Cambridge Accord
Encyclopedia
The Cambridge Accord was an attempt to reach agreement on at least the human rights
of homosexual people, notwithstanding controversy within the Anglican Communion
about Anglican views of homosexuality
.
It was published in the wake of the controversial Resolution 1.10 passed at the Lambeth Conference of 1998, which stated that "homosexual practice" is "incompatible with Scripture". The Cambridge Accord was published on 1 October 1999 from the Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge, Massachusetts
and circulated for adoption by bishops of the Anglican Communion.
The Cambridge Accord proposed that:
Its author was the Right Reverend Stephen Charleston, President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury
.
Four bishops in the UK expressly declined to sign: George Carey
, who was Archbishop of Canterbury
at the time of Lambeth Resolution 1.10 in 1998 and at the time of the Cambridge Accord itself, David Hope
, who was then Archbishop of York
and was alleged to be gay in 1995 by an OutRage!
outing campaign, the Anglo-Catholic Eric Kemp, and John Sentamu
, who later became Archbishop of York
.
A list of bishops in the United Kingdom who signed, and who declined to sign, is maintained by Changing Attitude. A list of those bishops signing from around the world was also maintained, but is no longer available on the internet.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of homosexual people, notwithstanding controversy within the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
about Anglican views of homosexuality
Anglican views of homosexuality
Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution stating that homosexual acts are "incompatible with Scripture". In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the...
.
It was published in the wake of the controversial Resolution 1.10 passed at the Lambeth Conference of 1998, which stated that "homosexual practice" is "incompatible with Scripture". The Cambridge Accord was published on 1 October 1999 from the Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
and circulated for adoption by bishops of the Anglican Communion.
The Cambridge Accord proposed that:
Its author was the Right Reverend Stephen Charleston, President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Signatories
Nineteen Anglican bishops in the UK signed up to the Cambridge Accord, including Rowan WilliamsRowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
Four bishops in the UK expressly declined to sign: George Carey
George Carey
George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
, who was Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
at the time of Lambeth Resolution 1.10 in 1998 and at the time of the Cambridge Accord itself, David Hope
David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes
David Michael Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes KCVO PC was the Archbishop of York in the Church of England from 1995 to 2005.-Early career:...
, who was then Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
and was alleged to be gay in 1995 by an OutRage!
OutRage!
OutRage! is a British LGBT rights group that was formed to fight for equal rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in comparison to heterosexual people. It is a group which has at times been criticised for outing individuals who wanted to keep their homosexuality secret and for being...
outing campaign, the Anglo-Catholic Eric Kemp, and John Sentamu
John Sentamu
John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu is the 97th Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of the province of York, and Primate of England. He is the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.-Life and career:...
, who later became Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
.
A list of bishops in the United Kingdom who signed, and who declined to sign, is maintained by Changing Attitude. A list of those bishops signing from around the world was also maintained, but is no longer available on the internet.