Joel Edwards, who runs the Evangelical Alliance of the UK (he is himself a

Pentecostalist, but the Alliance includes lots of Anglicans–yes! there are

Anglican evangelicals!–millions of them, in fact) has his say on the fuss

over the appointment of a homosexual bishop. He makes the point–which is often made, but perhaps not often enough–that, in his own words: “A ‘Liberal Gospel’ breeds decline, in the Church of England and other churches. The fact is

that only a tiny minority of Christian denominations around the world have

formally approved the ordination of practising homosexuals, same-sex

blessings and other such measures. Two of the most notable examples are the

United Church of Christ in America and the United Church of Canada. Since

they adopted these policies, their membership has declined sharply. This

gives the lie to the oft-quoted assumption that if the Church adapts to

Western cultural trends on this matter people will come flocking through its

doors.”