THE bitter divisions over gay priests in the Church of England deepened yesterday after nine senior bishops issued a strongly worded open letter criticising the appointment of Dr Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading.

The bishops, who cover nearly one quarter of the Church’s dioceses, included the fifth most senior in the hierarchy, the Bishop of Winchester, the Right Rev Michael Scott-Joynt.

In spite of reassurances that Dr John was now celibate, the bishops said that they were concerned by his history of being in a homosexual relationship for 20 years, as well as his severe criticism of orthodox teaching in the past.

They gave warning that the appointment was a threat to church unity throughout the world and could prejudice the outcome of the Church’s current investigation into human sexuality.

The letter, designed to give encouragement to clergy and laity from the orthodox and evangelical traditions, drew an immediate response from the Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev Richard Harries, who was responsible for the appointment.

He admitted that the Church was divided on the issue but insisted that Dr John was the best man for the job.

The letter, also signed by seven suffragans, indicates the growing strength of feeling in the Church over the appointment of Dr John. Bishop Scott-Joynt’s inclusion among the signatories is particularly telling because he is on the Catholic wing and indicates that the concern extends beyond the evangelical wing and into the broader reaches of the Church.

Other influential signatories include the Bishop of Carlisle, the Right Rev Graham Dow, as well as the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Rev James Jones, and the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali.

The bishops say: “Dr John has many admirable qualities for the work of a bishop. But the issue is what is acceptable sexual behaviour in God’s sight? “By his own admission he has been in a same-sex relationship for 20 years. We value, of course, the gift of same-sex friendship and if this relationship is one of companionship and sexual abstinence, then, we rejoice. We warmly commend such relationships to the Church as a whole.”

They say they are glad at the reassurances that Dr John is now celibate. “But it is the history of the relationship, as well as Dr John’s severe criticism of orthodox teaching, which gives concern.”

The letter was conceived during the recent private meeting of the Church’s bishops in Liverpool which takes place each year, a few weeks before the General Synod in York in July. Some evangelical suffragans travelled to Liverpool for a private meeting of the evangelical bishops, chaired by Bishop Dow.

Bishop Dow felt it important that some action be taken to indicate publicly the widespread feelings about Dr John’s appointment and took the initiative of drawing up the letter. His office sent it round to bishops understood to be sympathetic for signature.

The other four signatories are the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev David James; the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Rev Michael Langrish; the Bishop of Chester, Dr Peter Forster; the Bishop of Chichester, the Right Rev John Hind and the Bishop of Southwell, the Right Rev George Cassidy.

Although they make no threats or demands, their letter represents a challenge to the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and to that of Bishop Harries. Bishop Harries said: “Given that a number of diocesan bishops have assured me of their support for this appointment, it is hard to see what effect this letter can have apart from highlighting the fact that the whole Church is divided on this issue.”

Dr Williams has so far remained silent on the subject of Dr John’s appointment.

He has publicly agreed to stand by the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution that affirmed traditional biblical standards on human sexuality, but privately he believes the battle on homosexuality was won when the Church changed its mind on contraception.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Time-worn Freddie gives up Test matches
• Brighton company 'involved in cyber attack'
• The art of survival: it’s all in the mind