ABSTRACT
The ‘gay issue’ is currently central to debates in the Anglican Communion. Such debates exist at local, national and international levels. Since 2003 and the nominations of Jeffrey John and Gene Robinson to the bishopric 2 this ‘issue’ has been framed as a ‘crisis’, with the debate surrounding gay issues – specifically blessing same-sex unions and ordaining gay clergy – being seen as threatening the very fabric of the Communion. However, although the ‘crisis’ may be recent, the ‘issue’ has been circulating for much longer. For example, the previous three reports from Lambeth Conferences have called for times of study, reflection, or listening. 3 This call, however, has been limited due to the continued unwillingness to allow the stories of gay clergy to be told publicly. Such unwillingness has been institutionalised in a number of different Church documents, and can be illustrated by reference to the 1991 report from the House of Bishops Issues in Human Sexuality, which reads:
There is at any given time such a thing as the mind of the Church on matters of faith and life. Those who disagree with that mind are free to argue for change. What they are not free to do is go against that mind in their own practice. (House of Bishops 1991, 45)
