The news was leaked last Friday afternoon - the controversial Church of England gay canon The Reverend Dr Jeffrey John is going to be the new Dean of St Albans. Lucy Newman reports.

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The appointment was approved by the Queen on Monday morning and the announcement was made at a hastily organised press conference at the Abbey on Monday morning. The Bishop of St Albans, the Right Reverend Christopher Herbert, led the press conference and welcomed Jeffrey John to the diocese.

Jeffrey John, who is also to be Rector of the CatheDral and Abbey Church of St Albans, was forced to stand down as Bishop of Reading last year after protests by conservative evangelicals who see homosexuality as against biblical and church teaching. Bishop Christopher praised Jeffrey John for what he has already dealt with.

He's a fantastic teacher and preacher and a great pastor with a wealth of experience and this will be good for St Albans.

Right Reverend Christopher Foster

"In actual fact there are very few people in our country or in the world who have had to endure such a storm as Jeffrey has.

"Those who already know him will be able to restify to his resilience and forbearance and those who have yet to meet him will discover a remarkable and very humble priest who wants to above all serve God in Christ's name."

Bishop Christopher assured the press that he had given the matter much thought and prayer. He had not been allowed to discuss the appointment with his colleagues or the CatheDral staff, because the system of appointment does not allow this.

And the Bishop strongly denied that the appointment had been made under pressure from the liberal wing of the church.

St Albans CatheDral

So is this appointment going to cause the same kind of reaction as Dr John's appointment as Bishop of Reading last year? Dr John seems confident that this appointment, at this level, has been made at the right time.

Jeffrey John spoke of the Abbey's reputation for being accessible to all who choose to work and worship there. It is clear that he feels St Albans is a place where he will fit in and he will be comfortable in his new role.

The press were to keen to question Jeffrey John about his attitudes to same sex partnerships, and in particular to gay marriages. Will he be wanting to marry gay couples at St Albans?

Dr John was evasive when asked if he supported gay marriage.

Civil partnerships

Bishop Christopher talked about his desire for the Church of England to support and show compassion for those who wish to undertake civil partnerships rather than "marriages" in the conventional sense.

Jeffrey John stressed that he only wants to do the job he has been given to do and he does not feel that he is some kind of champion of gay rights.

"Until last year I had written or said very little on the subject. I hope that will soon return and I can get on with other things."

Dr John spoke with a clear sense of relief that he has - after months of consideration over this appointment - finally been approved and he could make his first official trip to the Abbey. He concluded the press conference by asking for our prayers, now and in the future.

After the press conference, the Bishop of Hertford, the Right Reverend Christopher Foster joined with the Bishop of St Albans in welcoming Jeffrey John to the Diocese.

The Bible is absolutely clear. All the verses about active homosexuality are negative.

Dr Philip Giddings

"I don't believe there's likely to be a controversy. He is well equipped and well suited and well experienced for this role. He's a fantastic teacher and preacher and a great pastor with a wealth of experience and this will be good for St Albans.

Not everyone in the Church of England is happy with the appointment though. On Friday the protests reached the Prime Minister Tony Blair. A group of bishops and ministers called the Anglican Mainstream sent a letter to Mr Blair criticising the appointment of Canon John because the cleric is openly gay.

The letter about Canon Jeffrey John's appointment as Dean of St Albans asks the Prime Minister to meet a delegation from Anglican Mainstream to discuss their concerns about the insensitive timing of the appointment and the apparent use of church appointments to influence the debate within the Church of England.

Dr Philip Giddings, convenor of the Anglican Mainstream network, criticizes the "involvement of the Prime Minister's Office in the apparent attempts to move the church in a more liberal direction and the leaking of the appointment to the press."

Dr Giddings says there's no room for interpretation: "The Bible is absolutely clear. All the verses about active homosexuality are negative."

Literal interpretation of the Bible

But Reverend Martin Reynolds from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement argues that in today's society, we cannot interpret the Bible so literally: "There were terrible things that Christians did to each other when they used the Bible as their only tool of understanding everything."

So the debate goes on and once again the eyes of the media are turned towards the Diocese of St Albans. The Diocese has so far been united in its support for this appointment, though there is a certain amount of opposition from within the parishes.

But the appointment is a done deed, so what effect could this disapproval have? The next few months will tell, but we can expect Jeffrey John to be installed as Dean in the autumn.

What do you think about the Dr Jeffery John's appointment? Send us your views.

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Sarah, Pinner	Tuesday, 15-Feb-2005 17:56:58 GMT
For goodness sake! Honesty and love are the two most important Christian things. I am 16 and I have a gay friend who has been forced to lie to people about her sexuality through fear of not being accepted. She is living a false life, and people cant love her for who she is becuase people dont know her! All the homophobia and prejudices in the world will be the downfall of mankind! and it is APPAULING that the homophobia is being led by the Church who is meant to be loving and accepting!

