Church of Ireland clarifies position on same-sex marriage after confusion
from Christian Post:
The Church of Ireland has clarified its position on same-sex marriage following confusion over a consultation submission by one of its official bodies.
The Church and Society commission, which examines social issues, indicated its support for same-sex marriage in a statement to the government consultation.
The consultation asked: “Do you agree same-sex couples in NI should be permitted to convert their civil partnership to marriage?”
In its statement, the commission wrote: “Yes. If it has been decided to legalise same-sex marriage in a territory where such couples were previously only able to form civil partnerships it should be permitted for them to convert such a partnership to a marriage.”
Canon Ian Ellis, former editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette, told the Belfast News Letter that the submission was “confusing”.
The Church of Ireland has traditionally defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This position was affirmed by its parliamentary body, General Synod, in 2012.