More Perfect Union? - A Review

More Perfect Union? Understanding Same-Sex Marriage by Alan Wilson, (Bishop of Buckingham), is being launched at the Church House Bookshop on Wednesday. It is an interesting exploration of scripture, tradition and reason which also touches upon experience. It is not the only new book on the market on this topic, Robert Song, (Professor of Christian Ethics at Durham University) has recently published Covenant and Calling: Towards a Theology of Same Sex Relationships. It will be interesting to compare the two texts and the differences between what they are saying.

Alan Wilson could be described as the modern turbulent priest. He has been the most outspoken Church of England bishop on the subject of same sex relationships. Thus it is no surprise that this book on one level is a polemic directed at those who would seek to maintain a status quo in which a gay clergyman may live with his partner but not marry him. However, it is certainly not a book filled with hyper-bole. There is a clear, well reasoned argument put forward in this book as to why the Church of England should accept same-sex marriage and allow gay clergy to marry as well as letting those priests who wish to do so marry same sex couples.

There are distinct elements to the book which guide the reader through a well constructed argument. Within the introduction he explains how he got to the stage of feeling that he had to come off the fence and speak out. Whilst he does not at any point say he felt he had to be the one to say the emperor has no clothes that is the implicit message within this text. What he does say explicitly is that he feels the legalisation of same sex marriage spells the end of the "don't ask, don't say" culture.

Whilst odd references are made to other denominations the book is unashamedly Anglican, reflecting the conversation it is seeking to specifically engage with. The first main chapter guides you through the recent history of the Church of England on LGBTQI issues touching on how wider societal issues weave into the story. There is a brief, interesting, reflection on how the Church of England initially reacted to the AIDS crisis which is an example of the type of useful anecdote which Bishop Alan can provide as a CofE insider who has over 30 years experience of public ministry including a decade as a bishop. This status as an institutional outsider gives him an authorative voice when he suggests that "by 2014 there were said to be a dozen or so gay bishops." He has made clear on social media and elsewhere that he does not believe that these bishops should be outed and I am glad for that. The book underlines that he understands a lot about the difficulties and pain these men, his colleagues, are wrestling with being based in the institution which is the Church of England.

Within his discussion of what is regarded as unnatural by some and explanation of why he disagrees with those views he relies strongly on reason. Within this part of the book he refers to sex and gender bringing in trans issues in a way which challenges the reader to think through the issues which exist and way they touch upon each other. It is in this part of the book he introduces his "Janet and John" description of the world many opponents are inhabiting, have inhabited. There are various statistics thrown in to back up his arguments which make interesting asides to think about.

The chapter on equality is perhaps the most bitter of the book and is certainly one where the humour becomes almost caustic. Wilson clearly feels alot of frustration.

Whilst many will be familiar with the biblical debate it is important to cover it in a book such as this and Wilson does this in a way which hits just the right tone. The discussion of biblical material covers three distinct chapters the final of which explores biblical marriage. This I would argue is the strongest part of the book as the bishop moves away from points scoring and on to clearly guiding the reader through the relevant biblical passages.

History is clearly a passion of the author and as he guides us through the history of Christian marriage it felt as if you were watching a BBC Four documentary, (and not just because at least one of the examples had also been used in a recent history programme I had watched).

The differing views in different parts of the world and in turn different parts of the Anglican Communion has been something many critics of gay people getting married has focused upon. Wilson explores this mixing contemporary statistics with historical understanding to give a commanding case.

The book ends by summing up the reality of the situation we now live in and in doing so sums up his convincing argument.

The book which is very readable builds up a specific argument intended to contribute to a specific debate and is carefully crafted on this basis. It therefore concentrates on the Church of England with minimal mention of other groups. Yet I believe this is a significant weakness in some ways. Within Bishop Alan's diocese lies one of the most ecumenical areas in the country and so he is well aware of the negotiations and discussions which apply to an increasing number of areas which contain LEP's and churches where the CofE is one of a number of partners. The law is framed in such a way that what is happening in the CofE does impact upon other denominations. This is something I believe could have been further explored, looking at where the development of CofE policy differs from other denominations not just the current point.

Additionally whilst he touches upon the way in which these debates are important in relation to mission he fails to really develop this. Thus, I think the 172 page book could do with about another 40 pages.  

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. Whatever your views it is useful to be guided through the arguments involved and this material does provide some food for thought even to those who are very familiar with the debate.

More Perfect Union? Is published by Darton, Longman and Todd. The ISBN is 978--0232-53125-1.