Gay bishop: Appointment of Nicholas Chamberlain "major error" says Gafcon

Media captionBishop Chamberlain is said to be in a long-term – but celibate – relationship.

The appointment of the bishop of Grantham was a "major error", the conservative Anglican group Gafcon has said.

Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain revealed he was gay and in relationship on Friday.

He was consecrated by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby – who has said he knew about the bishop"s sexuality.

But Gafcon, a group which includes conservative Anglicans around the world, said there had been an "element of secrecy" in his appointment.

A statement from Gafcon said the news about Bishop Chamberlain would "exacerbate" divisions within the Church of England and the wider Anglican world.

"Serious concern"

"There are aspects of this appointment which are a serious cause for concern for biblically orthodox Anglicans around the world, and therefore we believe that this appointment is a major error," the Gafcon statement added.

It said the "element of secrecy" in Bishop Chamberlain"s appointment gave the impression "that it has been arranged with the aim of presenting the Church with a "fait accompli", rather than engaging with possible opposition."

The statement was signed by the Most Reverend Peter Jensen, who is the group"s general secretary, and Canon Andy Lines, who is the chairman of Gafcon"s UK task force.

Bishop Chamberlain"s sexuality was disclosed in an interview with the Guardian, and it has been reported that he gave the interview because his private life was about to be exposed by a Sunday newspaper.

Remain celibate

He says he obeys Church guidelines, which say gay clergy must remain celibate.

"It was not my decision to make a big thing about coming out," he told the newspaper.

"People know I"m gay, but it"s not the first thing I"d say to anyone. Sexuality is part of who I am, but it"s my ministry that I want to focus on."

In response to the Guardian"s story, Archbishop Welby said: "His appointment as bishop of Grantham was made on the basis of his skills and calling to serve the Church in the Diocese of Lincoln.

"He lives within the bishops" guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office."

Same sex relationships and the Church

Image copyright Diocese of Lincoln

The House of Bishops has issued guidance about gay relationships which say "Same sex relationships often embody genuine mutuality and fidelity…"

But the guidance adds "Getting married to someone of the same sex would, however, clearly be at variance with the teaching of the Church of England."

In particular, it says "It would not be appropriate conduct for someone in holy orders to enter into a same sex marriage."

The Church also teaches that "Sexual intercourse, as an expression of faithful intimacy, properly belongs within marriage exclusively."

However, these sentiments have not been followed throughout the Anglican communion.

In the US, Gene Robinson"s election as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003 provoked a furore from conservative Anglicans around the world, and contributed to the rise of the conservative Gafcon movement.

In the UK, the Dean of St Albans, the Very Reverend Jeffrey John entered into a civil partnership in 2006.

He was twice "passed over" for two appointments as bishop – firstly at Reading in 2003, then at Southwark in 2010. On both occasions his sexuality was stated to be seen as a "difficulty" for Church of England.

The Gafcon statement also took the opportunity to criticise the church"s outlook on same sex relationships.

"We remain opposed to the guidelines for clergy and bishops, permitting them to be in same-sex relationships as long as they publicly declare that the relationship is not sexual.

"This creates confusion in terms of the Church"s teaching on the nature of sex and marriage, and it is not modelling a helpful way to live, given the reality of our humanity, and temptation to sexual sin," it said.

But Susie Leafe, the chairwoman of the conservative evangelical group Reform, said she sympathised with Bishop Chamberlain for having been "hounded by the secular press and forced into making a statement".

"Complex desires"

"All human beings have a range of complex desires; who he is attracted to should not make any difference to his ability to do the job of a bishop," she added.

It is thought no serving bishop has ever before gone public about their sexuality. The former archbishop of York, Lord Hope, said in 1995 that his sexuality was a "grey area".

The dean of St Albans, the Very Reverend Jeffrey John, withdrew from the selection process to become bishop of Reading in 2003 after an angry reaction from traditionalist Anglicans about his sexuality.

A Church of England spokesman said: "Nicholas has not misled anyone and has been open and truthful if asked. The matter is not secret, although it is private as is the case with all partnerships/relationships."

The Rev Sally Hitchiner, who is gay and runs the LGBT support group Diverse Church, told the BBC she was looking forward to the day that a bishop"s sexuality was not a news story.

"He"s being very clear that he"s sticking within the Church of England guidelines and being celibate. Most of us in the Church do know about people who are gay in high office," she said.

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Gay bishop: Appointment of Nicholas Chamberlain "major error" says Gafcon
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