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Vicar to wed in same-sex ceremony
Grauniad ^ | Tuesday May 24, 2005 11:08 AM | Press Association

Posted on 05/24/2005 4:45:15 PM PDT by Tantumergo

A gay clergywoman is to make history when she takes part in the country's first same-sex wedding by marrying her long-term partner.

The Rev Debbie Gatson, 46, will join two other gay couples who plan to tie the knot in Brighton on December 21.

Ms Gatson, of the Metropolitan Community Church, will marry her partner of 16 years, Elaine Cook, 53, who has two grown-up children from a previous heterosexual marriage.

The ceremony has been made possible by the new Civil Partnership Bill which comes into force on December 5.

There is a 15-day period before any ceremonies can take place, making December 21 the first day on which same-sex couples can legally be bonded.

Ms Gatson said: "As a vicar I obviously believe whole-heartedly in the concept of marriage and I have married more than 30 couples myself.

"Elaine and I have waited many years to be able to make this kind of commitment to each other and we both see the Civil Partnership Bill as a huge step in the right direction for equality.

"However, we are only part way there. Until I can have a legal ceremony in the eyes of God I will not feel completely fulfilled. But this opportunity to make history is fantastic and we'll very much enjoy celebrating the experience with our friends and family."

Gino Meriano, a wedding planner, and his partner, Mike Ullett, and Roger Lewis, a Sussex Police employee, and his partner, Keith Willmott-Goodall, will join Ms Gatson and Ms Cook by marrying on December 21 at one second past midnight in a joint ceremony. All are from Brighton.

Like regular civil marriages, the ceremony will take place at the register office at the city's town hall in Bartholomew Square.


TOPICS: Current Events; Mainline Protestant; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; mcc; samesexmarriage

1 posted on 05/24/2005 4:45:15 PM PDT by Tantumergo
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To: sionnsar

Just thought you guys might like to know that your "brethren" in your mother church seem to be taking a cue from ECUSA!


2 posted on 05/24/2005 4:47:23 PM PDT by Tantumergo
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To: Tantumergo
Gino Meriano, a wedding planner, and his partner, Mike Ullett, and Roger Lewis, a Sussex Police employee, and his partner, Keith Willmott-Goodall, will join Ms Gatson and Ms Cook by marrying on December 21 at one second past midnight in a joint ceremony.

I've heard of a menage a trois, but these people are taking it to extremes.

3 posted on 05/24/2005 4:48:00 PM PDT by madprof98
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To: Tantumergo
Just thought you guys might like to know that your "brethren" in your mother church seem to be taking a cue from ECUSA!

"Sistern" too, it would seem. Sigh. Not too suprising, I guess. I'd say there's be a row if the "partner" were male, but there are reports from those here in the States that that already seems to be acceptable.

4 posted on 05/24/2005 5:01:32 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || Fraud in WA: More votes than voters!)
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: sionnsar

""brethren" in your mother church"

Whoa, I take that back - they don't appear to be Anglican at all!

Press report is inaccurate using the term "Vicar" which officially only applies to CofE ministers over here. However, this "church" seems to belong to some international sodomitic cult!!!


6 posted on 05/24/2005 5:03:39 PM PDT by Tantumergo
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To: Tantumergo

Heh. I saw that, but the "Vicar" won over. I asked for the ping to be pulled.


7 posted on 05/24/2005 5:11:41 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || Iran Azadi || Fraud in WA: More votes than voters!)
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ping to self for later pingout.


8 posted on 05/24/2005 5:13:05 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Resisting evil is our duty or we are as responsible as those promoting it.)
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To: Tantumergo


Rev Gatson has married more than 30 couples in her Brighton church
9 posted on 05/24/2005 5:14:43 PM PDT by maggief
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To: Tantumergo
A gay clergywoman is to make history when she takes part in the country's first same-sex wedding by marrying her long-term partner.

Total unadulterated sick. These are religous leaders? Do not pass Sodom and Gomorrah, go straight to hell. Do not collect $200.

I have no idea where this is taking place. It has to be either the North or South American, European or African Continent, Siberia, Southeast Asia or Antarctica.

10 posted on 05/24/2005 5:19:47 PM PDT by PistolPaknMama (Will work for cool tag line.)
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To: Tantumergo
Just thought you guys might like to know that your "brethren" in your mother church Mistaken identity. According to the article "Ms Gatson, of the Metropolitan Community Church" (MCC)...

The MCC is not affiliated in any way with the Anglican Communion or the Episcopal Church USA. Its closest ally in the United States would be the United Church of Christ (UCC). The MCC is almost exclusively composed of the GLBT community and draws its clergy (as this article makes obvious) from that same segment. MCC folks are extremely open about their sexuality to the degree that they really have no identity other than their perversions.

