Bishops Seek Therapy For Gay Issues

Focuses on the help sought by bishops of the Anglican Church from the Public Conversations Project (PCP) over the issue of same-sex marriage. Specialization of the therapists from PCP; How the PCP prevent clashes in dialogues; Goal of dialogues.

By Leslie Whitaker, published on March 01, 2000

MEDIATION

Among Anglicans, the matter of determining the church's policy toward homosexuals is contentious. Discussions can deteriorate into a series of verbal attacks and counterattacks that sound more like a dysfunctional family fight than a spirited exchange.

So when 10 Anglican bishops--from countries as diverse as Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil and Nigeria--met for four days in November to discuss blessing same-sex unions and ordaining non-celibate homosexuals, they sought assistance from the Public Conversations Project (PCP). This Massachusetts-based group of therapists specializes in fostering dialogue among people divided over public issues such as abortion, land development and diversity.

Based on family therapy techniques, PCP therapists and facilitators try to prevent clashes by first conducting extensive telephone interviews with each participant, discussing the difference between dialogue and debate. During a dialogue, they explain, participants speak from their personal experience rather than as a representative of a group, ask clarifying questions rather than rhetorical ones, and refrain from interrupting or attempting to persuade.

After their group session, the bishops issued a statement that trust and mutual respect grew as they "considered convergent and divergent points of view," and that, most importantly, the mediation "fostered great hope for the possibility of similar dialogues in all parts of the Anglican Communion." That tells Margaret Herzig, PCP founding associate, that the therapy was 'successful, since the goal of each dialogue, she says, is not to change minds or reach consensus, but rather "to increase mutual understanding and promote more constructive ways of communicating across differences."

PHOTO (COLOR): Bishops Seek Therapy For Gay Issues