conflicting beliefs together.

Controversies within the Anglican Communion

There have been different viewpoints on homosexuality for a long time Rumors of a split got each confused and polarized believers in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Conservative bishops, lots of whom serve in Africa, Asia and Latin Americahave repeatedly emphasized that getting into same-sex relationships contradicts Holy Scripture.

This is an element of a bigger struggle throughout the Anglican Communion to renegotiate imbalances of power and authority left over from the colonial era of the British Empire. The British Commonwealth and North American churches—reminiscent of the Church of England and the U.S.-based Episcopal Church—historically dominated discussions of biblical interpretation, liturgy, and church policy.

In the twenty first century, these churches still have a lot of the money within the Anglican Communion, however the variety of congregations is decreasing. At the identical time communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America are increasing. The The Church of Nigeria is the second largest and fastest growing church within the Anglican Communion. The leaders of those churches expect a greater voice locally.

A majority of church leaders in Africa, Asia and Latin America imagine that homosexual priests shouldn’t be ordained bishops and that same-sex marriages shouldn’t be performed. As Archbishop of Uganda Livingstone Mpalanyi-Nkoyoyo was summarized (A position held by conservative leaders for over 25 years): “We are all fully aware that the practice of homosexuality is wrong. That is the orthodox Anglican position.” Views like these still have great weight within the Anglican Communion today.

In addition, some bishops and believers in Europe, North America and Australia agree have allied with conservatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. But they continue to be throughout the Anglican Communion.

Meanwhile, some progressive bishops have argued that Scripture, properly interpreted, allows this Full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in church leadership and rituals.

The Episcopal Church within the USA has ordained openly gay bishops – The most controversial is Gene Robinsonformer Bishop of New Hampshire, in 2003. In 2015, the Episcopal Church and a few Canadian dioceses approved the celebration of same-sex marriages.

In 2016, the Primates – the best leaders of the Anglican Communion – voted to dissolve the Episcopal Church from decision-making to Anglican governance and policy for 3 years.

Those via media

Despite these heated conflicts, the Anglican Communion holds together through the media. It was first mentioned via media by English reformers who broke with the Roman Catholic Church within the sixteenth century. King Henry VIII wanted his marriage to his queen, Catherine of Aragon, annulled, but Pope Clement VII, the queen's nephew, refused.

England then founded its own national church. It was this Church of England that eventually spread worldwide with the British Empire and have become the Anglican Communion.

Early church leaders were influenced by Aristotle's encouragement of the golden ratio, a middle path between vice and virtue that avoids extremes when making decisions about religious change. Leading reformers reminiscent of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury through the reigns of three English monarchs, saw themselves getting there through the media between the ideas of Roman Catholicism and Protestant reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin.

For example, when it got here to the role of fine works, the Reformers sought a middle ground between what they saw as Catholicism's over-reliance on good works as a path to salvation and the Protestant Reformers' insistence on them Good works alone didn’t result in salvation. During the turbulent years of the Reformation in Europe, they forged a path between the 2 dominant faith traditions.

In the nineteenth century, using media became a way of interested by internal slightly than external challenges, reminiscent of: Resolving debates about learn how to interpret Scripture. There was an argument over theological issues and the proper strategy to understand the meaning of the Scriptures Mid-century threat to global Anglican unity, much like what’s the case today as regards to homosexuality. In particular, John Colenso, Bishop of Natal in South Africa, sparked controversy when he questioned theological questions reminiscent of “if.” In order to be saved, receiving Holy Communion was mandatory.

The first conference for such discussions was convened at Lambeth Palace in London in 1867. There must be no rulemaking. Bishops should discuss differences, share insights, and strengthen fellowship across departments without the facility to impose their views on others. The Lambeth conferences have since been convened roughly every 10 years, most recently in 2022.

The effectiveness of Via media became clear in 1998 when the conference passed Resolution I.10, which defined homosexuality contrary to Scripture, but avoided division. The conference used shared rituals to strengthen community bonds and the bishops' spiritual mission, reminiscent of participating within the intimate act of formality foot washing. The bishops valued unity and agreed that their resolution wouldn’t mean the top of the discussion. They called for using recent knowledge to rethink and maybe reinterpret the Church's traditional understanding of Scripture.

Stick together

I argue that it is that this understanding of “via media” that has held the Anglican Communion together to date. This shouldn’t be about remaining indecisive or finding a snug middle ground or compromise position. Instead, it’s about engaging individuals with deeply held but opposing beliefs throughout the same church through shared worship and living together.

The via media is hard or convenient, but members of the Anglican Communion seem determined to remain on the table to date. The Church of England, for instance, planned negotiations between individuals with different views before the synod reconvenes in July 2024.

As the present Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has noted: “Certainly I want reconciliation, but reconciliation does not always mean consent – in fact, it very rarely is. It means finding ways to disagree well.”