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Miami Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Gay Archbishop's Appointment Criticized by Christian Group
The appointment of Cherry Vann as the new Archbishop of Wales, the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the post, has triggered backlash from conservative Christian group Christian Concern, which accused her of contradicting core biblical teachings. Christian Concern's Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said Vann "is publicly living in deliberate rejection" of church doctrine because "she lives with her civil partner, Wendy, in a same-sex relationship." The group's Head of Public Policy, Tim Dieppe, told Newsweek Vann is "openly defying the doctrine she has taken a vow to." The Church in Wales, which has praised Vann's "rich diocesan experience and deep commitment to reconciliation" declined to respond to the criticism. The appointment of an openly gay leader to a major Anglican post has ignited a cultural and theological flashpoint within global Christianity, with the Church in Wales positioning itself as a more inclusive body compared to other Anglican provinces. In the United States, similar shifts have played out. The Episcopal Church elected Gene Robinson in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop, leading to lasting tensions with the broader Anglican Communion. More recently, openly LGBTQ+ clergy continue to serve in several U.S. dioceses, including Bishop Bonnie Perry of Michigan. Williams said: Cherry Vann lives with her civil partner, Wendy, in a same-sex relationship. This directly contradicts the Church's historic and biblical doctrine that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and that sexual relationships are reserved for marriage. "As an ordained minister, and now Archbishop, Cherry Vann has sworn to uphold the teaching of the Church. Instead, she is publicly living in deliberate rejection of those very doctrines." Christian Concern is a U.K-based conservative evangelical advocacy organization, known for supporting high-profile Christian freedom legal cases. Cherry Vann was elected Archbishop of Wales on Wednesday, after securing support from two-thirds of an electoral college composed of clergy and lay representatives, according to British newspaper The Guardian. She is also the first LGBTQ+ person to hold the title in Wales. Her civil partnership is permitted under current Church in Wales rules, which allow clergy to enter same-sex civil unions. While same-sex weddings are not currently performed in the church, a 2021 vote by its governing body authorized blessings for same-sex civil partnerships-a change supported unanimously by the bishops and passed by majorities in the clergy and laity, according to BBC News. Under church law, clergy may opt out of conducting such blessings, but their availability is seen as a meaningful theological endorsement. "The Church in Wales has done the right thing under God for the LGBTQIA+ community," said Bishop Gregory Cameron, who introduced the 2021 bill. Dieppe said that this amounted to a change in practice not doctrine meaning that, while he still this is a "contradictory position" for the church, Vann's appointment "is still against doctrine." "She doesn't believe her own church's teachings," Dieppe told Newsweek. "Lots of people are out there thinking this is absurd." Vann was elected to succeed Archbishop Andy John, who stepped down in June amid growing scrutiny of his leadership after two reports uncovered a culture of excessive drinking, bullying, and sexual misconduct at Bangor Cathedral. There was no suggestion the former archbishop had behaved inappropriately. Though no allegations were made directly against John, he issued an "unreserved and unequivocal" apology, saying he accepted full responsibility for the church's failures under his leadership. Vann herself is a patron of the Open Table Network, an ecumenical Christian community for LGBTQ+ people and allies. She has spoken out against opposition to her role in the church before, telling local outlet "There were a lot of unkind and unpleasant things said on both sides until the day where the General Synod eventually decided that this was the way the church should go." "I remember being told myself that I couldn't possibly have a call to the priesthood because the church didn't allow it, as if that was a watertight argument," she said. "I think when you have that sense of call, it doesn't go away and it won't go away and we were left waiting." She went on to speak about how she hid being gay for a long time. "I have to confess that I hid it for a long, long time as a lot of gay clergy do, and as a lot of people sitting in the pews do," she said. "I hid it out of fear. It was a very fearful place to be, and it felt also quite disingenuous." She added: "I believe that by simply being here as an out gay person with a partner, and my partner is accompanying me on some of my visits, and we've had nothing but welcome from everybody, I believe that is probably doing as much, if not more, than I would achieve if I were to be an open campaigner on the subject." When Newsweek contacted the Church in Wales for a response to this criticism, it declined to comment. But it went on to highlight some of the welcome Cherry had recieved, including from the Cytun, the ecumenical Christian body for Wales, which is made up of the Baptist Union of Wales, the Congregational Federation of Wales, the Union of Welsh