Thanks and no thanks
It seems a long time since Robin Adams told Chris and Rodney that having made a lifestyle choice to be gay the church regarded them as unnatural and unhealthy. This is homophobic abuse and still needs to be addressed. Many have passed by on the otherside and ignored the situation. A few have been rude and threatening, others have been homophobic by regarding homophobia as allowable because "he was only expressing his opinion". Just two members of the congregation have not followed the crowd but have stood up to be counted. We are grateful to them and to anyone who has supported us. It hasn't always been easy to take their advice but we have respected and welcomed all the advice and support you have given.
Abigail and Wilfrid from Christ Church in Brittany
Revd. Canon John L Wilkinson
The Evans family - Peter, Paul, Jack and David
OneBodyOneFaith
Matt - a man sexually abused as a child
in the Church of England
Stonewall
Lambda
The American Cathedral
David and Jonathan
the inclusive Community Church
Norman Clarke
Stephanie and many others
No thanks, you passed by
Sadly there will always be people including some friends who cannot support and we make no criticism of them. The advice we received most often was to walk away - the Church is irrelevant today. However, it is not irrelevant to us.
It is one thing for ordinary folk to pass by but the following are appointed to be spiritual leaders and to advise and support. Without exception not one of them did anything effective.
the Archbishop of Canterbury - Revd Justin Welby who never replied to any of our please for help
the Bishop of Lambeth - Revd Tim Thornton who commented but nothing more
the Bishop of Europe - Revd Robert Innes who is yet to respond to anything we have sent him
the Archdeacon of Europe - Revd Meurig Williams who we can single out as the only person in the Church of England in Europe who has answered our call for support. His words were meaningless as he failed to follow through to what was needed
the Diocesan LGBTi contact - Revd Peter Jackson who thought that to support meant just gathering facts
the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer who failed to safeguard Chris and Rodney from bullying and abuse