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UK: Male priests marry in Anglican church's first gay 'wedding'
The Telegraph ^ | 6/15/2008 | Jonathan Wynne-Jones

Posted on 06/14/2008 4:51:35 PM PDT by bruinbirdman

An Anglican church has held a homosexual "wedding" for the first time in a move that will deepen the rift between liberals and traditionalists, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Two male priests exchanged vows and rings in a ceremony that was conducted using one of the church's most traditional wedding rites – a decision seen as blasphemous by conservatives.


Rev Peter Cowell and Rev Dr David Lord

The ceremony broke Church of England guidelines and was carried out last month in defiance of the Bishop of London, in whose diocese it took place. News of the "wedding" emerged days before a crucial summit of the Anglican Church's conservative bishops and archbishops, who are threatening to split the worldwide Church over the issue of homosexual clergy.

Although some liberal clergy have carried out "blessing ceremonies" for homosexual couples in the past, this is the first time a vicar has performed a "wedding ceremony", using a traditional marriage liturgy, with readings, hymns and a ­Eucharist.

Both the conservative and liberal wings of the Anglican communion expressed shock last night.

The Most Rev Henry Orombi, the Archbishop of Uganda, said that the ceremony was "blasphemous." He called on Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to take decisive action if the Anglican Church were not to "disintegrate". Archbishop Orombi added: "What really shocks me is that this is happening in the Church of England that first brought the Gospel to us.

"The leadership tried to deny that this would happen, but now the truth is out. Our respect for the Church of England will erode unless we see a return to traditional teaching."

The Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, the Bishop of Winchester – a powerful conservative figure – said that the service represented a wedding "in all but name". He said: "Strictly speaking it is not a marriage, but the language is clearly modelled on the marriage service and the occasion is modelled on the marriage service. This clearly flouts Church guidelines and will exacerbate divisions within the Anglican Communion."

The bishop said that it was up to the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, to act, adding that it would become a high-profile test case of Church authority.

"Can we stand for the clear teaching of the Church of England or are we powerless in the face of these actions, which I regret enormously have taken place," he said.

The service was held at St Bartholomew the Great in London – one of England's oldest churches, which featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral – and was conducted by the parish rector, the Rev Martin Dudley.

The couple, the Rev Peter Cowell, who is a cleric at one of the Queen's churches, and the Rev Dr David Lord, had registered their civil partnership before the ceremony.

Mr Dudley opened the service by saying: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join these men in a holy covenant of love and fidelity. Such a covenant shows us the mystery of the union between God and God's people and between Christ and the Church." In the vows, Mr Cowell and Dr Lord pledged to "hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part".

Mr Dudley blessed the union with the words: "As David and Jonathan's souls were knit together, so these men may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made."

Leading church figures expressed astonishment at the language and grandeur of the service, claiming that it was a highly provocative act. Although, the use of such a traditional ceremony does not constitute a marriage in the eyes of the law, Church figures on all sides said the event went further than any gay blessing ceremonies that had gone before.

The "marriage" will revive the war over homosexual clergy that has engulfed the Church since 2003 when Gene Robinson was made Bishop of New Hampshire and Jeffrey John, another gay cleric, who was about to become Bishop of Reading, was made to step down.

It is likely to embolden liberal clergy who have been reluctant to offer a full "wedding service" and will open the floodgates to other homosexuals who want a traditional ceremony.

Mr Dudley agreed to conduct the service despite Bishop Chartres warning that Church guidelines – drawn up when the Civil Partnerships Act was introduced – do not allow formal blessings of gay relationships. He argued that it was not a wedding but a blessing and that he was not "offering" blessing services, but responding to personal requests from friends. "I believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, but I see nothing wrong with blessing a couple who want to make a life-long commitment to one another."

A Church of England spokesman said: "Where clergy are approached by people asking for prayer in relation to entering into a civil partnership they should respond pastorally and sensitively in the light of the circumstances. But the House of Bishops affirmed that clergy should not provide services of blessing for those who register a civil partnership."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: anglicans; coe; europeanchristians; fauxchristians; gaychurch; homosexualagenda; immoralityorg; nonchristiancult; religiousleft; rowanwilliams; samesexmarriage
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To: WellyP

“Turd burglars.”


41 posted on 06/14/2008 7:01:21 PM PDT by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: sionnsar

That’s what I was hoping.


