from Issue 120 1st September, 1998.

On August 5, the Lambeth Conference, where the Anglican bishops meet once every decade, passed a resolution declaring that homosexual activity is inconsistent with the Bible and advising the church to refrain from the ordination of homosexuals. This controversial resolution certainly was an act of intolerance if not also an act of violence. It violates the rights of roughly ten percent of the world's population, who, according to various studies, are homosexuals.

Consequently the Anglican Church will have to pay a very dear price. Many young people will leave the church both because of its conservative stance and its bigotry. By denying homosexuals the right to take up the ministry, the church as a whole becomes poorer. Homosexuals are known for their sensitivity and the way they care for people as well as worthy causes like the promotion of social justice, the protection of the environment, etc.

The third millennium is at our doorstep. The world in the next millennium will be even more pluralistic. In order to serve it, the church has to change its conservative attitude. Twenty-five years ago, the diocese of Hong Kong was the only one which ordained female priests. Now the majority of Anglican Provinces have woman priests. A decade ago, there were no female bishops. Today, there are 11 woman bishops in the Anglican Communion. The Church must keep on changing with the times. It was strange how the majority of the Anglican bishops used the Bible to justify their decisions. Presumably, Leviticus 20:13 and Romans 1:26-27 were the verses they quoted. Indeed, these verses require further clarification and discussion. But when we take the Bible so literally, does it mean that we should not eat pork (quoting from Leviticus 17:7)? How many Christians today practise tithing (Leviticus 27:30ff)? I bet only a handful of Christians today would take seriously Jesus' commandment of taking up the cross and following him.

The Bible teaches us to love God and to love others as ourselves (c.f. Matthew 22:37ff). All Christian teaching must build on this dictum of love. Any form of discrimination and all such teachings must therefore be deemed "unchristian".

Rev. Kwok Nai Wang
Director

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