Welby accused of ‘significantly erroneous statements’

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of making ‘significantly erroneous statements’ in relation to the Church of England’s teaching on sex – and also about decisions made as a result of its ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process debating contemporary ethics.

In a strongly-worded article on the widely-read Psephizo theological blog, Andrew Goddard, an ordained CofE minister and also Tutor in Ethics at both Westminster Theological Centre and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, says Justin Welby’s comments in an interview are ‘highly misleading’.

In an episode of the popular secular podcast ‘The Rest Is Politics,’ where he is interviewed by former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and former Conservative MP Rory Stewart, the Archbishop was asked about an interview seven years ago in which, when asked whether gay sex was sinful, he said he ‘hadn’t got a good answer.’

Asked now if he had a better answer, Welby said, ‘Yes, I do,’ before adding: ‘What the Archbishop of York and I, and the bishops, by a majority, by no means unanimous – and the church is deeply split over this – where we’ve come to is to say that all sexual activity should be within a committed relationship and whether it’s straight or gay. In other words, we’re not giving up on the idea that sex is within marriage or civil partnership.’

But in his article, Goddard says ‘the bishops have never formally, even by a majority, decided or said’ that the church’s teaching is that sex should simply be ‘within a committed relationship.’ Indeed, he states, General Synod papers in late 2023 from the House of Bishops said that: ‘We… note that the Church’s teaching on sexual relations has been treated as being part of the Church’s doctrine of marriage. We are not proposing to change that.’

And in December 2023, pastoral guidance said that marriage was ‘a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman,’ and that ‘it is within marriage that sexual intimacy finds its proper place.’

Goddard comments: ‘This means that not only is it wrong to say that the House of Bishops has said what the Archbishop claimed, they have instead said something quite different.’

He adds: ‘It is one thing to reject the church’s current teaching and engage in theological debate about an alternative. It is quite another to so directly misrepresent that teaching, which has in fact recently been reaffirmed, particularly if you are an Archbishop.’

Welby was also similarly criticised by Will Jones on the Daily Sceptic website.

Prior to EN's print deadline, en requested clarification three times over a number of days from Lambeth Palace. None was forthcoming.

However, several days later after EN's print edition had gone to production and delivery, this statement was posted on the Lambeth Palace website: 'Since the beginning of the Living in Love and Faith process, people across the Church of England have been studying, praying and sharing together about sexuality, identity, relationships and marriage. That process has revealed profound differences in theological conviction and biblical interpretation. But that does not change the fact that every group and every Christian has a place in the Church of England. 

'In his interview on the Leading podcast, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked whether gay sex is sinful. Alastair Campbell was returning to this question having first put it to the Archbishop in 2017 during an interview for GQ magazine. In both interviews, Archbishop Justin spoke honestly about the fact that these are complex questions that have caused deep division in the church. In both interviews, he said that what seem most central to him are stable, committed and faithful relationships. 

'Archbishop Justin was giving a personal view that reflects the position now held by himself, the Archbishop of York and many other bishops regarding sexual intimacy. He has been honest that his thinking has evolved over the years through much prayer and theological reflection – particularly through the Living in Love and Faith process – and he now holds this view sincerely. It reflects his commitment to continuing to welcome, love and include LGBTQ+ people more fully in the life of the Church. 

The statement concludes: 'However, there is no consensus among the bishops on this question, and the Church remains deeply divided. Archbishop Justin stressed his absolute commitment to those who hold a traditional view having “a full and undoubted place in the Church of England”. His answer does not indicate a changing of teaching from the House of Bishops. This is an ongoing conversation across the Church – and Archbishop Justin hopes that the bishops, together with clergy and laity, will keep praying and reflecting on these questions.'