Jeffrey John
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Philip Hywel John SCP
(born 10 February 1953) is a Church of England
priest and the current Dean
of St Albans
. He made headlines in 2003 when he was the first person to have openly been in a same-sex relationship to be nominated as a Church of England bishop
. Owing to the consequent controversy he withdrew his acceptance of the nomination.
in South Wales in 1953. He studied at Hertford College, Oxford
, where he gained a first in classics
and modern language
s in 1975. He subsequently studied theology
at St Stephen's House, Oxford
and obtained second class honours. After a curacy in Penarth, Llandaff, he returned to Oxford in 1980 to study for a doctorate in Pauline theology. He became chaplain at Brasenose College
. In 1984 he was appointed Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College
, Oxford. In 1991 he was one of the founder members of Affirming Catholicism
, a group promoting Catholicism within the Anglican tradition. He is also a trustee of the organisation. He also supported the campaign for the ordination of women
. From 1991 he was the vicar of Holy Trinity, Eltham
, (in the Diocese of Southwark
) in south London. In 1997 he became Canon Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark Cathedral.
On 20 May 2003 John's appointment as Bishop of Reading
, a suffragan bishop
in the Diocese of Oxford
, was announced. The nomination led to controversy both in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion
owing to John's long-term relationship (beginning in 1976) with the Revd Grant Holmes, also a Church of England priest, despite publicly stating that their relationship was celibate. John has for many years been a campaigner for gay rights, and he received criticism on his nomination both for his stance on gay issues and because he had not publicly 'repented' his past sexual activities in such a way as to indicate that they were wrong. A number of conservative Anglican leaders in various countries stated their intention to split from the communion if the consecration went ahead. Concerns over the potential for division led the Archbishop of Canterbury
, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams
, to request John to step down and, on 6 July 2003, he withdrew his acceptance of the nomination to the bishopric. In spite of the withdrawal of John the differences in views of homosexuality within the Anglican church
continued to cause controversy in 2003 following the election of Gene Robinson
as Bishop of New Hampshire
in the Episcopal Church
in the United States.
On 19 April 2004, 10 Downing Street
announced John's appointment as Dean of St Albans
. He was inducted on 2 July 2004.
In August 2006, John and the Reverend Grant Holmes entered into a civil partnership.
Following a talk broadcast on BBC Radio 4
in Holy Week
2007, John was criticised by some Evangelical bishops, the Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Willesden
and the Bishop of Lewes
, for denying the doctrine of penal atonement
. Referring to this particular explanation of the Christ's crucifixion, John said, "It was worse than illogical, it was insane. It made God sound like a psychopath." In explaining his own view, he said, "On the cross Jesus dies for our sins; the price of our sin is paid; but it is not paid to God but by God". He cited Julian of Norwich
, a widely admired 14th century English mystic who asserted that "there is no wrath in God".
At the end of August 2008, speculation began that John was one of the nominees for the post of Bishop of Bangor
in Wales. A series of media reports in August and September 2008 added weight to the story, which drew strong negative reactions from conservative commentators from within the Church of England and in other conservative quarters. (In the event, another person, the Rt Rev Andrew John
- no relation to John - was appointed.)
July 2010 saw widespread media reports that John was the Crown Nomination Commission's preferred candidate for appointment as Bishop of Southwark
in succession to Tom Butler. These reports again attracted wide comment, both in support and in opposition. Subsequent reports suggested that his name had been removed from the list of potential appointees following leaking of the proposal.
Society of Catholic Priests
The Society of Catholic Priests is a religious society of clergy in the Anglican Communion which draws its membership from Anglicans who consider themselves a part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism.-Founding and early history:...
(born 10 February 1953) is a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest and the current Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of St Albans
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
. He made headlines in 2003 when he was the first person to have openly been in a same-sex relationship to be nominated as a Church of England bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. Owing to the consequent controversy he withdrew his acceptance of the nomination.
Life
John was born in TonyrefailTonyrefail
Tonyrefail is a village and community in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough, Wales. It is situated north west of Llantrisant at the head of the Ely Valley, south of the Rhondda, being around from Trebanog and around from Williamstown. It is also around from the village of Gilfach Goch...
in South Wales in 1953. He studied at Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
, where he gained a first in classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and modern language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
s in 1975. He subsequently studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
and obtained second class honours. After a curacy in Penarth, Llandaff, he returned to Oxford in 1980 to study for a doctorate in Pauline theology. He became chaplain at Brasenose College
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. In 1984 he was appointed Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, Oxford. In 1991 he was one of the founder members of Affirming Catholicism
Affirming Catholicism
Affirming Catholicism is a movement operating in several provinces of the Anglican Communion, most notably in the UK, Ireland, the United States and Canada...
