As part of the process of sensitive listening, Newcastle Diocese held a seminar on Thursday 25^th November 2004 at Church House, North Shields. The evening was planned by Bishop’s Social Responsibility Adviser, the Chair of House of Clergy and Newcastle/Durham Changing Attitude Co-Convenors: Revd Stephen Griffith and Revd Jenny Lancaster. Over 40 people attended, lay and ordained.

The seminar opened with prayers led by Revd Jenny Lancaster. This was followed by input from three invited speakers: the first provided an outline of theological perspectives relevant to the debate. He ended by drawing on Bonhoeffer’s Ethics: we are dealing with ‘penultimate’ issues and should remain conscious of the ‘ultimate’… we do not see humanity from God’s perspective. Our understanding is partial and incomplete – the revelation of Christ is the ultimate – as our faith seeks understanding in Him.

The second spoke from a personal and professional perspective in his pastoral work with gay and lesbian people; his involvement in supporting people with Aids and HIV alongside health professionals; his support of homosexual clergy from other dioceses; seminars he has given to students on human sexuality. He posed questions about the Church’s separation of ‘actions’ from ‘inclination’; the Church as an idealised but erroneous model of family; and compared the love, equality, companionship, mutuality and respect which can thrive in same sex partnerships with abuse of power, coercion and control which commonly occur in families. He commented that homosexual women are virtually invisible within the Church, and there was little understanding of issues faced by bisexuals.

The third speaker spoke from her personal experience, growing up with the realisation that she her sexual preference was different from her peer group. She spoke of ‘coming out’ as a lesbian at the age of 15. There were no role models within her church, but she was listened to and guided towards reading material which enabled her to explore the positive and negative implications of her sexuality. She spoke movingly of the moment when she felt God affirming her ‘as she was’. Since moving to Newcastle she has settled in the Metropolitan Church and spoke of her leadership role supporting gay, lesbian and bisexual Christians who have encountered discrimination in main-stream churches.

After a break for supper and opportunities for informal chats, four discussion groups were formed to continue discussions, before a final plenary session where a number of points were made, including the following:

The organisers and the speakers offered help to facilitate the debate in other settings.

A report has been forwarded to Bishop’s Council requesting that they provide guidance concerning how the sensitive listening and debate on Issues in Human Sexuality can be continued.