Revd Chris Hudson, Dr Richard O’Leary and the Revd Mervyn Kingston at the memorial service for PA Mag Lochlainn, 14th April 2013, All Souls Church, Belfast. [Continue Reading]
Irish Independent: CoI group weighs in behind gay marriage
13 April 2013
A Church of Ireland pressure group says marriage should be extended to same-sex couples. Changing Attitude Ireland (CAI) has also said that children being raised by same-sex couples “need the protection of marriage”. The CAI, formed in 2007, has told the Irish Independent that it is “quite indignant” that it was not afforded the opportunity to make oral submissions at today’s Constitutional Convention, which is debating whether same-sex marriage should be voted on in a referendum. [Continue Reading]
Irish Examiner: Church and State – Division need not be destructive
3 April 2013
Another fault-line issue was raised when the chairman of the Catholic bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family, Bishop Christopher Jones, reiterated his Church’s opposition to same-sex marriages. To muddy the waters further the Church of Ireland Changing Attitude Ireland group has strongly supported the extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples. Again this week lobby group Social Justice Ireland published a critique of Government economic policy suggesting that it is creating a fractured society, a weak economy and persistently high unemployment. SJI also warned that Ireland has seen the single biggest transfer of resources in history from low- and middle-income people to the rich and powerful. [Continue Reading]
‘Those texts’ and the sanctity of life: a contribution to the debate on human sexuality
1 April 2013
By Sandra Pragnell, SEARCH 36.1, Spring 2013—The Gospel and practice of Jesus is radically inclusive. In his life and teaching he models the acceptance and affirmation of outcasts. He says nothing about homosexuality. Yet the Church’s attitude to homosexuality, in its traditional understanding, appears exclusive and homophobic, contrary to the kingdom values we profess to uphold. Christian gay men and lesbians have been described as “exiles: banished from the family, from the church, and from creation.” [Continue Reading]
Sodom, Lot’s daughters, and other texts: Homosexuality, the Church, and the sanctity of life
13 March 2013
The Church is called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ which
excludes no one; if the Church is not inclusive, it is a counter-sign of
the kingdom. The Church of Ireland should call, as some other Anlgican
churches have done, for all relationships to be assessed in the light
of an authentic spirituality, based on the kingdom values of healing, reconciliation, compassion and love. All are made in God’s image and,
as Christians, we are all one in Christ. Can the Anglican Communion
find the courage to speak prophetically and with integrity to those within
and outside the church in the third millennium of our Lord? [Continue Reading]
A Tortured Debate
12 March 2013
DURING the current civil partnership controversy, the phrases “the plain meaning of scripture” and “we have no choice but to obey” have been used on several occasions, often in the context of persuading people not to accept same-gender civil partnerships in the life of the Church. “Scripture explicitly condemns such unions; therefore Christians have no option in the matter,” is the assertion. This approach has the merit of being very clear, and is often welcomed as a sure guide in this highly complex and contentious area. But it ignores the fact that faithful Christians take different meanings from scripture according to their culture and their situation; and that “literalness” can involve misunderstanding as much as assertion of the core scriptural meaning. [Continue Reading]
Christianity magazine: “The Bible and Homosexuality: Part One”
2 February 2013
The government has announced that extending marriage to same-sex couples will ensure the ancient institution ‘is relevant for our century.’ Marriage, however, predates both state and Church – it belongs to neither of them. All of which means there are some extremely complex and controversial discussions to be had about same-sex marriage – which our society will do well to reflect on before rushing to premature decisions. [Continue Reading]
Guardian: The radical evangelical whose support for gay marriage is rocking his field
23 January 2013
When evangelical leader Steve Chalke announced his support for monogamous same-sex relationships last week, the news was received with some surprise by the mainstream press. While the Church of England continues its characteristically sluggish machinations on the matter and Tory attempts to legislate a way through a complex cultural moment falter, few expected an evangelical minister to make the next move. [Continue Reading]
Commemorating 30 years since decriminalisation
29 October 2012
Jeff Dudgeon, speaker, and Gerry Lynch, officiant, at the service at St. George’s Belfast, 28th October 2012. [Continue Reading]
