Marriage

The House of Bishops in the Church of England has just issued a letter of Pastoral Guidance on issues surrounding same sex marriage which effectively amounts to saying that "nothing has changed really."   I was surprised that that they re-iterated statements from the 1998 Lambeth Conference which was a disaster for pastoral relations or, in simple terms, a fudge.

People are now rushing to pressure the C of E House of Bishops, by Facebook petition, to rescind their guidance.

I am sorry that the bishops of our neighbouring province have chosen to uphold what they understand to be the current religious rules rather than be guided by compassion and justice, but I do not think that I want future decisions in any Anglican Church to be resolved by Facebook petition.

In the Diocesan Human Sexuality Group we have developed a process of listening with respect to people with whom we profoundly disagree.  The group includes both people currently in civil partnerships and people who on grounds of biblical authority or church tradition find same sex marriage unacceptable but we are learning to listen to each other and each other's pain.  Perhaps more of this needs to happen in a wider arena.

It is also worth noting that we are the Church in Wales and some of the issues under debate are on the next Governing Body's agenda.  The GB may agree or disagree with the Church in England.

A recent survey of clergy by the Human Sexuality Group received a high level of response. 

• 80% of respondents would affirm same sex partnerships
• 67% are willing for the CinW to allow for the blessing of same sex partnerships
• 62% would permit an approved CinW blessing to take place in their parish and would be willing to preside.
• Conversely, those firmly against are 14%, 19%, 20%, 23%, less than a quarter.

I think it is safe to conclude that there is strong support from clergy in the Diocese of St. Asaph for the CinW to approve a service of blessing for same sex civil partnerships. 

More respondents opposed the provision of a CinW marriage service for same sex couples than were for it although those against same sex marriage never reached 50% in response to any of the questions asked.

I think we can conclude that there is not, at this point in time, sufficient support amongst clergy for the CinW to provide a marriage ceremony for same sex couples.

More respondents were willing to affirm same sex secular marriage than were not, which may reflect the fact that this is a done deal in the secular arena.

Let's now continue the conversation in the Church in Wales which listens to each other's wisdom and pain bound together in love in the Body of Christ.

Let us remember that each other we meet is made in God's image and likeness however different from us they may seem to be in lifestyle and outlook.  Let us resolve to treat each other with compassion and justice recognising that this may, or may not, reach the same conclusions as arguments based primarily on human rights which come from a different thought tradition.

Let Facebook be used for communicating information, sharing good causes and information about injustice, and for friendly banter but let's recognise that it is not at its best as a chamber for debating serious issues.