42 posted on 06/14/2008 7:01:53 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: ahadams2; jpr_fire2gold; Tennessee Nana; QBFimi; Tailback; MBWilliams; showme_the_Glory; ...
Thanks to Fractal Trader for the ping.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail Huber or sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (sometimes 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by Huber and sionnsar.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Humor: The Anglican Blue

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

43 posted on 06/14/2008 7:02:42 PM PDT by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: bruinbirdman; thundrey

Sorry to read about this. I think over in the US, this would be called “pornography.” However, our Anglican church is not much better, unfortunately. :-(


44 posted on 06/14/2008 7:05:30 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: bruinbirdman; thundrey

Just re-read: the decadent priests ARE Anglican. That church is going to Hell in a handbasket on BOTH sides of the Pond!


45 posted on 06/14/2008 7:06:48 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: All

Very sad. I visited this church in 2005, I think it was. Beautiful... but dead, if it allowed this.


46 posted on 06/14/2008 7:06:56 PM PDT by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Uncle Hal

How come. Are gay activits getting your petition signatures thrown out?


47 posted on 06/14/2008 7:12:39 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: M203M4

Well, I had to look up “coprophilia.” I only wish I didn’t.


48 posted on 06/14/2008 7:15:20 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: sionnsar

He argued that it was not a wedding but a blessing and that he was not “offering” blessing services
______________________________________

Sounds more like a mormon “spiritual wedding”


49 posted on 06/14/2008 7:16:28 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Army Air Corps

a decision seen as blasphemous by conservatives.

Someone else objects and He is not one to be mocked.
__________________________________________

He calls it an abomination..


50 posted on 06/14/2008 7:19:37 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; Uncle Hal

activits = activists (d-urrrrrr!)


51 posted on 06/14/2008 7:19:47 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: Tennessee Nana

I dunno. I suspect that, unlike the “mainstream” Anglican clergy, the Mormons are still into that whole backward “man-woman” thing...


52 posted on 06/14/2008 7:21:07 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Drill Here! Drill Now! Pay Less! Sign the petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/)
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To: FormerLib; WellyP

“Butt buddies.”


53 posted on 06/14/2008 7:24:40 PM PDT by Finny ("Raise hell. Vote smart." -- Ted Nugent)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I suspect that, unlike the “mainstream” Anglican clergy,

"Mainstream" only in the rapidly-diminishing northern churches, not in the vast majority of Anglican churches.

54 posted on 06/14/2008 7:25:28 PM PDT by sionnsar (trad-anglican.faithweb.com |Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: bruinbirdman

” male priests “

If you are a queer you are not a priest.


55 posted on 06/14/2008 7:29:46 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: Uncle Hal

Homosexual “marriage” may come, however, despite the laws.... there is nothing to say we have to recognize it as individuals.

Just as it was moral to defy the morally indefensible segregation laws, it is also moral to simply refuse to honor homosexual “unions” with the dignity of even the term marriage....let alone it’s rights.

Will people get persecuted by law? Of course, but that is what it will take to change things.

I for one will never recognize sexual perverts’ “unions” as marriage.

I believe there are millions like me. I hope they will stand up and be counted—even if jailed—in California now.

I also believe there are some states, especially in the bible belt which simply will not recognize gay “marriage” even if ordered to do so by the Supreme Court.

Maybe this instance will be the one where some political leaders some where will finally stand up to judicial tyranny and defy it.


56 posted on 06/14/2008 7:31:08 PM PDT by AnalogReigns
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To: ConorMacNessa
Any righteousness left in the Anglican Church is located in the continent of Africa.

God will always have a Remnant.

57 posted on 06/14/2008 7:52:55 PM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
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To: johniegrad

I meant the quoted material.


58 posted on 06/14/2008 7:57:12 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
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To: Albion Wilde

They eat and drink in celebration of their own damnation! It is truly frightening to think of what is coming, but it’s not like we haven’t been warned. God is patient, but He is also holy.


59 posted on 06/14/2008 8:19:05 PM PDT by CitizenUSA (Republican Who Will NOT Vote McCain!)
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To: johniegrad

johniegrad: “Legalistic parsing that Bill Clinton would admire.”

Certainly, but their battle is with the Lord not man. No manner of artful talk, rationalization, or appeals to emotion hold sway over the Lord. He is sovereign in a way that is completely and totally beyond the feeble power of man. In fact, even the word “feeble” does not accurately portray the power of man compared to God. We have none.

They can rationalize their heresy any way they wish, but they might as well argue with the sea for the good it will do them.


60 posted on 06/14/2008 8:30:58 PM PDT by CitizenUSA (Republican Who Will NOT Vote McCain!)
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