BBC fuels Debate as Gay Cleric chosen to preach Christmas message

The cleric at the heart of the Church of England's potential schism this year – Jeffrey John, has been invited to preach a sermon during a BBC broadcast over Christmas. The move by the world-renowned broadcasting corporation has once again brought the debate over homosexuality in the church to the surface.

Dr John was last year appointed as Bishop of Reading, only to later be forced to stand down due to the controversy it had caused. He is now, however, the new Dean of St Albans, and will preach the BBC message on Boxing Day, 26th December during the morning service which will be broadcast on Radio 4 from the Cathedral.

The decision has provoked a number of leading conservative evangelicals who have consistently opposed the way in which homosexuality has been let into the church. Many church leaders have been provoked once again by the decision to promote the cleric in this way.

The Dean, however, in attempts not to further spark anger has kept a reasonably low profile since his appointment to St Albans in the summer.

The Windsor Report which was released in October was designed to ease the tension caused by the issues of homosexuality in the church. The report told those who had caused the controversy to express regret for their actions although it did not comprehensively deal with the issue being debated and so many questions remain unclear which has allowed the debate to roll on. A large number of conservative Anglicans have been very outspoken regarding the report and the sensitive issue.

The Church Society stated that the report should be rejected as it would "allow immorality to fester" and that this would "destroy the churches of the Anglican Communion".

African bishops argued that the report was "offensive", and suggested that the report's request for statements of regret from the Episcopal Church, USA and the Anglican Church of Canada did not go any where near far enough.

Anglican Mainstream, which was originally set up to campaign against the appointment of Jeffrey John as the Bishop of Reading said that the report had "fallen short" in recognising "the reality of human sin within the Church."

The Anglican Mainstream also recently released a report entitled, 'Repairing the Tear' which attempted to offer guidelines for church members to follow.

The report noted "the fact that the deeper problems underlying our current sickness stem from a departure in some form from Scripture."

It also says the Windsor Report has "some ambiguities in its wording (leading to incompatible interpretations being offered—even by members of the Commission); analysis that is insufficiently thorough; and practical recommendations that are inconsistent or inadequate."

There is a "lack of clarity about how 'regret' relates to 'repentance' and how it is to be expressed; The reticence to provide a theological analysis in terms of sin and a remedy in terms of discipline; and The flawed analysis and critique of those who have intervened in order to protect the orthodox in other provinces."

Specifically, the report asked that the Primates "reaffirm clearly and defend the Anglican teaching on sexuality as expressed in Lambeth I.10," and "confirm that statements of 'regret' must signify the 'repentance' necessary for true reconciliation and so include a commitment not to repeat the actions."

Divisions are therefore still very much evident within the Anglican Communion, and the BBC's decision to have Dr John preach during the Christmas message has reignited the debate over the festive period.

In addition to other senior clergy appearing on the BBC's Christmas schedule will be James Jones, who is the Bishop of Liverpool and also Rev Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.