Church Times Scottish Episcopalians revise canon law to permit gay marriage, but with conscience provision
Scotsman Scottish Episcopal Church votes to allow same-sex marriage and
Leader comment: Churches take the only viable option on gay marriage
Also the Press Association report: Scottish Episcopal Church votes to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies
Daily Record Scottish Episcopal Church takes ‘momentous’ decision to approve same-sex marriage ceremonies
Telegraph Scottish Episcopal Church in historic decision backing gay marriage
Guardian Scottish Episcopal church votes to allow same-sex weddings
BBC Scottish Episcopal Church approves gay marriage
Christian Today Scottish Episcopal Church permits gay marriage in historic vote
Comment from the Bishop of Maidstone … http://www.bishopofmaidstone.org/press-release-rod-thomas-100-evangelical-churches-pass-resolutions-mens-womens-ministry-bishop-maidstone-says-will-no-longer-meet-scottish-bishops/
Lgbt folk never get ‘conscience clauses’ — only subject to them.
That’s very loving of him
Stunningly arrogant and ungracious of the Bishop of Maidstone to write inter alia: “I pray that this declining church will understand that their position is not blessed by God, will repent of their action and turn back to Him.” Who is he to decide what God may or may not bless? He seems to offer fulsome praise for Bishop-Elect Lines, whereas he was strangely silent over the Curate Bishop of Jesmond. He might do well to think through what kind of press announcement he will be issuing when the CofE plays catch up with the SEC. And in the meantime,… Read more »
Thank you for the link to Bishop Thomas’ website. I wonder when and how his Diocesan Bishop will be taking steps to call his suffragan to account. He may have been given a particular portfolio in relation to conservative evangelicals, but he is still a suffragan. Supporting the ‘invasion’ of our Provinces by other hierarchies has to be addressed
And I am also grateful for the reference to allowing ‘conscience clauses’ to be offered in a different direction.
The interview with +Chillingworth at Christian Today was especially direct and cordial.
He seemed to say that the parishes which align with Gafcon will do that. He gave no indication of any constraint on that.
This is of course a different approach than what transpired in TEC.
Rod:
“the SEC has walked away from our communion, so I will no longer be able to accept invitations to Christian meetings where bishops of the SEC are actively participating…”
Who is walking away?
Rod:
[male headship in marriage and the church] “something on which we can agree to disagree. This is not possible with the issue of sexual relationships, which goes to the heart of what God has made us to be, and of His great design to free us from sin for eternal salvation.”
You do realise that the majority of people in the Church of England today don’t believe gay sex is a sin?
The Bishop of Maidstone’s prayer is especially ironic given how many Tory–Tory!–MPs are currently rushing to distance themselves from the anti-LGBTI views of their apparent coalition partner, the DUP.
Coalition of crackpots indeed.
A bishop so quick to focus on numbers should hang around Westminster a bit more, and understand better which views are being consigned to the dustbin of history, and which are in increasing ascendancy.
Well, it’s clear that the churches can make mistakes in choosing bishops, if “Rod” is any example. Ugh.