An openly gay Anglican priest has been elected to an influential post in the church’s General Synod.
Canon Simon Butler was in the news last February, when he came out as openly gay and not celibate, during a debate at the Anglican General Synod on the Pilling Report on human sexuality, proclaiming publicly
I’m gay; I don’t have a vocation to celibacy and at the same time I’ve always taken my baptismal and ordination vows with serious intent and with a sincere desire to model my life on the example of Christ simul justus et peccator. Those who have selected me, ordained me and licensed me know all this. My parish know this too.
Later, he was in the news again as an openly gay priest elected to General Synod. Now, he’s not just a “member” of GS, but speaker for the “Lower House”, convocation of Canterbury.
From Thinking Anglicans:
General Synod elections – chairs of house and others
Members of the new General Synod of the Church of England have been electing chairs of houses and members of various committees. There is a list of the results so far here, including these.
Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury
The Revd Canon Simon Butler (Southwark)Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of York
The Ven Cherry Vann, Archdeacon of Rochdale (Manchester)Chair of the House of Laity
Canon Dr Jamie Harrison (Durham)Vice-Chair of the House of Laity
Canon Elizabeth Paver (Sheffield)