Independents, the Presbyterian Church of Wales, the Methodist Church in Wales, the Salvation Army, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Roman Catholic Church, and the United Reformed Church. It said: "With her rich diocesan experience and deep commitment to reconciliation let us uphold Archbishop-elect Cherry in prayer as she prepares to take up this historic ministry. May she be sustained by God's wisdom, compassion, and grace at this pivotal moment for the Church in Wales." Christian Concern's Chief Executive, Andrea Williams said: "That she was elected with a two-thirds majority of the Electoral College demonstrates that the Church in Wales has now institutionally turned away from biblical teaching on sexual morality. "What is a church if it refuses to uphold the doctrines it professes to believe? What does the Church in Wales actually stand for, if not the gospel handed down through the centuries? This appointment marks a tragic moment, evidence that the Church in Wales is in open rebellion against God's Word. It is a clear sign of apostasy. "No Bible-believing Christian can remain under the spiritual leadership of someone who so publicly rejects the clear teaching of Scripture. God will judge His Church for abandoning the gospel. As James reminds us, those who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). Following her election, Vann said: "I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the church and the communities the church serves." The Very Revd Ian Black, Dean of Newport said on behalf of the Diocese of Monmouth, where Vann has been a bishop for five years: "Cherry is the right person for this moment in the Church in Wales' life. She has the skills and vision that we need to restore trust following some very public failings. She has brought stability to the Diocese of Monmouth, managing the change to ministry areas with clarity and purpose, showing deep care for the clergy and people. This foundation will be a good base as she leads the Province over the next few years. She has a deep faith, which is also open to those who take a different view to her, and this has impressed those people enormously." He added: "She has the skills and vision that we need to restore trust following some very public failings. "She has a deep faith, which is also open to those who take a different view to her, and this has impressed those people enormously." The Church in Wales is expected to revisit its policy on same-sex blessings by next year, with a possible vote on allowing full same-sex marriage as early as next spring. Vann's leadership could prove pivotal in shaping that debate. 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Newsweek
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Gay Archbishop's Appointment Criticized by Christian Group
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The appointment of Cherry Vann as the new Archbishop of Wales, the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the post, has triggered backlash from conservative Christian group Christian Concern, which accused her of contradicting core biblical teachings. Christian Concern's Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said Vann "is publicly living in deliberate rejection" of church doctrine because "she lives with her civil partner, Wendy, in a same-sex relationship." The group's Head of Public Policy, Tim Dieppe, told Newsweek Vann is "openly defying the doctrine she has taken a vow to." The Church in Wales, which has praised Vann's "rich diocesan experience and deep commitment to reconciliation" declined to respond to the criticism. Why It Matters The appointment of an openly gay leader to a major Anglican post has ignited a cultural and theological flashpoint within global Christianity, with the Church in Wales positioning itself as a more inclusive body compared to other Anglican provinces. In the United States, similar shifts have played out. The Episcopal Church elected Gene Robinson in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop, leading to lasting tensions with the broader Anglican Communion. More recently, openly LGBTQ+ clergy continue to serve in several U.S. dioceses, including Bishop Bonnie Perry of Michigan. What To Know Williams said: Cherry Vann lives with her civil partner, Wendy, in a same-sex relationship. This directly contradicts the Church's historic and biblical doctrine that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and that sexual relationships are reserved for marriage. "As an ordained minister, and now Archbishop, Cherry Vann has sworn to uphold the teaching of the Church. Instead, she is publicly living in deliberate rejection of those very doctrines." Christian Concern is a U.K-based conservative evangelical advocacy organization, known for supporting high-profile Christian freedom legal cases. Cherry Vann was elected Archbishop of Wales on Wednesday, after securing support from two-thirds of an electoral college composed of clergy and lay representatives, according to British newspaper The Guardian. She is also the first LGBTQ+ person to hold the title in Wales. Her civil partnership is permitted under current Church in Wales rules, which allow clergy to enter same-sex civil unions. While same-sex weddings are not currently performed in the church, a 2021 vote by its governing body authorized blessings for same-sex civil partnerships—a change supported unanimously by the bishops and passed by majorities in the clergy and laity, according to BBC