It's time for the Church of England to lay down the law on marriage
Wednesday’s
vote in Synod was not a victory for the LGBT lobby. In whatever way
that vote in synod is spun, the real issue is not about same-sex marriage but about the authority of the Bible in the Church of England.
The effect of the vote is that there is no change in doctrine or
practice. Marriage remains, as it has for all Christendom, a lifelong
union between a man and a woman.
This moment presents a great
opportunity for the House of Bishops to embrace that truth and to act to
uphold it firmly within the Church, disciplining those who would seek
to abandon the authority of the Bible, and whose actions will eventually
bring down the Church by actively denying that truth.
The Bishops’ Report on Marriage and Same Sex Relationships was in danger
of weakening the Church’s teaching. It sought to hold together two
positions that are irreconcilable – the orthodox position holding to the
teaching of Jesus Christ, and the alternative which seeks to revise his
teaching by insisting on acceptance of same-sex marriage.
People in society expect the Church to believe and teach the Bible. What other authority can the Church have?
Moreover, God’s people are called to be “set apart” and clergy are supposed to be examples to their people. Today, however, a crucial faultline has opened up in the Church of England because it has permitted those who openly defy the teaching of Jesus into positions of authority and influence. Male clergy who declare to Synod their “marriages” to other men are applauded, despite the fact that this is directly contrary to the Church’s own teaching.
The Bishop of Liverpool, an active LGBT campaigner, took to the floor of Synod this week and pleaded with members tacitly to back the report by voting to “take note” of its findings, because the language within it affirmed homosexual relationships. “Our explanation of maximum freedom will take us to places where we have not previously gone,” the bishop said, clearly indicating the direction of travel he intended to take. Such a position runs directly contrary to the teachings of the Church. Yet the Bishop is not even reprimanded.
Moreover, God’s people are called to be “set apart” and clergy are supposed to be examples to their people. Today, however, a crucial faultline has opened up in the Church of England because it has permitted those who openly defy the teaching of Jesus into positions of authority and influence. Male clergy who declare to Synod their “marriages” to other men are applauded, despite the fact that this is directly contrary to the Church’s own teaching.
The Bishop of Liverpool, an active LGBT campaigner, took to the floor of Synod this week and pleaded with members tacitly to back the report by voting to “take note” of its findings, because the language within it affirmed homosexual relationships. “Our explanation of maximum freedom will take us to places where we have not previously gone,” the bishop said, clearly indicating the direction of travel he intended to take. Such a position runs directly contrary to the teachings of the Church. Yet the Bishop is not even reprimanded.
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