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Senior Anglican creates "Thank You" Service for Homosexual Couples
ChristianToday ^ | January 10 , 2005 | Andrew Clark

Posted on 01/10/2005 10:00:09 AM PST by DBeers

A leading UK newspaper has reported that a senior Anglican bishop has commissioned the first official Church of England service to recognise homosexual relationships and co-habiting heterosexuals.

The Sunday Times reported that the Bishop of Lincoln, John Saxbee has given orders to his staff create the liturgy for non-married couples to be able to come and give thanks to God for their relationship.

Although the move steers clear of forming a marriage service, it has angered a number of traditional Anglicans.

The blessings given unofficially to gay relationships in churches has been increasing this past year, with a 10% rise to 300 in England last year.

It is unprecedented that a diocese or bishop has authorised a rite for homosexual relationships. Saxbee has seemed to sneak by current Anglican directives and has argued that the new service is "consistent with current Anglican guidelines" as it does not attempt to bless or give sanctification to the relationship, but is simply a thanks for a friendship.

Many critics, however, have indicated their anger at the move and have stated that the distinction that Saxbee has made is semantic and damages the churches efforts to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

The chairman of the conservative pressure group Reform, David Banting said, "Who’s kidding who? Would liturgy for this sort of relationship have come forward for friendship’s sake were it not for the pressure from the gay lobby?"

Reform claim to be the largest evangelical group within the Church of England.

Reports have come out that of four books that have been prepared to help plan the services, three of these are "gay prayer books".

Saxbee has been at the centre of heated debate before within the Anglican Communion, when 2 years ago he publicly backed a vicar to bless a same-sex union. At that time he reported, "I have indicated I would not stand in the way so long as he abides by my condition that they must not be made to look like marriages."

The Lincoln Liturgy Committee have drafted the service, which is chaired by the Archdeacon of Stow, Tim Ellis. It is proposed that a welcome and opening reading will be chosen from approximately a dozen passages regarding the nature of friendship. The couples will later step forward to the altar and then thank God for their relationship.

Afterwards the couple will be able to declare their commitment and exchange gifts. The service will be offered to close friends, and not only to couples who are in an intimate relationship.

The Rector of Owmby in Lincolnshire, Peter Godden who is the secretary of the Liturgy Committee further enflamed the argument by saying, "We do recognise that the service will be used by same-sex couples, but we have not provided any specific references to any kind of relationship or friendship."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: anglican; churchatcorinth; diapermakerssaythanx; europeanchristians; fauxchristian; homosexualagenda; samesexmarriage; thanksfornothing; thanx4aids; thanx4culturerot; thanx4degredation; thanx4molestingboys; thanx4stds
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1 posted on 01/10/2005 10:00:10 AM PST by DBeers
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To: DirtyHarryY2K

homosexual agenda pre ping


2 posted on 01/10/2005 10:01:21 AM PST by DBeers
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To: DBeers

Worse than the obvious is the deception being perpetrated against those who need Him most!


3 posted on 01/10/2005 10:02:41 AM PST by odoso (Millions for charity, but not one penny for tribute!)
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To: DBeers

And to those who made a committment through the Sacrament of Marriage a "F*** You!"


4 posted on 01/10/2005 10:03:14 AM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: DBeers

No wonder so few in England go to church. The whole flippin country has become one big San Francisco.


5 posted on 01/10/2005 10:06:42 AM PST by pissant
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To: DBeers

FTD is capitalizing on the new ceremony with the "Thank You For Ignoring God And Doing Me Bouquet".


6 posted on 01/10/2005 10:08:15 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: DBeers

The Anglican Church is exhibit one on why a church should not have official ties to the state. N o matter what lunacy gains currency there, they lose not a penny of funds.

Tis a shame as that church is a grand ole lady.


7 posted on 01/10/2005 10:09:56 AM PST by JFK_Lib
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To: DBeers

Bailiff, whack his pee-pee.....
(gratuitous Cheech & Chong reference, seemed to fit somehow)


8 posted on 01/10/2005 10:10:47 AM PST by Nabber
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To: pissant
No wonder so few in England go to church. The whole flippin country has become one big San Francisco.

You seem to miss the point. There is outrage about this because the Church of England still has to many conservatives within it; by contrast our American sister church (whose doors I would not darken) has explicit gay-union ceremonies without many heads being raised. I would say that we're far less far down this road you those in America or Canada.

Oh, and John Saxbee is a fool whose appointment was criticised as soon as it was made.
9 posted on 01/10/2005 10:12:11 AM PST by tjwmason ("For he himself has said it, And it's greatly to his credit, That he is an Englishman!")
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To: tjwmason

Yeah, here in America, the Episcopalians can't tell a "bishop" from a "queen".


10 posted on 01/10/2005 10:19:42 AM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: tjwmason

"I would say that we're far less far down this road you those in America or Canada."

Perhaps in Canada, but not here in the US. The gay bishop promotion in New Hampshire is causing the US church to split & many to leave the Episcopal Church for more traditionally oriented outlets. In the US, several Evangelical denominations, The Catholic Church, The Mormons, and many independent Christain churches are growing quickly. Often at the expense of former mainline protestant churches, which have pushed out the gospel in favor of PC gobbely-gook.

I don't think Britain has nearly as vibrant faith community as the USA.


11 posted on 01/10/2005 10:21:19 AM PST by pissant
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To: DBeers
Noted here: Do liberals want to split the Anglican Communion?
12 posted on 01/10/2005 10:24:23 AM PST by sionnsar († trad-anglican.faithweb.com † || Iran Azadi || www.revotewa.com -- No governor from THIS vote!!)
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To: PBRSTREETGANG
FTD is capitalizing on the new ceremony with the "Thank You For Ignoring God And Doing Me Bouquet".

ROTFLMAO

Their gender neutral ecologically sound condom and organic lube gift baskets are selling as well as their springtime of sodomy flower arrangements.

13 posted on 01/10/2005 10:25:46 AM PST by DBeers
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To: Semper Paratus

Unfortunately, that's about right.


14 posted on 01/10/2005 10:26:18 AM PST by cvq3842
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To: JFK_Lib

Tis a shame as that church is a grand ole lady.

======

Maybe... but it's now a fact: the grand ole lady had a sex change operation !!! ;-))


15 posted on 01/10/2005 10:27:22 AM PST by GeekDejure ( LOL = Liberals Obey Lucifer !!!)
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To: odoso

Yes - more evidence we are in a time of Biblical Prophesy; the Churches are taking the apostate path...


16 posted on 01/10/2005 10:30:06 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: EdReform; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; stage left; Yakboy; I_Love_My_Husband; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping.

Have these folks ever even opened a BIBLE?

If you want on/off the list let me know.

17 posted on 01/10/2005 10:55:16 AM PST by DirtyHarryY2K (''Go though life with a Bible in one hand and a Newspaper in the other" -- Billy Graham)
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To: DBeers

Next up, special services where you and your wife can affirm and bless that special mistress in your life...

Evensong for Prostitutes cannot be far behind.


18 posted on 01/10/2005 10:55:57 AM PST by GOP Jedi
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To: DirtyHarryY2K; sionnsar

Thanks for the ping.

sionnsar for your ping list.


19 posted on 01/10/2005 11:01:03 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Help to insure freedom with a monthly donation to Free Republic!)
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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