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Midland clerics back gay Bishop
Jun 23 2003
Two senior Midland clerics have written to the Archbishop of Canterbury pledging their support for England's first openly gay bishop.
The bishops of Hereford and Worcester wrote to Dr Rowan Williams to say the appointment of the Bishop of Reading, Canon Jeffrey John, would help them better understand what it was like to be a gay Christian in the Church of England.
The Rt Rev John Oliver and the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby said the recently appointed Bishop John had their full support and that he would "enrich" their lives.
The letter - also signed by six other bishops including the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Timothy Stevens - came as the man who appointed him was attacked by his own clergy over the decision.
Last week a group of 80 ministers and 20 leading laity from the diocese of Oxford, which is led by the Rt Rev Richard Harries, requested a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury to ask him to veto the appointment.
In the letter, the bishops say: "We write to assure you that Canon Jeffrey John has our full support in his preparation for the work he has been called upon to undertake, and in the context of the serious and unwarranted pressure to which he and his partner have been subject.
"We would also want to add that although Dr John's appointment was related to the needs of the Diocese of Oxford and the Reading Episcopal Area, his arrival in the Bishops' Meeting will enable our attentive listening to the experience of gay Christians to be in our midst rather than at second hand, and for his willingness to bear the cost of enriching our life in this way we are grateful."
The letter went on to say that they trusted the decisions taken by the Archbishop and the Bishop of Oxford and suggested dismay at the stance taken against the new bishop by some clergy.
"Our belief is that the proper, and traditional, response of bishops to the announcement of the appointment of a new bishop is prayer and thankfulness, hope and expectation," the letter concludes.
Last week, Bishop John said wanted to alleviate the "dismay" over his appointment.
