The Most Rev Bernard Malango has asked the Rev Nicholas Henderson, vicar of two parishes in West London, to confirm that he subscribes to the Creeds, the Bible and the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion and that he “fashions his own life and his household according to the doctrine of Christ”.

Mr Henderson, Vicar of St Martin’s Acton West and All Saints’ Ealing Common, was elected Bishop of Lake Malawi last month. A regular visitor to Malawi and fundraiser, he has been involved with the diocese for 18 years and has begun learning the local language. He was until recently chairman of the Modern Churchpeople’s Union, “the leading liberal forum for open and informed theological comment in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion”.

Questions have also been raised about his personal life after it emerged that Mr Henderson, who is unmarried, shares his vicarage with a male lodger. The electoral roll lists Ken Bartram, who is the organist at the Acton church, as resident there.

In a letter to Mr Henderson, Archbishop Malango says: “I am writing to you in the midst of the great joy at the news of your election in Lake Malawi,” but continues: “It has been reported that you currently live with (or have in the past lived with) a male lodger. Because of reports of your advocacy of the gay and lesbian movement I am constrained to ask a very awkward question.

“Are you prepared to assure me and the members and leaders of the Church in this province that your conduct conforms to the historic teaching of the Church that sexual intimacy is restricted to be within the marriage of one man and one woman, intended as a lifelong union, and that you are not in (nor have you been in) a sexual relationship outside marriage? Is there anything I should know that would make my work difficult if you took up this position?

“I know that these are awkward questions to ask and that this situation is painful for you. I can only assure you that the failure to fully address them would be a cause of greater pain.”

Archbishop Malango also raises questions about Mr Henderson’s doctrinal orthodoxy. In a column Mr Henderson wrote in 2002 for The Times he questioned the fairness of “the current contentious doctrine of the Virgin Birth”, which he said “has been made a litmus test by traditionalists”.

Archbishop Malango says in his letter that in writing as a leader of the Modern Churchpeople’s Union, “you made clear that you do not believe that the doctrine of the Virgin Birth is an essential doctrine, comparing it to the debate concerning creation of Darwinism. Do you believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived supernaturally by God the Holy Spirit, with no human father’s conception, causing the Virgin Mary to bear Jesus?”

Yesterday Mr Henderson was not available for comment.

Mr Henderson’s bishop, the Right Rev Peter Broadbent, an evangelical, said: “There is no witch to be hunted here. It is unfair for someone to be vilified in this way. As Nicholas’s bishop I understand he has given assurances on all the issues raised by Archbishop Malango. He has given assurances on the primary authority of Scripture, the Creeds and on the matter of his own life being consonant with the Gospel. It is a matter for Dr Malango as the consecrating Archbishop what he does about that.”

Explore UK News

• Science News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Postman Pat moved to a high-tech sorting office
• Saatchi’s old favourites - made in China
• New teaching style gives pupils wake-up call