News. Under church law, clergy may opt out of conducting such blessings, but their availability is seen as a meaningful theological endorsement. "The Church in Wales has done the right thing under God for the LGBTQIA+ community," said Bishop Gregory Cameron, who introduced the 2021 bill. Dieppe said that this amounted to a change in practice not doctrine meaning that, while he still this is a "contradictory position" for the church, Vann's appointment "is still against doctrine." "She doesn't believe her own church's teachings," Dieppe told Newsweek. "Lots of people are out there thinking this is absurd." Vann was elected to succeed Archbishop Andy John, who stepped down in June amid growing scrutiny of his leadership after two reports uncovered a culture of excessive drinking, bullying, and sexual misconduct at Bangor Cathedral. There was no suggestion the former archbishop had behaved inappropriately. Though no allegations were made directly against John, he issued an "unreserved and unequivocal" apology, saying he accepted full responsibility for the church's failures under his leadership. Vann herself is a patron of the Open Table Network, an ecumenical Christian community for LGBTQ+ people and allies. She has spoken out against opposition to her role in the church before, telling local outlet "There were a lot of unkind and unpleasant things said on both sides until the day where the General Synod eventually decided that this was the way the church should go." "I remember being told myself that I couldn't possibly have a call to the priesthood because the church didn't allow it, as if that was a watertight argument," she said. "I think when you have that sense of call, it doesn't go away and it won't go away and we were left waiting." She went on to speak about how she hid being gay for a long time. "I have to confess that I hid it for a long, long time as a lot of gay clergy do, and as a lot of people sitting in the pews do," she said. "I hid it out of fear. It was a very fearful place to be, and it felt also quite disingenuous." She added: "I believe that by simply being here as an out gay person with a partner, and my partner is accompanying me on some of my visits, and we've had nothing but welcome from everybody, I believe that is probably doing as much, if not more, than I would achieve if I were to be an open campaigner on the subject." When Newsweek contacted the Church in Wales for a response to this criticism, it declined to comment. But it went on to highlight some of the welcome Cherry had recieved, including from the Cytun, the ecumenical Christian body for Wales, which is made up of the Baptist Union of Wales, the Congregational Federation of Wales, the Union of Welsh Independents, the Presbyterian Church of Wales, the Methodist Church in Wales, the Salvation Army, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Roman Catholic Church, and the United Reformed Church. It said: "With her rich diocesan experience and deep commitment to reconciliation let us uphold Archbishop-elect Cherry in prayer as she prepares to take up this historic ministry. May she be sustained by God's wisdom, compassion, and grace at this pivotal moment for the Church in Wales." Official Church in Wales photo of Cherry Vann. Official Church in Wales photo of Cherry Vann. Church in Wales What People Are Saying Christian Concern's Chief Executive, Andrea Williams said: "That she was elected with a two-thirds majority of the Electoral College demonstrates that the Church in Wales has now institutionally turned away from biblical teaching on sexual morality. "What is a church if it refuses to uphold the doctrines it professes to believe? What does the Church in Wales actually stand for, if not the gospel handed down through the centuries? This appointment marks a tragic moment, evidence that the Church in Wales is in open rebellion against God's Word. It is a clear sign of apostasy. "No Bible-believing Christian can remain under the spiritual leadership of someone who so publicly rejects the clear teaching of Scripture. God will judge His Church for abandoning the gospel. As James reminds us, those who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). Following her election, Vann said: "I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the church and the communities the church serves." The Very Revd Ian Black, Dean of Newport said on behalf of the Diocese of Monmouth, where Vann has been a bishop for five years: "Cherry is the right person for this moment in the Church in Wales' life. She has the skills and vision that we need to restore trust following some very public failings. She has brought stability to the Diocese of Monmouth, managing the change to ministry areas with clarity and purpose, showing deep care for the clergy and people. This foundation will be a good base as she leads the Province over the next few years. She has a deep faith, which is also open to those who take a different view to her, and this has impressed those people enormously." He added: "She has the skills and vision that we need to restore trust following some very public failings. "She has a deep faith, which is also open to those who take a different view to her, and this has impressed those people enormously." What Happens Next The Church in Wales is expected to revisit its policy on same-sex blessings by next year, with a possible vote on allowing full same-sex marriage as early as next spring. Vann's leadership could prove pivotal in shaping that debate.
