Church of England bishops support gay marriage
The Bishop of Oxford, The Right Reverend Dr. Steven Croft, wrote an essay where he apologised for his views being "slow to change".
Three Bishops say that Church of England clergy should be able to conduct and bless gay marriages.
The Bishop of Oxford, The Right Reverend Dr. Steven Croft, wrote an essay where he apologised for his views being “slow to change” and any hurt he had caused.
He has now been joined by the Bishops of Worcester and Dudley, Dr. John Inge, and Right Reverend Martin Gorick respectively.
In his essay, titled Together in Love and Faith, Croft writes that gay clergymen should also be able to marry partners as well.
He identifies the debate around same-sex marriage as “what seems to me to be the most pressing question requiring resolution”.
However, he does state he hasn’t engaged with “questions of transgender identity and practice, intersex, or a wide range of other matters.” He recognises those questions are painful for some and that they do need addressing.
He writes, “I need to acknowledge the acute pain and distress of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church.”
Croft also apologises for the Church being slow “to reach better decisions and practice on these matters.”
Continuing he says, “I am sorry that my own views were slow to change and that my actions, and lack of action, have caused genuine hurt, disagreement, and pain.”
In the essay, Croft details his change in perspective over the years from defending the Church of England’s position in 2008 on live TV, the increasing debate over LGBTQ people and the Church.
He admits to becoming “less and less comfortable” with his old opinions over time, and eventually advocating for “greater freedom of conscience to clergy,” to live their lives and be sexually active.
Croft also charts and details conversations he’s had and been involved in with LGBTQ members of the Church of England and hearing the pain they’ve experienced.
After making his case for change Croft writes, “Any settlement must be founded on love and respect: love and respect for LGBTQ people and their families within and beyond the Church; love and respect for those who take many different views on sexual ethics. This love must be the hallmark of our debates and conduct through this season.”
On Thursday (3 November) Dr. Inge and Reverend Gorick publicly joined Croft’s call for change. In a joint letter, they write: “we believe that the time has come for the Church to celebrate and honour same sex relations. People do not choose their sexuality and all should be able to express it within loving committed relationships.
“Our preferred option would be for same sex couples to be able to be married in church. We hope and pray that this will be the outcome of the LLF process.”
Last September the Church in Wales voted to allow same-sex blessings and in April it was said that the Church in Wales will hold same-sex weddings within five years, as reported by the BBC.
Last July the Methodist Church voted to allow same-sex marriage, defining marriage as between two people as opposed to a man and a woman. But the Vatican has ruled that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions saying “God does not bless sin”.