For millennia institutional churches has told LGBTQI people what God expects them to be and how to act. From prohibitions on who they may love and marry, to being victims of erasure and denial, LGBTQI people have far too often been objectified and seen as the property of others. In parts of the church, and in its institutions, LGBTQI people remain the subject of hostile questions rather than being embraced as equal children of God. Whilst many churches now show genuine welcome to LGBTQI people, this is in no way the case across the board.
Charlie Bell argues that to reject the overwhelming scientific and experiential knowledge about LGBTQI people is no longer a valid position to hold, theologically or otherwise. His perspective is grounded in his work as a psychiatrist and a priest, covering biology, psychology, reason, scripture and an encompassing theological exploration. This perspective provides a challenge to the current official position of the Church of England, and calls us to a careful re-evaluation of one of the most fundamental issues of human flourishing.
Fr Charlie Bell is a priest of the Church of England, a Fellow of Girton College, University of Cambridge, and a practicing psychiatrist in South London, UK. He is also a former chorister of this cathedral. He holds both teaching and research positions in medical sciences and theology, and is the author of Queer Holiness, a theological exploration of same-sex relationships. His key interest is the intentional integration of scientific endeavour, discovery and experience with theology to better address questions of human flourishing.