In some quarters of the church, the debate about the ordination of practising homosexuals has been reduced to sloganeering: 'scripture is clear?'; 'the gospel is inclusive?'; 'this is the way God made me?'. These frequently heard refrains do little to advance the debate and often indicate a paucity of sound theological thinking. The concern of this volume is to think through the issue in terms of the theological convictions implicit in Trinitarian faith. The contributors do not arrive at a common conclusion, but they do share this common starting point, and proceed with the assumption that the way forward will emerge in attentiveness to God's leading. This does not in any way reduce the complexity and sensitivity of the issues now facing the church. Indeed, the opposite is in fact the case. Part of the value of this volume, therefore, lies in its demonstration that allegiance to the orthodox Christian faith neither forecloses the issue nor compels assent to one or other of the polarised extremes.' From the Introduction