But in a balancing act, he also indicated he would not seek the power to punish churches – including those in Scotland, Wales and the US – that allow same-sex marriage. In a letter sent to more than 650 bishops attending the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, just two hours before a potentially vicious debate on sexuality, Welby said the 1998 resolution, known as Lambeth 1.10, “ is not doubted”. Campaigners for LGBT+ equality within the church responded to Welby’s attempt to reconcile polarized views with anger. Jayne Ozanne said: “I feel deeply angry and disappointed that once again saving a man-made institution has been prioritized over protecting the lives of LGBT+ people. “Let us be clear that Lambeth 1.10 encourages ‘conversion therapy’ and negates the God-given love between two people. It is a stick with which many of us have been beaten and will continue to suffer around the world.” Welby’s letter was issued as conservative church leaders from the global south called on bishops at the Canterbury conference to reaffirm the 1998 statement in defiance of organizers’ decision to stop the “supportive applause” vote. Lambeth 1.10 rejects “homosexual practice as inconsistent with scripture” and “endorses the belief in marriage between one man and one woman in lifelong union”. Same-sex unions should not be legalized or blessed. The Global Southern Fellowship of Anglican Churches, which claims to represent 75% of Anglicans worldwide, said 1.10 “expressly applies the clear and historic teaching of scripture on matters of sexual morality”. Justin Bundy, the archbishop of South Sudan, said: “We live in a time of great spiritual confusion and moral flux. The church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to lose its moorings in scripture and drift with the world. “Based on the need to establish a clear doctrine on marriage and sexuality at this defining moment for the Anglican Communion, this conference must affirm the biblical teaching of the Lambeth Conference 1998, Resolution 1.10.” Bundy said he was confident the majority of bishops attending the conference would support his appeal. He said all Anglican bishops should “preach the good news of Jesus Christ…If we don’t respect the scriptures, we say God is wrong.” Bishops in same-sex relationships or who supported same-sex marriage had “distanced themselves from the way of God”. The issue of sexuality – or human dignity in conference parlance – is the most contentious of the 12-day meeting, which has been postponed twice since 2018. Divisions over same-sex relationships have hurt both the Church of England and in the global church for decades. Anglican churches in Scotland, Wales, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico either conduct or bless same-sex marriages. The most determined opposition comes from churches in sub-Saharan Africa, with the archbishops of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda boycotting this year’s Lambeth conference.
