ENGLAND: ARCHBISHOP SHOULD DEMAND CANON JOHN'S RESIGNATION

Statement from the Council of Church Society:

We the Council of Church Society are shocked and appalled by the recent appointment of Canon Jeffrey John to be Dean of St. Albans. Mr John's open advocacy of same-sex sexual activity flies in the face of the clear teaching of the Bible and the Church of England and therefore ought to exclude him from ministerial office.

We are astonished that Archbishop Rowan Williams has apparently failed to oppose the appointment of a clergyman who so shamelessly flouts the teaching of Scripture that sexual activity should be confined to a man and a woman in marriage.

We therefore call on Archbishop Williams to urge Dr John to resign.

The text of a letter sent to the Archbishop is attached.

For further information please contact:

Revd George Curry (0191-273-4680 / 0775-287-2550) Chairman of Council

Mr Duncan Boyd (020-7289-62650) Council member and General Synod Representative for London Diocese

Revd David Phillip (01923-235111 / 07801-265049) General Secretary and General Synod Representative for St. Alban's Diocese

Church Society exists to uphold biblical teaching and to promote and defend the character of the Church of England as a reformed and national Church.

TEXT OF LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

4th May 2004

The Most Rev & Rt Hon The Archbishop of Canterbury Lambeth Palace London SE1 7JU

Dear Dr Williams,

We the Council of Church Society are profoundly shocked that you have permitted Dr Jeffrey John to be Dean of the Cathedral of St. Albans.

We had understood that after the appointment of Gene Robinson you had called for a moratorium on such appointments until the Lambeth Commission has conducted its work. We therefore see it as deeply hypocritical that you and the Bishop of St. Albans have failed to oppose the appointment as Dean of a man who openly advocates same-sex sexual activity.

The clear teaching of both Scripture and the Church of England is that sexual activity should be confined to a man and a woman within marriage. Anyone who teaches to the contrary is clearly unfit for ministerial office in this Church.

We therefore call on you to urge Dr John to resign.

Yours sincerely,

David Phillips (Revd) on behalf of the Council of Church Society