Review: Queer Holiness

This review appeared in Sofia magazine issue 147, ‘Life for Each’.

Queer Holiness, by Charlie Bell. Darton Longman and Todd (London, 2022) Hbk 224 pages £16.99

Note: Reflecting the book, ‘queer’ is used as a blanket term for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI)

Queer Holiness is a timely update on the endless Anglican debate on sexuality from Charlie Bell, a prominent campaigner on Twitter for equal marriage. In 200 pages – rather than 140 characters – Charlie concisely summarises the main arguments, the meagre progress and the human cost of it all – principally to queer people but also to those around them. The book offers a glimpse of the lessons the Church could learn from queer theology.

Same-sex marriage is the main conservative-progressive battleground in the Church of England, and as a gay Anglican I have skin in that game. But as Queer Holiness points out, the fundamental underlying disagreements are about how to read the bible and the role of human knowledge and experience in doctrine. Many members of the Sea of Faith Network may find they have something at stake in that.

Some conservative Christians, self-titled as ‘Bible Believing Christians’, argue that scripture alone (sola scriptura) should determine doctrine. Many Anglicans understand scripture through tradition and reason (prima scriptura), with reason including scientific knowledge and human experience. Conservatives see the contemporary understanding of sexuality as part of a sinful, worldly culture. Their certainty in scripture and opposition to this culture are a testament to their faithfulness.

Queer Holiness argues that this approach is more bible abusing than bible believing. One example tackled is the practice of ‘proof-texting’: taking verses out of context to bash an opponent. Proof texting, by implication, suggests that the person doing the selecting ‘has more to say than the totality of the inspired word of God’. Instead, we should look at the overall narrative of the scripture.

Theology needs to take human knowledge seriously, including what science has to say about sexuality and human wellbeing. As well as being a campaigner and clergy person, Charlie is a clinical psychiatrist, so he has some authority on the importance of relationships to well-being and the toxic effects of repression. This book doesn’t just look at the harms caused to queer people, but at the impact of the culture of secrecy and dishonesty on their families, friends and the wider church.

The bizarre situations created by the church now have their own jargon, explained patiently in this book. For example, Conservatives prefer the term ‘same-sex attracted’ to gay – as it conveys a condition not an identity.  There are ‘Side A’ gay Christians, who believe that gay relations are compatible with Christian ethics, and Side B same-sex attracted Christians, who hold to a ‘traditional’ ethic meaning they are either celibate or may, knowingly, have a straight marriage and family.

It’s more complicated for queer clergy, who are allowed a celibate civil partnership but lose their job for getting a civil marriage. Yet, sex outside marriage and open secrets are tolerated… The dishonesty goes to the top, where Bishops who support change fear speaking out publicly in case it is seen as causing disunity.

The Church of England has just been through a two-year national conversation on sex and gender. This month, the Bishops have introduced proposals including blessings and new guidance for clergy, but not marriage. As Charlie told the BBC: “This isn’t over. If the bishops think this will resolve the current situation they are very much mistaken.”

I think the Church will die before it changes. The Church’s sexual ethics are already irrelevant to most people. Even my Church friends have asked me when I’ll get married, thinking it had been legalised back in 2014!

I’m not sure if I want marriage, despite being a wedding celebrant myself. Perhaps queer people should avoid the expectations and baggage of heterosexuals. I’m fortunate to be in a relationship which is deeply loving and joyful, regardless of its recognition from heterosexual society. But I would like to have the choice.

Queer Holiness makes a compelling argument for the importance of knowledge and reason alongside scripture. This book was about sexuality, but let’s remember that the Church’s position in many other respects, such as the supernatural, is far more out of kilter with contemporary knowledge. Perhaps if Charlie can bring knowledge and reason to bear in his field, there might be hope for the Church to rethink other matters.

Edward Nickell is a wedding celebrant for Humanists UK and is Secretary and Deanery Synod representative for his local Church of England parish.