Greenbelt and Peter Tatchell
Anglican Mainstream has published a call to boycott Greenbelt because one of the invited speakers is Peter Tatchell. They were equally outraged when Bishop Gene Robinson appeared at the festival last year. I’m disappointed to see that they have woven into their objection the implication that homosexuality automatically leads to paedophilia, making the outrageous claim that children are not safe at the festival.
Me? I like the fact that Greenbelt respects people’s ability to think for themselves. Peter Tatchell has made an interesting journey through religion which the Church needs to listen to, just as much as it needs to hear voices like Alan Jamieson and Jenny MacIntosh on why substantial numbers of people who start out intensely committed to Church end up leaving in order to save their own souls. Here’s what Hugh Rayment-Pickard wrote about Tatchell’s chapter in 50 Voices of Disbelief:
Peter Tatchell, the human-rights campaigner, tells the story of his journey from Evangelical Christianity through a commitment to a liberation theology to the day when he realised that “he didn’t need God any more.” His reason, his belief in love, and his passion for justice would be enough to see him through life. Tatchell defends religious freedom, and admires those religious people (such as Desmond Tutu) who campaign for justice; but he points out that religions are frequently repressive and intolerant. I admire Peter Tatchell, because he has shown the kind of prophetic moral courage that should be one of the marks of the Church. There is something Christ-like, I think, in the fearless stand he has taken against violence and oppression. Many of the pieces in this book are full of superior contempt for the intellectual inadequacy of theism. Tatchell is forthright in his criticism of religion, but he never sneers.
Greenbelt has never sought to indoctrinate or to peddle a party line, instead providing a range of opinions for people to listen to respectfully before deciding for themselves what they believe. Anglican Mainstream says we shouldn’t be told to “experiment” with this that and the other. But do they really object to people being allowed to think?
And as for the children – there are dozens of talks at Greenbelt that are not attended by children, for the simple reason that kids get bored listening to 40-minute talks that are way above their heads. Families with kids head for the family-friendly activities.
EDIT: Church Mouse commented on this earlier, though I missed it at the time.
15 Responses to “Greenbelt and Peter Tatchell”
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Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
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You have articulated the point far better than I did.
Thanks Mouse – I missed your earlier comments, which I’ve added a link to above
Your analysis of this is ’spot on’ as they say. Peter Tatchel has a record on human rights second to none.
His presence demonstrates that the Church and Christians are there to listen, and not to judge. That is reserved for someone infinitely more capable than mortal man.
If we listened more and shouted less, we would be a better Church.
Right. That’s it. I’m starting a club night at Greenbelt, and I’m calling it ‘Gayification’!
Maggie
I entirely agree with your sentiment and find Anglican Mainstreams stance dissapointing and in many ways offensive.
Although to be fair to them, their open letter doesn’t make, as far as I can see, the argument you attribute to them that Homosexuality leads to paedaphilia. They express concern about Tatchells stance on the Age of Consent. That is what they then talk about in the context of paedaphilia, children and sexuality.
Either way their stance that children won’t be safe is preposterous and my children (7 and 4) can’t wait till Greenbelt.
I agree too. Though I have to say someone presenting the “standard evangelical view” would be a good thing as well, the link to Paedophilia is completely unacceptable – and my children can’t wait until GB either! We need to hear both sides of the discussion.
All of the above, and surely it is a good thing that Peter Tatchell is willing to engage constructively with Christians. Who knows where it might lead?
I’m delighted to hear that Peter Tatchell is speaking at Greenbelt (that passed me by). I wish we had just one bishop in the Church of England with Peter’s passion for justice. It seems sometimes that the Church is an eleborate mechanism for suppressing signs of God’s activity in the world.
Great that Greenbelt has tatchell. Just don’t see why its news – did no one tell anglican mainstream last time he came ?
Ugh, yet more rubbish being spouted from the right.
I note with interest that Anglican Mainstream’s episcopal advisor + Graham Maidstone was happy to speak (twice) at Greenbelt 2008, sharing a lineup with the openly gay Catholic theologian and priest James Allison. Perhaps someone should ask + Graham’s opinion, non?
Whilst I do not agree with Tatchell’s views on homosexual relationships, I have a lot of respect for his other work on human rights. mind you, there are a number of others who are also doing a good job.
So far as I can make out, the reason for PT’s presence being comment-worthy is twofold: first, the question of inviting a speaker who espouses cruising and possibly still also ephebophilia (the former: Independent interview this month) ; and second, the lack of balance in choice of speakers, given that some of the fullest treatments of the question have been from (e.g.) Gagnon, Satinover.
The other good thing is that it sends a good message to the LGBT community – you are welcome at Greenbelt and not all Christians are homophobes. I hope lots of people see reports like the one in the pink paper.