News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Gay-wedding-blurred-main_article_image.jpg
CC
UK News

Twelve vicars defy Church and enter gay marriages

by Hannah Tooley

The group are set to go public in an open letter where they will also urge the Church to bless same-sex weddings.

Half of the signatories had already declared themselves to be in a same-sex marriage but it's understood officials had no idea about the other half.

The letter will be sent to the House of Bishops in September when all of the signatories will be revealed.

In 2014 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York said clergy cannot enter into a same-sex marriage and that those in gay marriages will not be ordained.

The Church of England has responded to the letter, saying: "The Shared Conversations process over the last two years included the participation of over 1300 members of the church in regional and national settings.

"Through those conversations, deep convictions have been shared and profound differences better understood.

"It is our hope that what has been learned through the relationships developed will inform the way the church conducts whatever further formal discussions take place in the future."

Andrew Foreshew-Cain/Facebook

Rev Andrew Foreshew-Cain was one of the first priests to defy the Church's rules and marry his gay partner.

He told The Sunday Times: "We are now going to keep pushing for the next and the next and the next [step] until we get full equality in the church.

"We are not going away."

The letter does not ask for a change in Church doctrine, instead it pushes for rights that priests would be allowed to decide whether they wished to give a blessing using a new, official service.

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern has expressed her disappointment. She said: "They [the signatories] are trying to undermine the authority of the teaching of the church."

In June 2015 gay vicar Canon Jeremy Pemberton tried and failed to sue the Church because he had been refused a licence to operate as a hospital chaplain following his gay marriage.

A judge found the Church was within its rights because he had gone against the wishes of the archbishops.

Listen to Jeremy Timm from Changing Attitude explaining the reasons for the letter:

Listen to Susie Leafe from Reform outlining her concerns over this development:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate