Chastity & singleness: Changing the code

Words matter. But some words matter more than others. Take this example from the Anglican Diocese of Perth in Western Australia concerning their code of conduct.

‘7.2 Sexuality is a gift from God and is integral to human nature. It is appropriate for clergy and church workers to value this gift, taking responsibility for their sexual conduct by maintaining chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage.’ It is now to be changed to ‘7.2 Sexuality is a gift from God and is integral to human nature. It is appropriate for clergy and church workers to value this gift, taking responsibility for their sexual conduct.’

Notice that chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage have been removed.

The old code further stated: ‘7.4 You are to be chaste and not engage in disgraceful conduct of a sexual nature.’ And the new one has changed this to: ‘7.4 Your sexual behaviour should be characterised by faithfulness and integrity.’ Notice that the two new codes can be interpreted to mean nothing.

The purpose of this is to be able to accommodate same-sex relationships. Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, the Australian president of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Anglican Communion, said this was against the teachings of both the Bible and the church.

Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, somewhat incredulously declared that this ‘does not give permission for wrongful behaviour in pastoral or personal relationships’. But again, that all depends on what is meant by ‘wrongful behaviour’ now that chastity is no longer required.

All of this bodes ill for the wider Anglican church in Australia. Some have already had enough. The breakaway Diocese of the Southern Cross, headed by former Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, now has six churches in southeast Queensland and one in Perth. That number is likely to grow.