Updated third time Monday evening
Earlier items are in the preceding article.
Changing Attitude Transcript of Bishop Steven Croft on R4 ‘Sunday’ on church penalties for same sex marriage
Cif belief Andrew Brown Gay marriage: I don’t dismiss bishops’ dishonest compromise out of hand
Bosco Peters When is blessing not a blessing
Modern Church Jonathan Clatworthy Gay marriage: the bible is not perspicuous
Jeremy Fletcher Same Sex Marriage and the House of Bishops
Archdruid Eileen Painted into a Corner
Peter Ould Some Thoughts on the Statement
Tobias Haller Incoherent Hypocrisy
Updates
The Suffragan Bishop in Europe writes about the application of this statement in that diocese: House of Bishops on Same Sex Marriage. He notes, inter alia, that
…We in the Diocese in Europe have lived for a number of years with the reality of same-sex marriage in many of the countries where we serve, in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, for instance, (even though in very few countries are our clergy legally permitted to conduct marriages)…
Sam Norton The Lego movie and the House of Bishops Statement on gay marriage
Christina Beardsley ‘One of gayest churches in Christendom’?
Pink News How can the Church of England be ‘welcoming’ when it bans priests from marrying gay people?
Ian Paul The real challenge after Pilling that no-one is talking about
Anglican Mainstream Statement commenting on the House of Bishops’ Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage
Church Society Lee Gatiss responds to House of Bishops’ Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage
Peter Saunders C of E Bishops say church members should ‘welcome’ ‘married’ same-sex couples into the church community
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement LGCM appalled by the House of Bishops Pastoral Letter
The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) tentatively welcomed the Pilling Report recognising the positive recommendations contained therein and was pleased that it was positively received by General Synod, in a discussion which recognised the need to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) people more fully. This was further supported by Archbishop Justin Welby’s presidential address.
It is hard to believe that following on from these events that the House of Bishops could publish a document called ‘Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage’ which is anything but pastoral.
The House of Bishops needs to wake up and realise that it can not recommend blatant discrimination and expect lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people to feel welcome in the church.
The Rev Sharon Ferguson, Chief Executive, said ‘Church of England leaders are under pressure from some in their church and wider Anglican Communion to continue to discriminate, but this should be set against the demands of the Gospel. Whilst it is positive that clergy can pray publicly for same-sex partners following civil partnership or marriage registration, it is a pity that the House of Bishops letter takes such a negative stance, fails to show appreciation for the ministry of LGB&T clergy and seems unaware of the powerful theological and pastoral arguments put forward in recent decades for celebrating committed loving relationships, including marriage.’
She continued: ‘However, in the Church of England and other churches, Christians committed to full inclusion will continue to work towards this, so that the good news of Christ can be more effectively embodied and shared.’
Valentine’s evening of tearfulness gave for Septuagesima’s morning of joy upon hearing the bishop’s radio interview and the absence of any specific penalties or a joined up ‘uniform policy’. It was one of those delightful Paxman moments though with fewer questions. Clearly it will be a free-for-all and dependent on the individual opinions of diocesans just as their guidance on civil partnerships has been. Clergy can simply up sticks and move to a more welcoming diocese if necessary. Or they could just call their bishop’s bluff and get on with it.
Link for Peter Ould’s piece is broken. Should be
http://www.peter-ould.net/2014/02/16/some-thoughts-on-the-statement/
FIXED.
The Bishop of Sheffield should consider a career change and go into politics as he was ace at avoiding the question of what penalties could be imposed upon clergy who choose to enter into a same sex civil marriage. Ecclesiastical Consistory Courts are more used to sorting out whether or not ancient pews can be removed from a parish church rather than sorting out whether or not the vicar’s licence to officiate should be removed upon entering a same sex marriage. Unlike the pope the greatest power the Archbishop of Canterbury has is the power of persuasion and on this… Read more »
My problems with any Peter Ould statement about homosexuality is that he claims to be an ex-Gay. My belief is that there can be no such thing. Of course, to believe that, you either have to be intrinsically gay yourself or able to trust those Gay people you know who have entrusted you with their ontological experience of actually being Gay. From the records – such as are available – no intrinsically Gay person is able to be tempted to achieve heterosexual congress. Anyone who can be persuaded to engage in heterosexual sex is either experimenting (an experience found disagreeable,… Read more »
Peter Ould has nothing much to say. His first point makes clear that there is considerable latitude already offered clergy in relation to devising liturgical acts to follow a civil same sex marriage – nothing new there. His last point tries to stir the pot of outrage by hinting that some bishops will be outed soon – well, probably, yes, but so what? The interesting point is the middle one. What he does not consider is the question of what code bishops can use to discipline clergy. Everyone assumes it will be the Clergy Discipline Measure – but, apart from… Read more »
On Radio 4 the Bishop of Shaffield was pressed on this question (in various ways): “So I’m wondering what are the penalties if any clergy person decides to convert their civil partnership (because you already have some gay clergy in civil partnerships), into a marriage or if they enter into a marriage from the start when this legislation comes into place. What are the penalties?” A short compilation of what the Bishop of Sheffield had to say in reply reads thus: “We said the House of Bishops considers it would not be appropriate conduct for somebody in holy orders to… Read more »
Ron – I don’t usually leap to Peter Ould’s defence, but I do now. He doesn’t describe himself as ex-gay – and never has, as far as I know, but as post-gay. He doesn’t want to have his identity structured around his sexuality but around his being “in Christ”. I think it is probably not unfair to say that he acknowledges that he still has homosexual feelings, but that his sexual life has been channelled into the marriage that he has felt called to, and which he feels very strongly is faithful to the calling of God on him and… Read more »
Oh dear! The suffragan bishop of Europe writes this as his conclusion: “I know that the letter and appendix may come as a disappointment to some in our Churches. It is important to note that while the Church’s doctrine of marriage remains the same, so does our commitment to welcoming all lay people fully into the life of our Church and fellowship, regardless of sexual orientation, civil partnership, or marital status.” But, dear bishop, the opposite is true ….. “marital status” now becomes an explicit barrier to the full life of your Church, particularly when these lay people are called… Read more »
‘But, dear bishop, the opposite is true ….. “marital status” now becomes an explicit barrier to the full life of your Church, particularly when these lay people are called by God to ministry.’
And as bishops already discriminate against partnered lay people at will, barring them from licensed lay ministry if they feel like it, there is no welcome “fully into the life of our church”. Hasn’t been for years.
Do they ever read what they write? Do they ever think?
‘Pissing into the wind’??? Bring me my smelling-salts. Father David, I have often thought that with only a little ‘tweak’ you would be a liberal. Witness also your evident infatuation with not one but several prospective women bishops. But I have no desire to coerce you (or anyone like you). I do, however, think that the ability to ‘inhabit’ the thought world of one’s ‘opponents’ (let the term stand)is a great aid to a sort of harmony.
John, what a delicious comment which made me laugh out loud. I think you’ll have to work a little harder to bring me over to the liberal cause. As to the ability to inhabit the thought world of ones “opponents” (surely you mean brothers and sisters in Christ?) isn’t that all part of the process we call mutual flourishing?
Dirty job, Father David. Someone’s got to do it.