ABSTRACT
The Anglican Communion continues to discuss and debate the acceptable and unacceptable aspects of gay identity among its believers. Recent ‘official’ documents have emphasised tolerance and listening to gay believers’ experiences (House of Bishops 1991, The Anglican Communion 1998). However, for those who feel both called to the priesthood and attracted to members of the same sex finding fit and support within the boundaries of the official Church remains difficult, and has been shown to lead to high levels of stress for some gay clergy (Fletcher 1990). Due to their positions of authority, the clergy are expected to maintain a different level of morality than their parishioners as they are ‘messengers, watchmen and stewards of the Lord’ (House of Bishops 1991: 44). The institution’s translation of these requirements has meant that public statements from the Church remain unafihrming of gay clergy.
