10 September 1998
 

Louie Crew PhD
Episcopal House of Deputies
PO Box 30
Newark, NJ 07101
USA
 
 

['Dear Louie'  -- hand written]
 
 

I was glad that you and others representing Integrity were able to be present at Christchurch Greenwich earlier in the month during my visit.  I was grateful to you all for your gentleness!

I was sorry that I didn't have the opportunity of a personal conversation with you, but I do want you to know I am committed to dialogue with gay people, and I have already had a discussion with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church about how we can ensure that the Lambeth Conference resolution is pursued in this respect.

I have tried to write to each of those people whose letters were handed to me at Christchurch, recognizing the pain which they are feeling and inviting them to recognize the positive elements of the resolution.  I hope that you will recognize that what I said in my sermon at Christchurch is what I believe.  It is perfectly possible for us to have a wide range of views on this subject, as on nay, but that does not require us to go our own way, denying so much which we hold in common in other areas.  To be truly the Church, we must stay together and wrestle with the issues over which we disagree.  In the process, pain is likely to be experienced by us all.  Each one of us is challenged by new insights and new experiences to confront deeply held beliefs and test them, and that is painful.  I a sure, however, that out of the apparent confusion will eventually come a fresh sense of unity as we allow the Holy Spirit to work amongst us.

I hope there will be a moment at some time in the future when we shall be able to meet and talk about these issues which are so important to us both.  In the meantime, let me say again how much I appreciated your presence in Greenwich and may God bless and strengthen you.

• Return to Louie Crew's collection of materials on the Lambeth Conferenc e.
• Louie Crew's Anglican pages.
• Louie Crew's home page.
• Send mail to: lcrew@newark.rutgers.edu

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