Metro
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Christian group threatens Westminster Council over 'indoctrinating' pride flags
A London council has been threatened with legal action after hanging trans-inclusive Pride flags around Regent Street from this weekend. Group Christian Concern says Westminster Council is 'indoctrinating' visitors to the famous West End location and breaching planning control. The Crown Estate, which owns most of the property on Regent Street, lodged plans in March to hoist hundreds of flags in 20 locations between mid-June and mid-July to support Pride events. But after being permitted by Westminster Council in mid-May, Christian Concern says the council is opening itself up to potential legal action. In recent years, the display has included over 300 LGBTQI+ Progress Pride flags, developed in 2018 by non-binary American artist and designer Daniel Quasar. Based on the iconic rainbow flag from 1978, the redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and calls for a more inclusive society, celebrating trans, black and brown, gender non-binary and intersex community members. But hardline Christians say the flags, which on June 22 will replace Union Jacks currently flying to mark VE Day, create division by excluding more traditional views. Christian Concern has previously made the point to the council that the Cass Review prohibits the indoctrination and confusion of primary school children with trans ideologies. But the group claims: 'The flags do just that, exposing the hundreds of thousands of children who walk up and down Regent Street, including those who visit Hamleys, to a message and symbols which will be unlawful to teach and display in schools.' Last year, Christian Concern launched a petition signed by 31,000 people calling for a similar display to be stopped. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'Many people experience these flags as an attack on historic, traditional beliefs about sex and gender. 'They send the message that people holding these views, which are worthy of respect in a democratic society, are not welcome. 'The majority of the public does not know the highly controversial and harmful symbolism presented by the Progress Pride Flag. At the heart of the flag is the trans flag – pink for girls, blue for boys and white for the 'transition' phase. 'This ideology has been discredited by the Cass Review, the closure of the Tavistock, and most recently Supreme Court ruling. When will the Crown estate catch up with the rest of society? 'If the council chooses to proceed with the display, we will have no option but to pursue legal action.' The proposed flags will be hung from supporting wires, making use of existing fixing points which are intended for reuse. In the planning report, Westminster planning officer Shaun Retzback noted that the flags would be hung at 20 locations along the street running from Oxford Circus to Piccadilly from June 22 until July 17. He said: 'Flags are, in principle, an acceptable, colourful addition to Regent Street's buildings and there is a longstanding tradition of such displays. More Trending 'The flags proposed, to be strung on lines across the street, are not harmful to visual amenity for the temporary period sought, neither are they harmful when considered cumulatively with other flags and banners displayed on buildings in the street at present and across the street from time to time.' A Westminster City Council spokesperson told Metro: 'The council supports festivals and celebrations from our different communities across the year. Pride is an annual and established fixture and has been supported by the Council for many years. 'Pride flags are in keeping with a cosmopolitan City that welcomes millions of visitors every year. All public community celebrations have a fixed duration and are both proportionate and fitting. Given similar pronouncements in previous years we await further information about the Christian Legal Centre's legal challenge with interest.' Metro contacted the Crown Estate. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: £20 Pan-Indian feast from a Michelin-starred chef: 10 unmissable Time Out deals MORE: Enjoy the weekend's heat with London's best boat restaurants MORE: 'Swan Whisperer' banned from Hyde Park after residents objected to him kissing the birds
NDTV
13-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
UK MPs Divided On Ban On Assisted Dying Adverts
