Justin Welby ‘affirms validity’ of 1998 declaration that gay sex is a sin

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Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the global Anglican church, has sought to mollify conservative bishops by “affirming the validity” of a 1998 declaration that gay sex is a sin.

But, as a balancing gesture, he also indicated that he would not seek the authority to punish churches – including those in Scotland, Wales and the US – that allow same-sex marriage.

In a letter sent to more than 650 bishops attending the once-a-decade Lambeth conference just two hours before a potentially rancorous discussion on sexuality, Welby said the 1998 resolution, known as Lambeth 1.10, was “not in doubt”.

Campaigners for LGBTQ+ equality within the church responded to Welby’s attempt to reconcile polarised views with anger. Jayne Ozanne said: “I feel deeply angry and frustrated that yet again priority has been given to saving a manmade institution over protecting LGBTQ+ people’s lives.

“Let us be clear that Lambeth 1.10 encourages ‘conversion therapy’ and negates the God-given love between two individuals. It is a stick with which many of us have been beaten and will continue to suffer under around the world.”

Welby’s letter was issued as conservative church leaders from the global south called on bishops at the conference in Canterbury to reaffirm the 1998 declaration in defiance of a decision by organisers to drop voting in favour of “supportive applause”.

Lambeth 1.10 rejects “homosexual practice as incompatible with scripture” and “upholds faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union”. It says same-sex unions should not be legitimised or blessed.

The Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, which claims to represent 75% of Anglicans across the globe, said 1.10 “explicitly applies the clear and historic teaching of scripture to matters of sexual morality”.

Justin Badi, the archbishop of South Sudan, said: “We are living at a time of great spiritual confusion and moral flux. The church of Jesus Christ cannot afford to lose its moorings in holy scripture and drift with the world.

“Based on the need to establish clear doctrine on marriage and sexuality at this defining moment for the Anglican communion, this conference must reaffirm the biblical teaching of Lambeth conference 1998 resolution 1.10.”

Badi said he was confident that a majority of bishops attending the conference would back his call.

He said all Anglican bishops should be “preaching the good news of Jesus Christ …If we do not respect the scriptures, we are saying God is wrong.” Bishops in same-sex relationships or who supported same-sex marriage had “distanced themselves from the way of God”.

The issue of sexuality – or human dignity in the conference parlance – is the most contentious in the 12-day meeting, which has been postponed twice from 2018. Divisions over same-sex relationships have been a running sore in both the Church of England and the global church for decades.

Anglican churches in Scotland, Wales, US, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil and Mexico either conduct or bless same-sex marriages. The most determined opposition comes from churches in sub-Saharan Africa, with the archbishops of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda boycotting this year’s Lambeth conference.