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The first major Christian church, the Scottish Episcopal Church, has voted to allow gay marriage in its venues.
The Scottish Episcopal Church has become the first Christian church in the UK to allow same-sex marriage in its Churches, Clergy will not, however, be forced to officiate at those marriages if it goes against their conscience.
The move means that gay Christians from any Anglican Church will be able to marry in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
The amendment to canon law on marriage, which removed the stipulation that marriage is only between a man and a woman, was carried by the Synod in Edinburgh.
Seventy-four percent of the General Synod voted for the motion.
Clergy who wish to officiate at same-sex marriages will have to “opt-in” under the rule change.
The Episcopal Church’s Bishop of Edinburgh, The Right Reverend Dr John Armes, said,
“I am very pleased for the couples who can now have their relationships recognised by the church and blessed by God.
“I’m also pleased for what this means about our church and the way we have been able to do this. But obviously any change like this creates pain and hurt in some as well, so as a bishop of the church I feel for them.”
It seems as though one question has been following Tim Farron around for some time. Is gay sex a sin?
A simple question that has been fixated on by the media due to Mr Farron’s refusal to originally answer the question. Back in July 2015, during an interview for Channel 4 news, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats refused to answer the question three times on whether he believed gay sex was a sin. Instead, answering with: “We’re all sinners.”
Now, nearly two years later, the question came up again as we head into a flash general election. After refusing again to answer the question to journalists, Tim finally told the House of Commons last week, during direct questioning that he did not think that being gay is a sin.
This still didn’t answer the direct question of gay sex being a sin or not and so, in a BBC interview this week, again Mr Farron’s opinion was sought on the subject. He replied,
“I don’t believe that gay sex is a sin.
“I take the view though, that as a political leader, my job is not to pontificate on theological matters.
“It seems to me that there is a general election on at the moment, we need to be talking about big issues.”
The general election will take place on Thursday 8th June 2017.
Up until today we were completely unaware of what a PILF was, but thanks to these rather naked and well, frankly, delicious Orthodox Priests we are now completely on board with the PLIF phenomenon.
So here’s some gay-friendly Orthodox Priests that are dissatisfied and want to protest Church hypocrisy – so they’ve released a rather naughty calendar for 2017.
So have you guessed what PILF stands for yet? It’s Priests I Like To f**K!
Proceeds from the calender’s sale will go to supporting disadvantaged children living with HIV across Eastern Europe.
A statement from the priests read,
“Through the #OC2017 charity wall calendar, we wish to raise awareness of homophobia inside the Church. Years after its creation, the OC Art Project is still the only organised global effort against homophobia in the Orthodox region.”
Meet Dave Tomlinson, the ‘Bad Christian’ on a mission.
CREDIT: (C) Lissy Tomlinson
Dave Tomlinson is a self-styled ‘Bad Christian’ whose church is unapologetically inclusive and whose books reach out to those on the fringes of faith, and even to outsiders. You may recall the media frenzy and raised eyebrows in some circles when he took the funerals of Great Train Robbers Bruce Reynolds and Ronnie Biggs. He’s also a controversial figure to some in the Anglican community for his positive and progressive stance on same-sex relationships and marriage, which he has outlined in two books, How to be a Bad Christian and The Bad Christian’s Manifesto.
Religion and all things gay generally get along about as well as the Wicked Witch of the West and a sudden downpour. That’s why we were fascinated to learn that there’s an Anglican vicar fighting our corner, and taking on his own church in an effort to change attitudes and doctrines.
We spoke to Dave at his church, St Luke’s in Holloway, London. He is genial and calm, which comes after a lifetime of preaching love and acceptance. He speaks with a warm voice that holds traces of a Liverpool accent, but he’s also prepared to stand up for his principles, and he spoke with great passion about how he wants to affect change in the Church of England in favour of celebrating gay unions.
CREDIT: (C) Lissy Tomlinson
We asked him what he thinks conservative Christians’ beef is with homosexuality. “An awful lot it, within the church, but also society as a whole, is fear. Fear of difference. It’s a desperate sign of insecurity in any society that can’t accommodate and live with difference.”
But won’t conservative Christians just quote scripture and claim the argument is closed? “It’s all tied up with a very literal reading of the biblical texts, but the bible is the product of an age that no longer exists,” Dave explains. “I think what we now experience in same-sex relationships probably hardly existed at that time. There’s a very strong argument to say that all of the texts that the bible addresses that you can link to same-sex relationships involve some form of abuse; and not the loving, equal relationships that we have today. Sodom and Gomorrah, where the word ‘sodomy’ comes from is a horrendous story about rape. It would be incredible to think all of the men of the city were gay: it was all about abuse and power.”
