Pilling Report has 'deep and serious flaws', says CofE evangelicals

 (AP)

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has said that there are "deep and serious flaws" in the Pilling report on human sexuality.

The Pilling report made numerous recommendations, including the proposal that clergy, providing they have the agreement of their church council, should be able to offer services to bless faithful same-sex relationships.

The CEEC welcomed the Bishop of Birkenhead's dissenting statement, in which he wrote that "after much prayer and soul searching" he could not sign the report as a result of its failure to offer "a consistent or coherent response" to questions surrounding the Church's stance on sexuality.

The council said it was "grateful" to the bishop for outlining his concerns and said it was "vital that his criticisms are taken seriously by the House and College of Bishops before proceeding to structure conversations on sexuality in the wider church".

The recommendation to bless same-sex relationships in particular has stirred controversy in the Anglican community, as it marks the first time that the Church of England has been so explicit in its endorsement of homosexuality.

"We believe this would mark a departure from biblical truth and Anglican teaching," the CEEC went on to say in its statement.

"The fact that such recommendations can be made is, we believe, a surface sign that there are deeper and more serious flaws in the report as a whole."

In an earlier submission to the Pilling group, the St Matthias Day Statement of 2012, the council had laid bare its concerns.

"Redefining marriage to include same-sex relationships or affirming or blessing sexual activity outside marriage is contrary to God's word. When a church does either of these things it therefore becomes difficult to recognise it as part of the visible Church of Christ," it said at the time.

The CEEC's new statement calls for bishops "to be faithful to Scripture, to continue upholding the practice of the Anglican Communion...and to encourage all their clergy and people to do the same".

It underlines a conviction that the Bible offers clear teaching on how humans are able to best flourish, "including how we live best as sexual creatures".

"As evangelicals in the Church of England we are committed to bearing witness to this in word and deed and to offering it as good news to our nation.

"We therefore call on evangelicals to renew their commitment to biblical teaching and to pray that the Church of England as a whole will do the same."

The statement does, however, acknowledge the declaration of the Archbishops of York and Canterbury that the report "is not a new policy statement from the Church of England", and notes that more time is needed to compile a thorough response.

News
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches

Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …

The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914

On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …

Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land

Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.

Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?

For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.