TEXT OF LETTER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

May 4, 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

END