19
September 2005
For immediate release.
A recent meeting of the Council of Church Society unanimously condemned the
Pastoral Statement on Civil Partnerships issued by the House of Bishops over
the summer.
The statement is flatly contradictory, claiming that the Church’s teaching
remains unchanged in relation to marriage and sexual intercourse, but encouraging
Civil Partnerships, the teaching of error, and the turning of a blind eye to
sin.
In advising clergy not to ask questions of those seeking baptism, confirmation
and communion the House is in conflict with the doctrines of the Church of
England and appears to be acting in contravention of the oaths they took when
consecrated as Bishops.
By stating that people are free to argue for a change in the current teaching
of the Church they are encouraging error (which they have sworn to drive out)
and demonstrating that they do not truly believe what they claim to uphold.
It is clear to everyone, including Anglicans in other parts of the world,
that in this statement the House of Bishops has finally come clean. As a body
the Bishops are openly encouraging practices contrary to the Word of God and
the doctrines of the Church of England.
The Rev David Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society stated;
“Our hope is that evangelical churches will rebuke their Bishops and urge
them to distance themselves from the statement if they are to retain any credibility.’
|