, a group promoting Catholicism within the Anglican tradition. He is also a trustee of the organisation. He also supported the campaign for the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
. From 1991 he was the vicar of Holy Trinity, Eltham
Eltham, London
-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
, (in the Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
) in south London. In 1997 he became Canon Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark Cathedral.
On 20 May 2003 John's appointment as Bishop of Reading
Bishop of Reading
The Bishop of Reading is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford, which is within the Province of Canterbury, England. The current Bishop is the Rt Revd Andrew Proud....
, a suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
in the Diocese of Oxford
Diocese of Oxford
-History:The Diocese of Oxford was created in 1541 out of part of the Diocese of Lincoln.In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford...
, was announced. The nomination led to controversy both in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
owing to John's long-term relationship (beginning in 1976) with the Revd Grant Holmes, also a Church of England priest, despite publicly stating that their relationship was celibate. John has for many years been a campaigner for gay rights, and he received criticism on his nomination both for his stance on gay issues and because he had not publicly 'repented' his past sexual activities in such a way as to indicate that they were wrong. A number of conservative Anglican leaders in various countries stated their intention to split from the communion if the consecration went ahead. Concerns over the potential for division led the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, to request John to step down and, on 6 July 2003, he withdrew his acceptance of the nomination to the bishopric. In spite of the withdrawal of John the differences in views of homosexuality within the Anglican church
Anglican views of homosexuality
Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution stating that homosexual acts are "incompatible with Scripture". In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the...
continued to cause controversy in 2003 following the election of Gene Robinson
Gene Robinson
Vicki Gene Robinson is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Robinson was elected bishop in 2003 and entered office in March 2004...
as Bishop of New Hampshire
Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America , covers the entire state of New Hampshire. It was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1841. The see city is Concord...
in the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
in the United States.
On 19 April 2004, 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
announced John's appointment as Dean of St Albans
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
. He was inducted on 2 July 2004.
In August 2006, John and the Reverend Grant Holmes entered into a civil partnership.
Following a talk broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
2007, John was criticised by some Evangelical bishops, the Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Willesden
Bishop of Willesden
The Bishop of Willesden is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of London, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Willesden, an area of the London Borough of Brent....
and the Bishop of Lewes
Bishop of Lewes
The Bishop of Lewes is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Lewes, the county town of East Sussex.-List of the Bishops of Lewes:...
, for denying the doctrine of penal atonement
Penal substitution
Penal substitution is a theory of the atonement within Christian theology, developed with the Reformed tradition. It argues that Christ, by his own sacrificial choice, was punished in the place of sinners , thus satisfying the demands of justice so God can justly forgive the sins...
. Referring to this particular explanation of the Christ's crucifixion, John said, "It was worse than illogical, it was insane. It made God sound like a psychopath." In explaining his own view, he said, "On the cross Jesus dies for our sins; the price of our sin is paid; but it is not paid to God but by God". He cited Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich is regarded as one of the most important English mystics. She is venerated in the Anglican and Lutheran churches, but has never been canonized, or officially beatified, by the Catholic Church, probably because so little is known of her life aside from her writings, including the...
, a widely admired 14th century English mystic who asserted that "there is no wrath in God".
At the end of August 2008, speculation began that John was one of the nominees for the post of Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
in Wales. A series of media reports in August and September 2008 added weight to the story, which drew strong negative reactions from conservative commentators from within the Church of England and in other conservative quarters. (In the event, another person, the Rt Rev Andrew John
Andrew John
Andrew Thomas Griffith John is the Bishop of Bangor in the Church in Wales.-Life:A native of Aberystwyth, John attended Ysgol Penglais before studying law at the University of Wales, Cardiff...
- no relation to John - was appointed.)
July 2010 saw widespread media reports that John was the Crown Nomination Commission's preferred candidate for appointment as Bishop of Southwark
Bishop of Southwark (Anglican)
The Bishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark in the Province of Canterbury.Until 1877, Southwark had been part of the Diocese of Winchester when it was transferred to the Diocese of Rochester...
in succession to Tom Butler. These reports again attracted wide comment, both in support and in opposition. Subsequent reports suggested that his name had been removed from the list of potential appointees following leaking of the proposal.
Writings
- The Meaning in the Miracles (Canterbury Press, November 2001); ISBN 1853114340
- The Ministry of Deliverance (Affirming Catholicism) (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, February 1997); ISBN 0232522227
- Marriage, Divorce and the Church (Affirming Catholicism) (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, February 1997); ISBN 0232522243
- Living the Mystery: Affirming Catholicism and the Future of the Church (as editor) (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, April 1994); ISBN 0232520712
- Permanent, Faithful, Stable: Christian Same-Sex Partnerships (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, January 1994); ISBN 0232520755
- Living Tradition: Affirming Catholicism in the Anglican Church (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, January 1992); ISBN 0232519811