Bishops under pressure to act as Hereford Diocese calls for official services for gay couples

Oct 20, 2017 by Jill

by Harry Farley, Christian Today:

Pressure is mounting on the Church of England to adopt a formal liturgy for gay weddings after one diocese passed a landmark motion calling on bishops to act.

Hereford Diocesan Synod overwhelmingly voted on Thursday to call for official prayers and a dedication service for same-sex couples after their civil partnership or marriage.

The call mirrors the CofE’s provision for divorced couples where – despite the Church holding to the teaching that marriage is a ‘permanent and lifelong union of one man with one woman’ – clergy can carry out blessings and formal dedication for couples getting remarried.

The Hereford vote stops short of full-blown gay weddings in church but bishops warned beforehand it will increase pressure for a wholesale change in the CofE’s definition of marriage.

‘Given that the Church of England in part defines its doctrine through its authorised liturgies, even if this service did not amount to a change in marriage, it would increase pressure towards such a change,’ Hereford Bishop’s Council warned delegates in a briefing paper before the vote.

Read here

C of E service after same-sex marriage? from Law and Religion UK (also features statement from Reform)

Church of England to discuss same-sex blessing, by Callum May, BBC News

Can Hereford change the church on sexuality? By Ian Paul, Psephizo