Mike Thompson, Southampton	Sunday, 17-Oct-2004 15:45:46 BST
May I say that I have read most of the replies todate, and can only see ignorance in those who think Homosexuality is acceptable. For a start Jesus is the same, unchanged, yeterday, today, and tomorrow. Jesus does not change! People who think that the bible should not be interepted literally need to look again. Jesus says, that no one should change any part of His word! Homosexuality is self gratification. It is not natural! I'm only 40yrs old, so do not fit in with the old farts just yet. Christianity, is about serving God, HIS way, NOT OURS! We are made in His image and likeness. Would any clergy be willing to call God a homosexual!? No!, I didn't think so. When people stop and think, they will realise that God is all forgiving, but you must turn away from your sin. Homosexual practice is a sin, an abomination in the sight of God. No mistake, you carry on practicing your! going to one place only - Hell. You may say to God I worshipped you - and Gods reply will probably be, "I didn't know you". If anyone thinks they can twist the word of God to suit themselves, they must think again. The Fear of God, is the start of wisdom. Turn away from your sin and God will guide you to a fuller and natural life. The world is blinkered to Homosexualality. As the book of Matthew says, "In the end times, men will want men, and women will want women". We are always moving towards the end times. Just read Matthew Chapter 25, and look out into the world and you will see the times are becoming like the times of Noah. Dr John, has no place in teaching Gods word, when he rejects it's simplicity of instruction. Do not turn away from Dr John, or others like them just pray for them.

Clair, St Albans	Wednesday, 21-Apr-2004 13:02:59 BST
Yes I agree Kevin. The Anglican congregation is not shrinking because the church is ignoring the clear teaching of the Bible but because the church appears to be full of narrow minded bigots that many people living in the modern world are happy to keep away from - while respecting their right to think that way of course! We just don't have to agree with them!

Ian, Harpenden	Wednesday, 25-Aug-2004 15:07:05 BST
Wake up people, this is 2004! I think the problem is not Jeffrey John and his private orientations, but the people who so firmly believe that homosexuality in Christianity is a crime! abomination', 'absolutely disgusting' are a few of the appauling degratory terms I have heard in direction to the new dean. So homosexuals will be the downfall of Christianity? Wrong. Narrow-minded, bigoted old farts, set in their ways and their outdated values of life, ganging up and rallying against the new dean will be the beginning of the downfall of Christianity. The Bible has so many contradictory terms that if one was to follow it word for word, they would end up extremely confused! There is too many problems in the world as it is without stirring up trouble whithin the walls of your own church. If you feel that strongly about ! Jeffrey Johns appointment, why not write your own Bible and start a sub-religion, extreme Christianity? Since you are all above the rest of the congregation who appreciate that a mans private activities do not affect his ability to do his job, maybe you are too good for Christianity?! Things change whether you like it or not, and if you can't move with the times, then you will be crushed under the wheels of development. Jeffrey John seems like a great guy, and I think he will make a good job of his position, good luck to him with that.

Kevin, Welwyn Garden City	Wednesday, 21-Apr-2004 12:59:20 BST
Sure if you think homosexuality is a sin (which I don't by the way) Then doesn't Christianity teach forgiveness as well? Surely tolerance, love, inclusiveness and the understanding and respect of other people and their life choices is a more Christian way to live?

Dan, Hatfield	Wednesday, 21-Apr-2004 10:56:23 BST
Having been through the contoversy associated with Dr John whilst in Reading, I can't believe that the Church of England would appoint him to this position. The views expressed by the churches in Reading were not 'NOT ON MY DOORSTEP!', they were expressing the concern that it is against bible teaching to appoint someone of his tendancies. I'm not gay bashing, as in the eyes of God all sins are equal, but the bible is quite clear. I am surprised that there has not been any recorded reaction from the local church in St Albans and the Diocese. What do the vicars and parishioners of the area think?

Mrs Doreen Davis, Bedford	Tuesday, 20-Apr-2004 07:54:02 BST
I think this appointment is a sad declaration of the state of the world today. It goes against all the teaching of the Bible and is an abomination to God! and will be the downfall of the Church.

Ernie, Bedford	Tuesday, 20-Apr-2004 08:45:24 BST
No wonder as a church, the Anglian congregation is shrinking, as the church ignores the clear teaching of the Bible. The Bible has stood the test of time so why does Dr John think the word should be ignored to suit his own personal preferences. A decent man would resign his membership of the leadership if he wants to persue his gay leanings.

My Kind Of Heaven