In the aftermath of the Lambeth Conference, eight-year-old correspondence between Archbishop Rowan Williams and a Christian psychiatrist has surfaced revealing the Archbishop’s then thoughts on homosexual relationships. These letters have come to light after the Archbishop, at the close of Lambeth, re-stated the Anglican Communion’s position that homosexual practice is incompatible with Scripture.

This is a re-hashing of old news that the Archbishop has in the past endorsed some forms of homosexual relationships. The Alliance has written responses to his past comments.  

In 2003, at the time of the Archbishop’s enthronement, we stated, “We recognise Dr Williams as a profound theological thinker who takes orthodox, creedal Christian faith very seriously. We do, however, remain concerned that in certain areas of theology and ethics, and most especially in his published views on human sexuality, he has adopted positions which, if maintained and promulgated by him as Archbishop of Canterbury, will undoubtedly undermine the unity and biblical mission of the Church.”

However, ever since becoming Archbishop, Dr Williams has pushed for unity in the Communion and held to the orthodox view of homosexuality as the leader of the Anglican Church.

For further analysis on the Archbishop’s past writings on homosexuality, please read ‘Homosexuality, Covenant and Grace in the Writings of Rowan Williams: An Evangelical Response’, written by former Alliance Head of Theology David Hilborn. (Please see sidebar for link.)

Joel Edwards' reflections on Lambeth

Past Evangelical Alliance comments

Homosexuality, Covenant and Grace in the Writings of Rowan Williams: An Evangelical Response

Rowan Williams and homosexuality

Times: Rowan Williams – gay relationships ‘comparable to marriage’

Times: Bishops back Rowan Williams in gay sex row

Times: Dr Williams 'has made a split inevitable in the Anglican Church'

Guardian: Rowan Williams: Gay couples reflect the love of God

Telegraph: Archbishop of Canterbury compares gay relationships to marriage

Independent: Williams's comparison of gay sex to marriage sparks fresh row

Lambeth Conference

BBC Lambeth Diary

Times: Rowan Williams restores peace at the troubled Lambeth Conference

Independent: Rowan Williams - Christian unity is more than mere tolerance

Guardian: The death of liberal Anglicanism

Times: Lambeth conference: good news for Williams