In hindsight I think it's less a stance and more a publication decision! What we need is to remove the old testament from church teachings completely.

Whilst the stories and folklore are important backstory to set up the coming of Jesus I don't think the old testament is actually needed from a belief point of view.

As Christians our core theology should always be from the Gospels and the Letters first. Pretty much everything that puts people off the church in the 21st Century, be it the demonisation of people it doesn't agree* with to pointless arguments about the origin of mankind ** stems from the old testament.

If we cut it out of the equation what do we have? A message of kindness, respect, tolerance and putting others before yourself always. These are things that never go out of fashion.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

*Don't get me started on this. The church has no place being critical on the lifestyle of anyone outside it walls. Its literally there in black and white: "Judge not...". Orders from the top!

**Again, a subject for another day but putting our collective energy into ensuring the future instead of arguing the past might be a better option.