The Church of England must stop its discrimination against LBGTQI+ people
This week the Church of England decided to allow priests to offer same-sex couples a blessing in church after their civil marriage. Some Christians are upset by this decision because it goes too far from the bible in their view. Others, like myself, are disappointed that it does not go far enough. It is important to be clear about what the Church has done in this decision and what it has not done.
What it has done is made allowance for prayers of blessing for a same-sex couple to be said in a church service. This is not the same as blessing the marriage in itself. In its decision this week, General Synod, the national governing body of the Church, was very clear that it has not changed its position that holy matrimony can only be between a man and a woman. It remains the case that same-sex marriages are not regarded as valid marriages in the eyes of the Church of England officially. Therefore however much conservative-minded Christians may protest, the traditional view and position of the Church on marriage has not changed as a result of this decision. For the Church, marriage between two people of the same sex is not equal.
Some, like myself, feel that this means that the Church of England as a whole continues to be institutionally discriminatory against LGBTQ+ people. What is even more disappointing for those of us who believe in an inclusive church is that the General Synod refused to set a timetable to for a later debate to allow same-sex couples to marry in church. I will continue to advocate to change this. The Church of England is out of step with its sister church in Scotland which now marries gay couples in church; and other church denominations in Britain such as the Methodist Church and United Reform Church.
There are Members of Parliament who are planning to challenge the Church of England’s position, and seek to change the law to allow individual ministers and churches if they so wished to conduct a marriage in church for a same – sex couple. Many clergy in the Church of England including myself have said that we would do this if we were able to do so. We believe love is love and marriage is marriage, and, like most people in our country we believe that gay couples should not be treated as if their marriage is less honourable or less sacred than other marriages.
Of course same-sex marriage in church would be a change from the traditional practice and beliefs about marriage. But it is not obvious that same-sex marriage is contrary to the bible or the Christian faith, which teach above all else that there is no law against love. Many beliefs and practices of the past which some Christians used to claim were necessary teachings of the bible, such as restrictions on women’s freedoms, have changed in our church. This ban on same-sex marriage in the Church will change one day. For the love of God and of neighbour we should change sooner rather than later.
Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash
