Good enough for the Bishop
To your average non-believer like myself, the church can come across as a
weird mix of fire and brimstone and touchy-feely liberalism. On one hand it
preaches the sanctity of marriage; on the other it employs thousands of gays
and lesbians as clerics on condition they don’t have a sex life.
Out on the world stage the double standards continue. Faith organisations
(especially Catholic ones) do plenty of life-saving work in Aids-hit countries
yet are barred from promoting condoms to prevent further HIV infections.
The World Council of Churches finally fessed up to this contracdictory behaviour
in a statement last month when they admitted many of their members were “complicit
in stigmatising and marginalising people living with HIV” despite their
good works on the Aids front-line.
But, just for once, PN wants to actually praise the Church of England for
appointing a gay, HIV positive man as vicar of a London parish. The Bishop
who approved the appointment did so knowing the man was HIV positive. The
vicar had worked at another parish until his diagnosis and ill health forced
him into medical retirement. But, thanks to antiretrovirals, he is once again
fit enough to minister to the faithful.
Although there have been HIV positive vicars before, this is probably the
first time the Church of England has knowingly and openly appointed an HIV
positive person. As one bishop told The Sunday Times: “This appointment
is a sign of the Church being grown-up and living in the real world. The priest
has a ministry to offer and clearly there is a welcome for him in his parish.”
Undeterred by this reasonable response from the church, The Sunday Times turned
to the vicar’s new congregation in search of outrage, only to find tolerance.
One
worshipper said: “We must not make judgments,” while another announced
without hesitation: “He’ll be welcome here.”
It’s unclear whether the priest will disclose his HIV status from the
pulpit - there is no reason why he should – but if he ever does, and
if he is reading this column right now, PN would like to lodge a request for
an exclusive.
Bigger and better
Preparations are already well underway for the largest ever conferencing event
involvingpeople living with HIV. It is expected that the National Conference,
in September 2007, will be bigger, better, more inclusive and more participative
than ever before.
UKC is working hard with partners across the country to reach more people
through widespread consultation, local meetings and the internet.
Key representatives from organisations in the four countries of the UK met
in London in September to put finishing touches to plans for the regional
consultations. These will start in January and feed into the main conference.
Don’t miss a chance to have a say on what you want from your national
conference by filling out the questionnaire in next month’s PN.
Amanda Elliot, managing editor
