One form of false teaching identified in Jude 1 is those who pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ into a licence for sexual immorality, including homosexual practice.Ĭhurches protect themselves against false teaching by adopting confessional standards and requiring ministers and members to declare that they wholeheartedly believe and will uphold them. The New Testament repeatedly warns of the need to protect churches from false teachers who will lead people astray. This is exactly what happened in the CofE during the 20th century when liberal clergy who no longer believed the Bible infiltrated churches, despite indicating their acceptance of orthodox confessional statements required of ministers. They gain entry under false pretences, appearing to subscribe to orthodoxy, but then work to bring about revisionist change. The behaviour of those who knowingly reject and subvert the doctrine of their own Church is how churches previously faithful to the truth of the Bible drift into unfaithfulness. We now know that Coles had signed up to this in theory, but did not live it out in practice. When Coles was ordained, and throughout his time as a parish priest, the official doctrine of the CofE remained that sexual union was for within heterosexual marriage only, and clergy who entered into same-sex civil partnerships or marriages were required to practice celibacy. It is lamentable that bishops failed to exercise proper discipline and hold him accountable to his promises.Įvery church and Christian organisation has the right to set theological and behavioural boundaries to ensure that its doctrinal teaching is upheld. Rather than submitting to the credal and confessional position of his Church, he took upon himself the right to decide how he could live. Breaking the rulesĬoles swore an oath of obedience to his bishop to uphold the doctrine and practice of the Church an oath which he has now admitted to flagrantly breaking. He also revealed that, despite requirements for gay clergy to remain celibate, he had long given up being so. In an interview with The Times, Rev Coles revealed that he had already broken church rules by having his own, same-sex civil partnership blessed inside a church. They are also planning to change pastoral guidance to celebrate the goodness of gay sex inside faithful relationships. Last week, bishops in the Church of England proposed the Church allow the blessing of same-sex civil marriages. He is openly gay and recently resigned as a parish priest because of the failure of the Church of England to celebrate same-sex marriage. The former Communard and celebrity vicar is co-host of Saturday Live on Radio 4, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and wrote a moving memoir about grief following the death of his partner from alcoholism. Rev Richard Coles is widely regarded as a national treasure. Sonic waves: How Generation Windrush brought Gospel to the mainstream.Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh: ‘Church is the place where you can be a hot mess you don’t have to be fine’.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |