Book review: Created for Love
Created for Love
Edited by Theo Hobson and John Inge
Canterbury Press, 2025
I approached this book with some resignation. Anglicans, and contemporary Christians in general, live in a time dominated by a dialogue of the deaf when it comes to human sexuality. Conservative Christians fear that Biblical orthodoxy is being abandoned, while inclusive Christians feel that the time is well overdue to address the injustices of traditional attitudes. Any book which speaks into this debate is likely therefore to be hailed or decried by partisans according to whether their views are vindicated or attacked. Prejudgment reigns supreme. As this book is positive about the arguments for inclusion, it will not please every reader, if conservatives will even touch it with a reason other than to refute it.
It is a book which is a mix of both good and more steady theology and a thorough compendium of the arguments for change. Since it is made up of twelve short essays, arranged in six pairs, it never becomes wearisome, even if the subject matter is not as hermetically sealed as the labelling would suggest. Different sections are headed Bible, Church, Creation, Culture, Experience and Conscience, Prayer and Guidance, but in fact we never stray far from the Bible which is a reference point to which virtually all the writers gravitate.
Three bishops of the Church of England make their contributions: the bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, the retiring bishop of Bristol, Vivienne Faull, and the newly retired bishop of Worcester, John Inge. These essays are amongst the most personal in nature, as Bishop Steven reflects on his own journey of understanding, Bishop John notes the changes of Biblical interpretation that he has witnessed, and Bishop Vivienne reflects on the lessons learned by the processes surrounding the ordination of women.
However, there is a lot of personal testimony here. Gareth Wardell speaks eloquently about his own journey coming out as a gay Christian, and the hypocrisy by which the Church makes its judgements. Barnabas Palfrey reflects on his masculinity, although perhaps readers will want to excuse or even skip his extended reflection on the significance of his own penis.
Historical exegesis is also a major theme. Olivia Graham writes on the manner in which understandings of sexual bonding have evolved and changed, Mark Chapman explores the Church’s attitude to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the 1960s, and Theo Hobson the impact of societal change on the Church. Helen King focuses upon the revolutionary attitude of one early twentieth century campaigner for sexual liberation, Agnes Maude Royden. All these essays teach us perspective and the need to avoid facile and sweeping judgements.
Perhaps the book is strongest when it explores the possibility of new understandings of the place of marriage in the contemporary world of relationships. Charlie Bell, Miranda Threlfall-Holmes and Barnabas Palfrey all articulate a new vision of what the teaching of the Church could be like. Sam Wells is probably the most ambitious and urges Christians to abandon a soteriology based on atonement and Biblical obedience, and instead advocates for a theology centred upon relationship and an invitation into the deep and vibrant communion within God and with God.
My own favourite essays were those on the Bible. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes and Barnabas Palfrey make strong, intelligent and inspiring pitches for a view of the Biblical teaching on sex, marriage and relationships which aim to raise our vision and excite our passions rather than limit the Scriptures to the role of a legislative text. They offer a picture of the Bible which makes it worth reading — visionary, bold and transformative.
This book is hardly likely to make converts on the issue of human sexuality, but it will provide reassurance to those of an inclusive attitude that there are sound arguments from scripture, history and theology for an inclusive approach, which is not merely a sell-out to the contemporary world but richly founded within the tradition we have inherited.
Gregory K Cameron
Gregory is Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales, and holds the portfolio for Faith, Order and Unity.
Created for Love can be bought through your bookshop or online here and elsewhere.
I’ve ordered the book – seems very Oxford, my diocese. I’m sure I will enjoy reading Helen King on Maude Royden, whom I remember as a radio personality in the 1950s. Her words ‘Acceptance is a virtue, resignation is a vice’ have always stayed with me, though I’m not quite sure how she worked the distinction out
Have now read the book. Hope it will be further reviewed
Gregory Cameron is a drily pastoral reviewer: ‘a mix of both good and more steady theology’! The contributors stick to the Bible. Fair enough. But the problem for many of us who welcome PLF, yet ask if ‘marriage’ is the right word, is Augustine’s ‘good’ of offspring. Is Bible and nothing but the Bible squeezing out wider discourse in today’s CofE? Anyway, as the reviewer says, this is a book more likely to reassure progressives than it is to convert traditionalists. Barnabas Palfrey challenges English and Welsh Anglicans when we assert that marriage is a creation ordinance. So it… Read more »
I suspect that opinions on the sacramental and theological stances regarding marriage could well differ according to other doctrines and attitudes to life which individual folks hold. Limit marriage to baptized alone? Do you mean Anglican baptism, and would you refuse it to a Christian couple when one, for example, is a Nonconformist and the other an Anglican? And High or Low Anglican? That could create an awful lot of very complex problems – which, thankfully, I will never have to deal with. Not having read the book, I can’t comment about the contents. But I certainly agree with the… Read more »
The CofE doesn’t recognise a specifically ‘Anglican’ baptism, just baptism in the name of the Trinity.
