Conference Highlights Anglican Unity, Diversity

Excerpt of text of statement on sexuality adopted Wednesday by Anglican bishops at the Lambeth Conference:

‘The conference, in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage. . . .

“Recognizes that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation. Many of these are members of the church and are seeking the pastoral care, moral direction of the church, and God’s transforming power for the living of their lives and the ordering of relationships, and we commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual people. We wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptized, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the body of Christ. . . .

“While rejecting homosexual practices as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialization and commercialization of sex. . . .

“Cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same-sex unions, or ordination of those involved in same-gender unions.’