With constant threats of schisms in the Anglican Community, we wondered if the arguments about homosexuality will ever show any signs of simmering down. “It’s not surprising that there are arguments in the church: there should be. But sometimes I think we’re having the wrong arguments. How can we still be arguing about same-sex relationships? It’s an argument that’s over now, really, to any sensible people.” We can only agree with Dave, and ask him about his own parishioners. “We’ve a lot of gay people and gay couples in this church, and I can’t for the life of me see any difference between what they experience and aspire to in their lives and relationships and what I do in my life. It’s an absurdity to me and what’s getting my goat at the moment is that we’ve now reached a point where same-sex marriage is accessible, and any church can make the choice to conduct same-sex marriages in their churches: except the Church of England! I’m outraged by that, and it can’t last.”
CREDIT: (C) Lissy Tomlinson
Outrage is one thing, but does Dave think we’ll ever see gay Christians being married in Anglican churches? “Definitely, because ultimately right conquers. It’s just a matter of time.”
We ended our chat feeling upbeat, and we met many of Dave’s parishioners. As we chatted to them, it was clear than in St Luke’s, they’d found a spiritual home. For some, they’d returned after years outside the church. Whatever your religious beliefs (or lack of), through his sermons and writings, Reverend Dave offers something in stark contrast to what the gay community has come to expect, simply by reaching out with a spirit of inclusivity.
You can read more about Dave Tomlinson’s inspirational and spiritual thoughts in How to Be a Bad Christian and The Bad Christian’s Manifesto, which are published by Hodder & Stoughton. Follow Dave on Twitter @goodluker.
The Scottish Catholic Church has indicated that they are keen to tackle homophobia in schools.
The Catholic Church in Scotland have spoken in support of dealing with homophobia in the classroom according to campaign group Time For Inclusive Education (TIE).
TIE have been campaigning to introduce teacher training in Scottish classrooms to deal with and tackle homophobia in schools. The campaign has received the support of a host of cross party politicians; including Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Willie Rennie, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party Patrick Harvie and Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell.
Speaking with the Sunday Herald this weekend, a spokeswoman from the Catholic Church in Scotland responded to the campaign’s calls, stating,
“The Church is working with the Catholic Head Teacher association to ensure that all teachers have adequate knowledge, understanding and training and feel confident in addressing all aspects of relationships education, including LGBTI matters, in an appropriate and sensitive way.”
Last month, party leaders pledged swift action on the group’s calls for LGBTI inclusive education during a parliamentary debate on which steps should be taken to advance equality following the Orlando massacre in June which left 49 dead and 53 others injured.
During the session, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has publicly supported the TIE campaign, restated her pledge to work with the campaigners during her term in government.
She said,
“I don’t want to live in a country, yet alone be First Minister of a country, where any young person has to feel that, somehow, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they are subject to judgement or made to feel in any way less than any other individual in our society. I have given a commitment to working with the campaign for inclusive education.”
The candidate, who if successful, will become the unelected leader of the UK, called the laws “divisive” and “absurd” in 2013 and maintained in an interview this morning on ITV that marriage was, “a Christian service that was for men and women who wanted to commit in the eyes of God”.
During her interview Leadsom said,
“I believe the love of same-sex couples is as every bit as valuable that of opposite sex couples – absolutely committed to that. But nevertheless, my own view actually, is that marriage in the biblical sense is very clearly from the many many Christians who wrote to me on this subject – in their opinion – can only be between a man and a woman.”
She said that she would have preferred for civil partnerships to be made available to both gay and heterosexual couples.
She continued,
“I think we’ve muddled the terms of marriage, civil partnership, church etc. I would have liked that to have been clarified.I didn’t really like the legislation – that was the problem. But I absolutely support gay marriage.”
A Christian high school in Wichita, Kansas, with 322 pupils, apparently has the right to expel students attending the school if the school’s management learns that a student has a gay family member.
Attendance to the school requires a mother, a father and the student to sign a contract like form, which outlines the school’s policy on adhering to a “Christ-centred college”.
