Re: Steven’s story.
What I find even more extraordinary is the sheer obsessive vindictiveness of the persecutors. The lengths they are going to to destroy their victim, their iron determination to erase him. It’s beyond all reason.
Richard Ashby
2 years ago
I think Helen King’s article is very useful additional support to those of us who believe that all conversion therapy is coercive. It is condemned by medical, therapeutic and psychiatric practitioners. Asking for something that is dangerous to mental and physical health is not a reason for acceding to such an request. The theology behind conversion therapy is itself abusive and there is in addition a direct link between it and the ongoing Smythe and Fletcher scandals (see ‘Sex, Power and Control: Responding to Abuse in the Institutional Church’)
FrDavid H
2 years ago
Charlie Bell states the obvious when he says “the idea there is one single biblical view about anything at all, let alone sex and marriage, is fundamentally disingenuous”. This lops off the branch of the tree upon which evangelicals sit in their claim to speak with biblical “authority”. It is beyond my comprehension how any “thinking” person – let alone an Anglican – can claim that ancient scripts which are open to interpretation can definitively decide anything whatsoever. “Scriptural Authority” is meaningless.
Last edited 2 years ago by FrDavid H
Dave
2 years ago
Steven’s Story is so sad and so salutary. Thank you to him for his openness, integrity and honesty. To me a very significant point Steven correctly makes is: “more and more of its newer, younger ministers have been openly espousing hardline conservative views, notably in relation to women’s ordination and LGBTQ+ issues.” This, I fear, is a significant point in the Church of England, and I suspect some other churches. Younger male conservative evangelical clergy are gathering a strong vocal following and, often not openly, are pushing back on issues of inclusion and equality. Because they attract numbers Bishops are… Read more »
Charlie Bell thank you for your thoughtfulness. The theologically conservative have been keen to rebrand the discussion over marriage as a matter of orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is defined by the texts of the three Ecumenical Creeds. The writers of the those Creeds are unanimous in their silence on the matter of marriage. They make no reference to marriage. Marriage is not a matter of orthodoxy. The writers of the three Ecumenical Creeds are unanimous in their attestation to Scripture that Jesus will come as our Judge. Justice and Judgement are a cornerstone of orthodoxy. All these theologically conservative “Christians” claiming that… Read more »
Re: Steven’s story.
What I find even more extraordinary is the sheer obsessive vindictiveness of the persecutors. The lengths they are going to to destroy their victim, their iron determination to erase him. It’s beyond all reason.
I think Helen King’s article is very useful additional support to those of us who believe that all conversion therapy is coercive. It is condemned by medical, therapeutic and psychiatric practitioners. Asking for something that is dangerous to mental and physical health is not a reason for acceding to such an request. The theology behind conversion therapy is itself abusive and there is in addition a direct link between it and the ongoing Smythe and Fletcher scandals (see ‘Sex, Power and Control: Responding to Abuse in the Institutional Church’)
Charlie Bell states the obvious when he says “the idea there is one single biblical view about anything at all, let alone sex and marriage, is fundamentally disingenuous”. This lops off the branch of the tree upon which evangelicals sit in their claim to speak with biblical “authority”. It is beyond my comprehension how any “thinking” person – let alone an Anglican – can claim that ancient scripts which are open to interpretation can definitively decide anything whatsoever. “Scriptural Authority” is meaningless.
Steven’s Story is so sad and so salutary. Thank you to him for his openness, integrity and honesty. To me a very significant point Steven correctly makes is: “more and more of its newer, younger ministers have been openly espousing hardline conservative views, notably in relation to women’s ordination and LGBTQ+ issues.” This, I fear, is a significant point in the Church of England, and I suspect some other churches. Younger male conservative evangelical clergy are gathering a strong vocal following and, often not openly, are pushing back on issues of inclusion and equality. Because they attract numbers Bishops are… Read more »
The photos on church websites tell you that generally men are taller than women. No psychological conspiracy.
The question is not between the height of the depicted men and their subservient wives, but do they have an equally inane grin?
Charlie Bell thank you for your thoughtfulness. The theologically conservative have been keen to rebrand the discussion over marriage as a matter of orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is defined by the texts of the three Ecumenical Creeds. The writers of the those Creeds are unanimous in their silence on the matter of marriage. They make no reference to marriage. Marriage is not a matter of orthodoxy. The writers of the three Ecumenical Creeds are unanimous in their attestation to Scripture that Jesus will come as our Judge. Justice and Judgement are a cornerstone of orthodoxy. All these theologically conservative “Christians” claiming that… Read more »