11 posted on 05/24/2005 5:37:28 PM PDT by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)
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To: Tantumergo
"December 21."

Winter solstice. They are witches.


12 posted on 05/24/2005 5:40:10 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: Tantumergo

Unbelievable. What will they say when they arrive at the Lord's doorstep of Judgment?

Fighting the earthly battles rather than the heavenly ones?


13 posted on 05/24/2005 5:43:39 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: lightman

"The MCC is not affiliated in any way with the Anglican Communion or the Episcopal Church USA."

I know - see my subsequent post #6 above. It was only when I googled "MCC" that I realised who these people were. The reporter is quite inaccurate to use the title "Vicar" as this is reserved for Anglican incumbents in England - the article is therefore very misleading.


14 posted on 05/24/2005 5:51:38 PM PDT by Tantumergo
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To: PistolPaknMama

Brighton, England. Yup. Makes sense, though-- the Anglican church is rotting from its head (and has been for a LONG time), but to get to this particular state on this particular issue, the head needed prodding from one of the appendages.


15 posted on 05/24/2005 5:59:21 PM PDT by walden
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To: Tantumergo

The MCC is a denomination of gay activists. As a matter of civil religious freedom, I don't care what they do, so long as the gay activists leave the Catholic Church alone and allow her to hold and preach the unchanging moral doctrine on love for sinners and the call for repentance and chastity to the same.


16 posted on 05/24/2005 6:12:05 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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To: Unam Sanctam

Frankly, I'm glad they exist so that the activists have their own "community." Now if only the agitators in our denominations would just beat a path to their door and not let our doors hit them on their hindmost parts....


17 posted on 05/24/2005 6:46:37 PM PDT by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)
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To: Tantumergo
The Rev Debbie Gaston was thrown out of the Anglican Church for her affair with Elaine. At which time she turned her back on God, choosing her lifestyle over her creator.

She also seems quite proud of converting a sinner by having sex with her.

Check it out: Journeys of Faith-Rev Debbie Gaston

18 posted on 05/24/2005 10:14:14 PM PDT by Between the Lines (We are enabled to see the Lord at work if our eyes and our hearts are open." - George W. Bush)
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To: Tantumergo

You have to remember this is Brighton which is the UK equivalent of San Fransisco. The civil authorities there view the place with pride and as a beacon of tolerance. Political leaders (even conservative) bend over backwards to court their votes.


19 posted on 05/25/2005 4:39:42 AM PDT by Wessex
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To: Wessex

"Political leaders (even conservative) bend over backwards to court their votes."

As the Conservative party has now become "tolerant" and "socially liberal" I would think that backwards is not the only position in which they are bending over!


20 posted on 05/25/2005 4:47:40 AM PDT by Tantumergo
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To: Tantumergo

"As the Conservative party has now become "tolerant" and "socially liberal" I would think that backwards is not the only position in which they are bending over!"

You mean they have joined the 'unity through diversity' brigade. It gets worse .......


21 posted on 05/26/2005 12:38:09 AM PDT by Wessex
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To: EdReform; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; stage left; Yakboy; I_Love_My_Husband; ...

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

FYI. And the Metropolitan Community Church (as noted in the thread) is nothing but a "gay/lesbian/etc" front group. Sexual perversion as sole identity, and, of course, non-profit status as a "church".

Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist.


22 posted on 05/26/2005 1:55:13 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Resisting evil is our duty or we are as responsible as those promoting it.)
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To: Tantumergo
who has two grown-up children from a previous heterosexual marriage

Don't you just love that? Now we have to specify if marriage is heterosexual or homosexual...

As the crazy former Congressman James Trafficant used to say, "Beam me up, Scotty!"

23 posted on 05/26/2005 2:28:40 PM PDT by GipperGal (Yes, Maureen, the Cafeteria is closed. Please step away from the salad bar and join the Unitarians.)
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To: lightman
MCC folks are extremely open about their sexuality to the degree that they really have no identity other than their perversions.

The second law of homosexuality:

To the mentally healthy (heterosexual), sex is something you do;
To the mentally diseased (homosexual), sex is everything you are

24 posted on 05/27/2005 4:56:44 AM PDT by John O (God Save America (Please))
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Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: Proto683
The only thing sick about it is you condemning two good human beings to hell over their love for one another.

Oh nay! You just stumbled upon another sick thing -- the obvious fact that you are entitled to an opinion and I'm not. The other thing you got wrong is that I don't have the power to condemn people to hell. God has handled that area nicely all by himself for a jillon years.

These women are sick and are prime examples of the rot at the very core of our foundation. If you can't deal with that, don't read my posts.

26 posted on 05/31/2005 6:50:29 PM PDT by PistolPaknMama (Will work for cool tag line.)
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