Dear Sir,
Recent media coverage has inaccurately suggested that I compared supporters of women bishops to Nazis during Reform’s national conference. I want to address this misrepresentation, as such distortions are both hurtful and potentially damaging if accepted as true.
To set the record straight:
At no point in my 45-minute interview with Paul Perkin during the conference did I mention Hitler or the Nazis. I clarified this to Ruth Gledhill, the reporter who covered the story, on the day before The Times article was published on November 3. My comments were misinterpreted.
What I conveyed was that the current situation within the Church feels reminiscent of the anticipation and concern that people might have experienced in January 1939, with storm clouds on the horizon and potential conflicts ahead. This analogy was intended to reflect a sense of impending challenge rather than to liken any individuals or groups to historical adversaries.
In my interview, I expressed my concern about the ongoing division within the Church regarding the consecration of women bishops. I stated that while this issue presents significant challenges, it should not, and need not, become a point of division if appropriate legislative measures are taken to accommodate those who hold traditional views. As acknowledged in this year’s Synod, for some of us, adherence to a traditional position on this matter is a matter of conscience and fidelity to Scriptural principles.
I regret any confusion caused by the misrepresentation and hope this clarification helps to restore the accurate context of my remarks.