Speaking differently into this world:

A sermon from Jeremy Pemberton ...about the Archbishop of Canterbury's Reflection on General Convention. Preached in Southwell Minster on Sunday 2nd August 2009. The full sermon is found on the Changing Attitude blog at http://changingattitude-england.blogspot.com/2009/08/sermon-preached-last-sunday-in.html
Will it ever be "possible for the church to find a way to speak differently into this world"? The sermon concludes:

"Paul wanted an extraordinary quality of relationship – a unity that transcended their differences – to characterise the way the Christians of Ephesus grew together. No one is imagining, certainly not him, that this was easy. Forbearance is one of the qualities he singles out to achieve this, and humility and gentleness. We face a world of sexual living that is very very different to the world of fifty years ago. I wonder if it would be possible for the church to find a way to speak differently into this world and encourage the qualities of living that will lead people, heterosexual and homosexual alike, towards the fullness of life that God wants for them. But that is, perhaps, only possible if we exercise a forbearance, a gentleness and a humility that so far the official pronouncements of our church have been unable to get anywhere near.

Jesus said, in everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Matt 7:12

May God give us grace to exercise gentleness and forbearance, and to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us. Amen."