I should have added that my take on Barnabas Palfrey’s piece is no more than that – we all read things through our own prisms. I believe he is right to say we ‘ought to regard marriage as an icon and sacrament of Christ’s salvation, and not reduce it to an ordinance of created nature alone’. But I am struggling to see how this could make gay marriage easier. It might even make it more difficult. But, then, that’s my take.
Olivia Graham is, of course, a further retired bishop among the contributors.
As is Viv Faull now. Her chapter acts as a cautionary tale around seeking alternative episcopal oversight for traditionalists.
Fair enough. I didn’t recognise her name, and should have checked. I enjoyed her essay, and it wasn’t as autobiographical as those of the other contributing bishops.
It’s a great book and I agree that Sam Wells’ chapter is significant. Conservative evangelicals won’t agree with it, but it should challenge their thinking (if any read it).
There are different ways to read the bible (good and bad). The starting points are all different so the answers will all be different. They don’t listen to each other so only contribute to the ‘ tone deafness ‘ the reviewer refers to. He didn’t think there was anything new to get excited about and if you know Sam Wells theology why bother reading it?
this is a genuine question. . Why do bishops wait until retirement before sharing views on divisive subjects? I know they aren’t employees as such but is it something to do with the ‘ terms of employment’ to avoid saying anything which could be deemed controversial, in order to represent all views in a diocese.
Do bishops avoid sharing views on divisive subjects in order to represent all views, or in order to avoid criticism and vitriol? Is the first cited reason a convenient excuse for the second? I am aware that Bishop Nicholas, the previous Bishop of Salisbury, spoke out in favour of same-sex relationships early in his appointment. I have been told that he was very surprised by the vitriolic nature of the correspondence he received subsequently. He did not make any similar public statement again. Correlation does not signify causation, but one can’t help wondering if the two are linked. Of course… Read more »
Perhaps their silence is due to having made vows at their consecrations, to ground their ministry in the Christian faith as received by the Church of England, they feel reticent about articulating personal opinions which many will see as being at odds with their public promises?
I recall Bishop David Jenkins attending the Church same-sex blessing of one of his clergy’s civil partnerships many years ago. He enjoyed and provoked theological discussion and no bishop since has got the nation talking about religion. Sadly the CofE has gone in a reactionary direction since then, with many church leaders promoting irrelevant gibberish.
“I am aware that Bishop Nicholas, the previous Bishop of Salisbury, spoke out in favour of same-sex relationships early in his appointment.” I think rather what happened there was that Nick Holtam, when he was Vicar of St Martin in the Fields, he spoke very much in favour of same sex relationships. He did also make a speech early to that effect as a bishop but also reminded his clergy publicly, and in no uncertain terms, that if they actually were discovered to be in same sex relationships then the full force of discipline could be expected. It was a… Read more »
The book has been in planning for a year or more and my views, including my concern for openness about disagreement, care and respect for each other and unity in diversity, are well known in the Diocese of Bristol.
Thanks Viv, I haven’t read the book. i didn’t mean for it to come across as a criticism of you or anyone else . It was a genuine question not a criticism
It really would help if folk commenting on this thread had actually read the book. It seems clear that most haven’t.
it was not meant as a criticism of you or anyone else Viv on this issue or others i’m sorry if it came across as such
Pope Leo has just issued a prayer which echoes this. It begins: “Lord Jesus, you, who in diversity are one and look lovingly at every person, help us to recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters, called to live, pray, work, and dream together.” Dream together – I love that! And it’s what Created for Love encourages us to do.
If you are referring to the bishops who have contributed to this book you are mistaken. Their views have been clear and public. One example is the letter +John wrote with his suffragan to all his clergy in Worcester urging acceptance of equal marriage.’We believe that the time has come for the Church to celebrate and honour same sex relations’. https://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/living-in-love-and-faith–a-letter-from-our-bishops.php. He also published a personal statement of his theological journey towards inclusion. It should be noted that the push back from conservatives to any bishops making inclusive contributions is immediate, well-coordinated and relentless. Knowing how to make a contribution… Read more »