The new Bishop of Reading tried to alleviate the "dismay" over his homosexuality today as the row threatened to spark a worldwide schism in the Church of England.
Canon Jeffrey John issued a lengthy written statement describing his 27-year, now-celibate "life partnership" with another man as a "gift and vocation from God".
He called for a climate of tolerance in which all parts of the Church could "see past the labels we stick on each other".
His remarks came as members of the clergy met the Bishop of Oxford on June 20 in an effort to make him change his mind over the appointment of Dr John as a bishop.
Conservatives and evangelicals were urging the Rt Rev Richard Harries to reverse his decision to appoint Dr John as Bishop of Reading, whose diocese covers much of south Oxfordshire, including Abingdon and Wallingford.
The protesters argued that Dr John should not be allowed to take up the post because of his homosexuality.
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