Church in Wales - Weighed in the balance and found wanting

The Governing Body of the Church in Wales faced an important test this week.

It was a test of their commitment to inclusivity and the respect of individual conscience. It was a test which revealed far more about the future for faithful Anglicans in the Church in Wales than the vote that came later.

The challenge came in the form of a procedural motion. It was merely a request that the vote on the Bill to incorporate an order of service of blessing same-sex relationships into their Book of Common Prayer should be taken by ballot, rather than the usual show of hands. For those unfamiliar with the way Governing Body does its business, a counted vote requires individuals to hold their voting card up to be counted. There is no option for electronic voting and no formal record is made of how individuals voted.

It should not have been controversial. The use of a ballot is not without precedent. Indeed, the Welsh bishops used a ballot to discern the opinions of the Governing Body about the possibility of introducting of same-sex marriage and/or blessings in 2015. It was not tactical or partisan; it was obvious that the proposer and seconder would vote very differently when it came to the Bill itself.

Those supporting the need for the ballot were very clear about their reasons - people were scared to vote according to their conscience because of "professional pressure," which was described as "malign." It was suggested that, "A person's deepest convictions deserve the dignity of being expressed without the unnecessary need for courage. Or, as the Ven Mones Farah told the Governing Body, "When votes are public, people often vote for what is safest rather than what they actually believe, although they want to, but they find it very hard to do so. That produces compliance, not discernment."

It might be expected that a Church that has been beset by problems of episcopal bullying for years, would have engaged with the warning of what was implied by the request for a secret ballot. Some might even think that some form of apology would have been forthcoming. At the very least, it might have been wise for Governing Body to agree with the proposer, Canon Richard Wood, of the need, "to create space to ensure that nothing falls between the gaps of our imperfection."

Instead, what followed, from those who disagreed, was a series of insults which ironically just underlined the need for the secret ballot. Governing Body were told it would be "moral cowardice" to vote by ballot, a sign that people were "retreating to our silos." After all those who were scared to vote openly probably didn't know their own mind and were just looking for a space to express their" accidental prejudice." The Revd Andrew Lightbrown was unconcerned, "even if some people feel they have been whipped or pressurised." Revd Ruth Rowan thought people should just be grateful that Governing Body no longer "clap or boo one another," to ask for privacy in voting would, she said, "undermine who we are."

The message was clear - despite all the talk about respect for individual conscience - the majority had no interest in caring for the minority. Even the Archbishop, who used her Presidential Address to parade her concern for those who had told her of "their experience, their concern, their fear," stood by and watched those same people silenced by the synodical mob.

It was, therefore, not surprising that the Church in Wales' Governing Body voted down the motion 43 - 57. Those who had dared to raise their hands, if not their heads, above the parapet were left high and dry.

And no one was surprised when the debate on the Bill itself followed a similar path, though the decision to postpone the vote overnight was a cruel and unusual punishment, which could hardly have decreased the pressure on those who feared for their professional futures.

In the morning, Bishop Gregory, who proposed the Bill, used his response to the debate to manipulate the truth and denigrate the opposition.

"What I don't want to do in my reply is to start arguing with the views of those who disagree with my position because I fundamentally want to respect difference. However, at the same time I want to persuade Governing Body not to agree with me necessarily but to allow that disagreement on this issue and giving permission to allow those who wish it to celebrate the deep commitment of same-sex couples by inviting God's presence and blessing into their lives, is not an act of waywardness but arises from deeply held convictions on the right interpretation of Scripture and of fidelity to Christ's teaching and that this can and should be contained contained within the one fellowship of Christ's body."

In other words, he used his speech to do exactly what he claimed not to be doing at the start - to argue with those who disagreed with his position - and he did so with prideful condescension. He began by demolishing a few strawmen, including suggesting that those who disagree with him are like those who used to believe that marital rape was appropriate. Then he made it personal - turning on those who had the audacity to speak against the Bill, naming them and humiliating them.

His speech was an extraordinary abuse of power (positional, personal and spiritual). It was carried out in the presence of his fellow bishops, who did nothing to protect those who he attacked. Even the Archbishop, who had warned, "There’s a tendency to try and score points, to play out our own little wars, to seek our own interests rather than those of our sisters and brothers in Christ," remained silent.

It is hardly surprising then, that only seven members of the Order of Clergy and eight in the Order of Laity were prepared to raise their hands to vote against the motion.

	In Favour	Against	Abstain
Bishops	5	0	0
Clergy	32	7	5
Laity	48	8	2

After the vote, Archbishop Cherry Vann found her voice, but used it to turn the knife in the wound of those who Gregory had belittled, by thanking members of the Governing Body, "for the tone in which the debate was carried out and for the graciousness with which people spoke."

Faithful Anglicans in Wales are used to putting up with being being scorned and marginalised. They will now need to come to terms with the fact that the much vaunted conscience clause is limited to an individual's right not to "participate in a service." It does not stretch to being able to have nothing to do with such services. If asked, clergy must enable a service of blessing to take place by passing the couple on to the diocesan bishop, or ensuring that another member of their team, or a visiting clergy person, offers the service. Lawyers clarified too that clergy, or congregations, cannot refuse to allow their buildings to be used to bless what they believe God cannot bless. Private disagreement may be possible, but only if one publicly colludes with the idea that same-sex blessings are something to celebrate. That is the poison of 'plural truth'.

For, both the detail of the Bill that has passed, and the way in which it has been introduced speaks volumes. Bishop Gregory admitted, "This experimental right hasn't exactly swamped the church with change, and the number of services actually held have been comparatively small." Yet, he and the other bishops are willing to alienate and drive away hundreds of faithful Anglicans in order to achieve their goal. It is impossible to come to any other conclusion that only some forms of 'difference' are worthy of 'inclusion' in the Church in Wales.

The Governing Body were warned, "If the organisation wants truth rather than performance, a secret ballot is the only credible mechanism."

The Church in Wales chose performance.

---

There are many courageous Anglicans in Wales. Some, with the support of Undeb, were prepared to raise their hands and voices to uphold truth at Governing Body this week. Others have taken their to safer pasture in the Anglican Convocation in Europe. Both need the prayers and support of their brothers and sisters in the rest of the Anglican world.

The full debate can be watched, along with the transcript, on the Church in Wales YouTube channel

---

If you would like to find out more

about these events and other happenings in the Anglican Communion

why not join us at 7pm on Thurs 23rd April at Close to the Edge?

A chance to update, debate and relate to other faithul Anglicans.

Sign up here