The Laughs Just Keep Coming

The House of Bishops of the Church of Nigeria has written an open letter to Archbishop Rowan Williams. They urge him to postpone the upcoming Lambeth Conference, in part because

We are also concerned about the abuse directed towards those who hold to traditional views on matters of Human Sexuality. The spate of hostility in the UK is alarming.

We are all witnesses to:

*The presence of placard carrying and leaflets distributing campaigners at the last Lambeth Conference distracting Bishops who travelled thousands of miles for fellowship. These protesters effectively shifted the focus of the conference to human sexuality - as if that was all that mattered.

*The physical assaults against clergymen with opposing view, such as your predecessor attacked in his own Cathedral pulpit, and a Kenyan bishop assaulted by two people dressed as clergymen.

*The occasion when your own General Synod was disrupted by protestors angry over the handling of the Canon Jeffery John issue.

*Recent attempts to mandate unbiblical views in the UK through force of law and the protests and attacks by activists determined to disrupt and intimidate any group that seeks to uphold biblical teaching.

In truth anyone who does not embrace revisionist views is a potential target. We know it is possible to provide some security to minimize such occurrences but is the additional cost justifiable? Would the resultant atmosphere of fear and uncertainty be conducive to the goals of such a large gathering of bishops?

This from a body of bishops whose leader, the Rt. Rev. Peter Akinola, is on record supporting the further legal suppression of lesbian and gay Nigerians.

The letter goes on to recommend that Archbishop Williams call a special session of the Primates' Meeting to deal with the "crisis" in the Anglican Communion.

What a joke.

Who was it that shifted the focus of Lambeth to sexuality? No one but bishops were in the subcommittee meetings that revised the proposed resolution that eventually became 1.10. No one but bishops debated 1.10 and voted on it. This is a pitiful attempt to shift responsibility for their own actions.

Was Archbishop Carey's life in danger during the disruption of Easter services in 1998? Was the intention of the protest to injure or kill the Archbishop? No, and again, no. The attack on Bishop Oketch, while both regrettable and unforgivable, is not likely to be repeated at any Lambeth event. Hopefully, neither will anything like the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma's attempt to exorcise the Rev. Richard Kirker that did take place at the 1998 Lambeth Conference.

And are the good bishops truly afraid of protesters carrying signs and in no way threatening physical violence? Are they truly afraid of having their views on homosexuality questioned? Again, it is a situation unlikely to happen during any session at the next Lambeth Conference. They would probably still have to see and hear non-violent protesters traveling from one place to another. However, if they really believe violence could happen at Lambeth, what makes them think it could not happen at the "special Primates' meeting" they propose in place of a postponed Lambeth?

As for trying to "mandate unbiblical views in the UK through force of law," the good bishops of Nigeria might as well isolate themselves within the borders of their own country if they wish to avoid such places for meetings, because nations with "unbiblical" views far outnumber those with views the good bishops would consider "biblical." The same holds true if they want to avoid protests against their views--stay home. Physical attacks, even on those with whom we disagree vehemently, are never justified. However, the physical attacks suffered by conservatives for their views are infinitely smaller than the number of physical attacks inflicted upon gays and lesbians for being who they are.

The bashers are trying to claim victimhood. They are attempting to cast as the villains of their little drama those they continue to further marginalize. Another smoke bomb to obscure their attempt to hijack the Anglican Communion.

And the stones keep coming...

Peace,
Jeffri