New Facebook Group Launched

Inspired by the "substitute statement" suggested by a brilliant colleague for the Archbishop of Canterbury to consider, a new group has arisen in Facebook land. Here's the description:

The Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to exercise moral leadership to protect gays & lesbians in Uganda and has instead exercised political pressure to attack a bishop-elect in Los Angeles because she is a lesbian.

As Anglicans who treasure their Communion and expect more from their Archbishop, in the Advent spirit of John the Baptist's cry to the religious leaders of his time, we call on+Rowan Williams to repent of his earlier statement and issue this one instead:

"The proposed legal actions that would make homosexuality punishable by death in Uganda, and the lack of outrage regarding this proposed action by the Church of Uganda, raises very serious questions not just for the Church of Uganda and its place in the Anglican Communion, but for the Communion as a whole."

"The proposed legislation has not yet become law, and could be rejected, with the Anglican Church of Uganda leading the opposition. That decision will have very important implications. The bishops of the Communion have collectively acknowledged that offering pastoral care and listening to the experience of homosexual persons is necessary if our bonds of mutual affection are to hold."

We believe with God all things are possible -- and we pray together during this Advent season of repentence and new beginnings for the revitalization of our Communion on behalf of the Gospel and for the liberation of all held captive by homophobia.

Do go log on and join the group if you're a Facebook person. And if not, consider sending it to Lambeth Palace yourself by cutting and pasting it into the "send a message" box on this page of the Archbishop of Canterbury's website. Make your voice heard. And do keep him in your prayers.