Adverts about assisted dying should be banned if proposed UK legislation allowing terminally ill people to be helped to die becomes law, MPs were told Friday. Protestors both for and against the bill gathered outside parliament, as lawmakers debated the contentious proposals for legalised euthanasia currently making their way through parliament. Opening the debate, the legislation's sponsor MP Kim Leadbeater proposed an amendment to her bill which would require the government to introduce regulations banning advertisements promoting assisted dying services. But bill opponent Paul Waugh, advocating his own tighter amendment to prevent ads, warned that unforeseeable "exceptions" could make Leadbeater's ban "worthless". "Advertising works because we human beings are suggestible. Prone to messaging, visual clues and hints. Older people are bombarded with adverts for everything from stairlifts to care homes," he said. "One person's advert, though, is another person's public information campaign," he added. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is at the report stage of the lengthy parliamentary process, where lawmakers can propose amendments. The bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness who have a life expectancy of fewer than six months and are able to take the substance that causes their death by themselves. Following a debate in parliament last November, MPs backed the proposed legislation by 330 to 275 votes. Campaign group Dignity in Dying hailed that result as a "historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people", but Christian Concern called it a "very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country". According to media reports some lawmakers who previously supported the bill could withdraw their backing over concerns around safeguards to protect vulnerable people who might feel pressured into assisted dying. Medical opinion is also divided, with the two doctors' bodies -- the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) -- expressing concern. Others remain supportive, including seven RCPsych members who wrote to MPs distancing themselves from their college and describing the bill as "workable, safe and compassionate". Members will have a final vote at the bill's next stage -- the third reading. It would then face another vote in the Lords upper house. Leadbeater's initiative is a so-called private members' bill and is not part of the government's agenda, although Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted in favour at the November reading. A change in the law would see Britain emulate several other countries in Europe and elsewhere who allow some form of assisted dying. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Epoch Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Nurse Left ‘Traumatised' After Being Told Trans Colleague Would Be Part of Hysterectomy Team
A nurse involved in a dispute with a transgender-identifying colleague has spoken out about the trauma she experienced after being told the man would be part of the surgical team for her hysterectomy. Karen Danson said she was left 'traumatised' after the behaviour of the transgender colleague, known as Rose Henderson, brought back memories of the childhood sexual abuse she said she suffered at the hands of her father. Danson is one of eight women, known as the 'Darlington nurses,' who are taking legal action against County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, after they were forced to share a changing room with the male nurse who said he identifies as a woman, despite outwardly presenting as a man. Speaking through the charity Christian Concern, Danson, 45, said that through 'an unhappy coincidence,' she was due to have a hysterectomy at her workplace, the Darlington Memorial Hospital, last August, just two months after the legal dispute hit the headlines. She discovered that Henderson was scheduled to be involved in her operation as a surgical assistant. Danson said, 'I immediately knew this was ethically wrong and that my condition would be made worse and more painful with the stress it would cause.' Related Stories 2/11/2025 5/5/2025 She approached the theatre manager and explained the situation, the legal case, and how Henderson's involvement would be 'completely inappropriate,' adding that she wanted a woman as the theatre nurse owing to her childhood trauma. Danson said she was told, 'But Rose is a woman,' and was then accused of being prejudiced and told to take Henderson's feelings into consideration. The theatre manager told Danson in writing that her request could not be accommodated 'due to clinical and staffing skill mix issues,' and suggested she should either try to get the operation done elsewhere or accept Henderson's presence. 'I believed this was purely vindictive and demonstrated how low they were prepared to go,' Danson said. 