Transcendent Vocation
Why Gay Clergy Tolerate Hypocrisy
Published on 27. March 2013
166 pages
978-1-78099-719-3 (ISBN)
Description
Based on detailed analysis of interviews with gay clergymen, and also with retired heterosexual clergymen whose ministries span the period since the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, Transcendent Vocation provides specific examples to back up the contention that the approach of the Church of England to homosexuals has increasingly been characterised by hypocrisy. It considers why gay men wish to work within an organisation that treats them with such negativity, especially now that such discrimination is illegal in secular society. The prime conclusion is that they do so because of their "Transcendent Vocation" -- a conviction of having been called to the ministry by God that is so strong that it enables them to transcend all the hypocrisy and negativity that they encounter.
Reviews / Votes
Another helpful ingredient in the process of showing bishops and others who need to understand where gay clergy actually are in the Church, that healthy ministry by gay clergy continues in spite of Issues as policy. --The Revd Colin Coward,
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Collective Ink
File size
1,96 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-78099-719-3 (9781780997193)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Sarah Maxwell
Transcendent Vocation - Why gay clergy tolerate hypocrisy
Why Gay Clergy Tolerate Hypocrisy
Book
03/2013
John Hunt Publishing
€19.00
Article not available at the moment
Person
Sarah is a Religious Studies teacher. This book is a reader-friendly version of her recent PhD research project. She lives in Cambridge.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Significant Events and Publications: 1967-2007
- Chapter 3: Forty Years of Turning Points
- 31 The 1967 decriminalisation of homosexuality, or "We didn't know anything about it"
- What a difference an Act makes, or "It was easier before it became legal"
- The Seventies -Liberality creeping in
- The Eighties -The run-up to Higton
- The Higton Debate -a turning point?
- Negative feelings about 'Issues', or "Why not 'Issues in Aardvark Sexuality'?"
- The 1998 Lambeth Conference -a turning point?
- Jeffery John -a turning point?
- The Noughties -Polarisation rules ok.
- Chapter 4: The Oxymoron of Gay Priests
- The ironies of Issues' conclusion, or "The whole thing is messy"
- Attitudes to lay authority for homosexuals, or "People of good conscience"
- Priestly changes, or "A strange idea to start with"
- Gay clergy: not allowed, but lots anyway
- Gay clergy: not allowed, so how do they cope?
- "Always at the mercy of bishops" -Episcopal attitudes
- Partners and lodgers -"Is that "lodger" with a small l or a big L?"
- Chances of preferment, or "It would be a hopeless case."
- Congregational response or "People will cut you almost infinite slack."
- Consideration for others, or "The sin is disturbing the harmony"
- "Don't ask, don't tell" -a long standing approach
- Chapter 5: The Problem of Civil Partnerships
- Civil Partnership: The Church's official line and the reality
- Same-sex blessings: The Church's official line and the reality
- Civil Partnership: "He is my partner, not my husband," or Not marriage 93
- Chapter 6: Divergence from Society
- A Different World, or "Constant liberalisation"
- A Different World, or "Everything is possible but nothing is forgivable"
- A Different Church, or "Not the same church as the one that I was ordained into"
- Chapter 7: Biblical Interpretation
- The Bible says homosexuality is wrong, or "A pretty sort of simple position"
- Biblical condemnations, or "Singled out because it's sex"
- Use of the Bible: "Picking and Choosing"
- Use of the Bible: "A Gospel of Hatred?"
- Divine inspiration: its changing nature
- Chapter 8: Sexual Identity
- Genetically determined so morally neutral, or "Like having dark hair or eyes"
- Changing views, or "Maturity and grace"
- Popular stereotypical presuppositions, or "I'm not dressed in a pink leotard"
- Our sexuality, or "What I believe is just me"
- The importance of how homosexuality is exercised: "Permanent, faithful, stable"
- Chapter 9: The Transcendent Vocation
- Why they stay, or "Called by God"
- Vocation as a homosexual, or "God calling me with my sexuality"
- The Transcendent Vocation, or "For better or worse"
- References