The school’s policy isn’t available on the school’s website, which appears to be down for maintenance, however a leaked copy of the so-called Statement of Understanding, which a student and their parents must sign before attending the private school, states,
“When the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to the school’s understand of biblical lifestyle, including the practice or promotion of LGBT lifestyle or alternative gender identity – the school should have the right in its sole discretion, to deny the admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student.”
In statement forwarded to the Advocate Faulkner said,
“We leaked this document in order to raise awareness about Trinity’s policies to prospective students and parents who are on the fence about sending their children to Trinity for their academics, and ultimately for the greater good,”
A video from the Jehovah’s Witnesses has suggested that gay people can be changed, by simply quoting bible verses and talking about the paradise that awaits them.
UPDATED: 20:02PM
CREDIT: Jehovah-s-Witnesses photo.ua
The Jehovah’s Witnesses have released a video entitled: Lesson 22: One Man, One Woman, in which a school child is told that gay people can be made to change if you preach bible verses to them, along with telling them about the paradise that awaits them if they stop being gay.
In the video, which looks like it’s been produced as an educational tool for children, a parent tells her daughter that, “people have their own ideas about what is right and what is wrong, but what matters is what Jehovah feels”, after she shares that a fellow classmate drew a picture of her family, with two mums.
The mother goes on to say that,
“He wants us to be happiest and that’s why he invented marriage the way he did.”
The video then goes on to liken homosexuality to taking a forbidden item on to a plane – but in order to gain access to the plane (or paradise) we all have to follow Jehovah’s standards.
The mother then goes on to suggest that people can change – which is why Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘spread his message’.
The video which has been made available to download for free on the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ website, was produced by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York Inc.
A new advert which was due to be aired in cinemas across the UK has been banned because it may cause offense.
The advert which was due to be played before showings of the new Star Wars film has been banned on the grounds that it could offend those of other faiths and no faiths.
The 60-second advert featured the Lord’s Prayer being recited by many different types of people. The Church of England warned the ban would have a “chilling” effect on free speech.
The advert, which is aimed at encouraging people to “just pray” was passed and given a U certificate by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) and cleared by the CAA (Cinema Advertising Authority) but it was banned by the Digital Cinema Media (DCM) agency, the company which administrates the advertising for the UK’s big brand cinemas including Odeon, Cineworld and Vue.
Speaking to the BBC the director of communications for the Church of England, the Reverend Arun Arora said,
“We find that really astonishing, disappointing and rather bewildering.
“The prospect of many families attending the release of the new Star Wars film had seemed a good opportunity to launch the advert and a new website justpray.uk to promote prayer ahead of Christmas.
“The Lord’s Prayer is prayed by billions of people across the globe every day, and in this country has been part of everyday life for centuries.”
The advert is for a campaign called #JustPray and carries the names of The Church of England and All Churches Trust Limited.
“The Church of England‘s unique place in the current marriage law of England means that the proposals will potentially have a very significant impact on our ability to serve the people of the nation as we have always done.”
The response from the then coalition Government was to place a legal “lock” on the Church, meaning it would never have to allow same-sex couples to be wed within any of its Churches, effectively banning LGBT people from using the Church in the same way heterosexual people have access to the Church.
A Polish priest has been sacked by the Vatican after coming out as gay.
Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa,43, a priest who has worked in the Vatican’s doctrinal arm since 2003 has been fired by Vatican officials after coming out as gay and as having a partner. He announced his sexuality in an interview with the Italian paper Corriere della Sera.
Charamsa held a press conference with his Spanish partner to announce his partnership and sexuality. The Vatican have said that its decision to remove Charamsa was nothing to do with his coming out, but that giving an interview and planning a news conference was “grave and irresponsible”.
“It’s time for the Church to open its eyes about gay Catholics and to understand that the solution it proposes to them – total abstinence from a life of love – is inhuman.”
The news of the sacking comes after the news of an alleged meeting between Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who spent time in jail recently after refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples and the Pope during his recent visit to the United States.The Vatican said that the only “audience” the Pope had was with a small group, which included a gay couple.
In a statement about Charamsa’s announcement, the Vatican said,
“Msgr. Charamsa will certainly be unable to continue to carry out his previous work in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical universities, while the other aspects of his situation shall remain the competence of his diocesan Ordinary [local bishop].”
Krzystof Charamsa, dedicated his coming out to all gay priests, saying,
“I dedicate my coming out to all gay priests. I wish them happiness even if I know that most of them will not have the courage to make the gesture I have made today.”