'Gender identity was placed above patient and staff care. They tried to punish me for the legal case I was part of and for opposing gender identity policy within the hospital.' Just days before the operation, Danson went to the Patient Advisory and Liaison Service, which swiftly decided that it would be inappropriate for Henderson to be involved in her surgery. The legal case is still proceeding to tribunal, despite last month's Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act, which means that a trans-identifying biological male does not have the right to access women's changing rooms or toilets. Danson and the other female nurses are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, which has said the case 'demonstrates how far the NHS has been prepared to go to uphold gender identity ideology and compromise the basic safety and dignity of female staff and patients.' The high-profile legal case began a year ago after the women were told by NHS bosses they were being 'transphobic' by objecting to a male in their changing rooms, and advised to 'broaden their mindset' and 're-educate' themselves. The Darlington nurses photographed outside of Parliament, where they took a petition supporting their right to dignity in the workplace, in an undated file photo. Christian Concern On Sunday, Danson, who has been a nurse for six years, revealed that her discomfort at being forced to change with a man was heightened because of her memory of being abused. In September 2023, she first encountered Henderson in the women's changing rooms. 'I looked up and saw a man. He had holes in his boxer shorts so that you could unavoidably see male genitalia.' She had heard that a trans-identifying man was using the women's changing rooms and that she had seen Henderson before, but because of his masculine appearance, including facial hair, she had no idea that he was the individual concerned. Danson said that Henderson asked her three times, 'Are you not getting changed yet?' and recalled that he had 'a smirk' on his face. She said that the situation and words jolted her back to sexual abuse she experienced as a 6-year-old, when her abuser would ask her if she was 'getting changed' before bedtime. Danson, who has previously been counselled for PTSD, said: 'Rose had the same look on his face as my Dad. I wanted to get out of there, but I couldn't.' The nurse said she has since had nightmares about the incident, in which the face of her father replaced that of Henderson, and resorted to changing in the toilets to avoid further distressing encounters. In March 2024, Danson and 26 other nurses sent letters to the trust outlining their concerns for their privacy, safety, and dignity in the workplace. Health Secretary Wes Streeting leaving Downing Street, London, after a Cabinet meeting on July 9, 2024. Lucy North/PA Wire After five of the nurses went public last July, the trust gave the women access to a converted office to use as a 'temporary' changing room if they felt uncomfortable undressing in front of a man, and a rainbow-coloured sign labelled 'Inclusive Changing Space' was placed on the female changing room door. The nurses took a petition with 48,000 signatures advocating for single-sex spaces to Downing Street and received widespread public support. The NHS policy 'Transitioning in the Workplace' is used widely throughout the organisation and allows men to use women's changing facilities if they say they 'identify' as a woman, regardless of whether they are taking cross-sex hormones or have had feminising surgery. According to the women's accounts, Henderson has said that he has a female partner who he was trying to get pregnant. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced last week that following the Supreme Court ruling in favour of For Women Scotland, there would be 'new rules' on matters to do with single-sex spaces issued 'within weeks.' Interim guidance was issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on April 25, making clear that single-sex facilities are to be used based on biological sex only, regardless of whether or not a person has obtained a Gender Recognition Certificate. Last October, Danson attended a meeting with Streeting where she said she told him that the changing room encounter had triggered her PTSD. She said that while Streeting was sympathetic, no action has been taken to resolve the women's concerns, and they are still having to use the makeshift locker room, while Henderson continues to use the female changing room. The tribunal is currently scheduled to be heard in October. Judge Stuart Robinson said the hearings will take four weeks, given that around 30 witnesses are expected to give evidence. The nurses have filed the claim on the grounds of sexual harassment, discrimination, victimisation, and breaches of the right to a private life, under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. A similar case is underway in Scotland, brought by nurse Sandie Peggy, who alleges she was intimidated by a trans-identifying male doctor. The Epoch Times contacted County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust for comment. The trust told the The trust added: 'We want all our colleagues and patients to feel safe, respected and supported at work and in our care, [and] we are very sorry when this is not the experience. We are committed to providing a safe, compassionate environment for all patients and staff.'
