The fact that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, other high ranking Church of England clergy and some local Anglican clergy continue to push the LGBTQ+ ideology is a source of disappointment and embarrassment. Why so? Because the Church of England and other mainline churches in the UK were among the leading voices calling for the decriminalisation of buggery in the 1960’s.
While on a visit to Jamaica in the late 1960’s, the then Archbishop of Canterbury spoke at the United Theological College. Rev Everal Allen of Brown’s Town Baptist recounts in a letter published in the Gleaner in December 2011 that he was a member of that audience at UTC. According to Rev. Allen: “in my hearing, the then Archbishop of Canterbury explained to students that the Church
supported the liberalisation to encourage practising homosexuals to come out into the open so that the Church could help them change their lifestyle.”
Rev. Allen’s recollection is supported by the British Hansard. The thinking was that, the repeal of this law would facilitate homosexuals getting help. There was also the thought that the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman, would not be affected.
Fifty plus years later, what has happened in the British society since the repeal of the buggery law? The following is a synopsis of England’s journey:
- In 1967 the buggery law was repealed. The Local Government Act was amended in 1988 to include section 28 which in effect legislated against homosexuality being taught in schools as a norm. However as a result of strong pressure from homosexual groups, this section was repealed in 2003.
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- In 2007, the Sexual Orientation Regulations were passed pursuant to the Equality Act 2006, effectively resulting in mandatory endorsement of normality of homosexual lifestyle with punishment for dissenters.
- In 2004, the Civil Partnership Act was passed allowing for homosexual unions to be recognized as civil partnerships.
- In 2013, Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act was passed, allowing for “marriage” between homosexual unions.So instead of homosexuals being open to accepting help for their deviant lifestyles, such deviance has been “sanitised” by the British Government, and surprise, surprise “baptised” by the Church of England! Reparative assistance has in effect been disallowed as therapists are likely to lose
their licence for assisting persons who request help in their struggle against unwanted sexual attractions. Reference can be made to the case of Lesley Pilkington, a psychotherapist, who lost her senior accredited status after providing assistance in 2009 to a homosexual man at his request, in dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction. So much for homosexuals needing to get “help to change their lifestyle”!
The following are a few of the cases showing the negative impact of the LGBTQ+ ideology on freedom of expression and freedom of conscience in England:
a. Felix Ngole, a legal immigrant was removed from a two-year MA course at Sheffield University in 2015 after asserting during a Facebook debate that homosexuality was
a sin and declaring support for Kim Davis. He sued the University and won his case
on appeal but now is facing discrimination on the job market because of his Christian
beliefs on marriage and sexuality !
worker-has-job-offer-withdrawn-for-views-on-marriage/
b. Councillor King Lawal, a Councillor at North Northamptonshire Unitary Council was cancelled by seven organisations and suspended by the Conservative Party because he shared a tweet (June 2023) in which he gave the “biblical position on LGBT pride events.” He has been warned of possible police investigations. He was forced to resign as director of his own business or face loss of a contract. Mr Lawal is reported to have commented as follows:
“It is now almost impossible to say something biblically truthful on sexual
ethics in UK society without being cancelled and having your life ruined.”
c. Dr Bernard Randall, “an ordained Church of England chaplain, was sacked and
secretly reported to the government’s terrorist watchdog for a moderate sermon in a
school chapel on identity politics.” The sermon was delivered in 2019 at Trent
College which has a history of affiliation to the Church of England.
The impact on education has been no less distressing with students as young as 3 years old expected to learn about “different lifestyles and partnerships that individuals may choose in present-day society.” In March 2023, parents of 4 years old at St Mary’s Prittlewell Church of England Primary School “were shocked when they discovered that the school was planning to expose their children to transgender propaganda when marking World Book Day on Thursday 2 March”. https://christianconcern.com/news/parents-withdraw-children-after-my-shadow-is-pink-book-taught-to-four-year-old/
The question as to why the Church of England continues to push LGBTQ+ ideology in spite of the upheaval it has caused, is disconcerting. Instead of being repentant, the Church has stubbornly persisted in advocating for lifestyles which are contrary to human flourishing and which have turned “rights” upside down. The clock has struck thirteen, but the Church of England marches on in gay oblivion.
I am,
Shirley Richards
