Church of England faces ‘crisis’ as first priest defies teachings to marry gay partner

The first Church of England priest has broken ranks to marry his same-sex partner as a senior member warns of “crisis” if such clergy members are not “disciplined”.

Canon Jeremy Pemberton, got married to his partner Laurence Cunnington on Saturday.

The hospital chaplain, 58, was the first Church of England priest to defy church teachings to marry under same-sex marriage legislation which came into effect last month.

Same-sex marriage campaigners have commended the couple for marrying, and have urged Church of England bishops to bless the partnership.

It is predicted that many more gay clergy members will marry, but a member of the evangelical wing warned that such weddings should not be allowed to take place.

Reverend Prebendary Rod Thomas, chairman of the Reform evangelical group, on Saturday said: “There’s no doubt that there is pressure within some parts of the church for the Church to change its mind on sexuality.

“If there is not clear discipline then it is the equivalent to saying ‘we really didn’t mean what we said.’ It will precipitate a crisis.”

Pemberton is a father of five, and a chaplain at Lincoln hospital, as well as in the Southwell and Nottingham diocese.

He signed a letter in December 2012 from 150 clergy members warning that they would defy the church if it refused to allow same-sex weddings.

The church is currently divided on the issue of same-sex marriage and earlier this year the House of Bishops decided to ban gay clergy from marrying.

Reverend Colin Coward, a friend of Pemberton’s and the director of the Changing Attitude campaign group, said: “I’m really, really happy for Jeremy and his partner that they are finally able to get married after a long time of being together as a couple.

“I hope the bishops find a way to affirm and bless their relationship rather than taking action against them.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury last month signalled the end of the church’s resistance to same-sex marriage, and since defended the church’s position against an attack live on LBC from former MP Ann Widdecombe, but also claimed that African Christians would be killed if the church was too quick to change its stance on gay relationships.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/13/church-of-england-faces-crisis-as-first-priest-defies-teachings-to-marry-gay-partner/


Well done to those two!     

Catman wrote:


The first Church of England priest has broken ranks to marry his same-sex partner as a senior member warns of “crisis” if such clergy members are not “disciplined”.

Canon Jeremy Pemberton, got married to his partner Laurence Cunnington on Saturday.

The hospital chaplain, 58, was the first Church of England priest to defy church teachings to marry under same-sex marriage legislation which came into effect last month.

Same-sex marriage campaigners have commended the couple for marrying, and have urged Church of England bishops to bless the partnership.

It is predicted that many more gay clergy members will marry, but a member of the evangelical wing warned that such weddings should not be allowed to take place.

Reverend Prebendary Rod Thomas, chairman of the Reform evangelical group, on Saturday said: “There’s no doubt that there is pressure within some parts of the church for the Church to change its mind on sexuality.

“If there is not clear discipline then it is the equivalent to saying ‘we really didn’t mean what we said.’ It will precipitate a crisis.”

Pemberton is a father of five, and a chaplain at Lincoln hospital, as well as in the Southwell and Nottingham diocese.

He signed a letter in December 2012 from 150 clergy members warning that they would defy the church if it refused to allow same-sex weddings.

The church is currently divided on the issue of same-sex marriage and earlier this year the House of Bishops decided to ban gay clergy from marrying.

Reverend Colin Coward, a friend of Pemberton’s and the director of the Changing Attitude campaign group, said: “I’m really, really happy for Jeremy and his partner that they are finally able to get married after a long time of being together as a couple.

“I hope the bishops find a way to affirm and bless their relationship rather than taking action against them.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury last month signalled the end of the church’s resistance to same-sex marriage, and since defended the church’s position against an attack live on LBC from former MP Ann Widdecombe, but also claimed that African Christians would be killed if the church was too quick to change its stance on gay relationships.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/13/church-of-england-faces-crisis-as-first-priest-defies-teachings-to-marry-gay-partner/


Well done to those two!     

Didn't you say this wouldn't happen ? Isn't it a tad hypocritical to celebrate what you said would never happen and was never on the agenda.  I'm neither religious nor gay but I find this crass in the extreme .

They didn't marry in church Stephen, the Church doesn't like it because he is a priest, but he married in exactly the same way other gay couples will marry and the only link to the church is his priesthood. Church of England priests are not forbidden to marry.

Sassy wrote:They didn't marry in church Stephen, the Church doesn't like it because he is a priest, but he married in exactly the same way other gay couples will marry and the only link to the church is his priesthood.   Church of England priests are not forbidden to marry.  

Ahh! right, my speed reading isn't that good then.   
So why is this news ? Partners of either sex of  the clergy  have been living together  for as long as I can remember.  

Stephenmarra wrote:

Sassy wrote:They didn't marry in church Stephen, the Church doesn't like it because he is a priest, but he married in exactly the same way other gay couples will marry and the only link to the church is his priesthood.   Church of England priests are not forbidden to marry.  

Ahh! right, my speed reading isn't that good then.   
So why is this news ? Partners of either sex of  the clergy  have been living together  for as long as I can remember.  

They certainly have! I think this is news because he is the first priest and the Church have kicked up a fuss about it. Otherwise it would probably have gone unnoticed.

Christian Concern CEO Andrea Williams has slammed a senior clergyman for marrying his same-sex partner and has urged for the Church of England to take action.

Canon Jeremy Pemberton, a hospital chaplain from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, married Laurence Cunnington in a “very joyous, very happy” ceremony in front of family and friends on Saturday.

Liberal Anglicans described the ceremony as “wonderful” and expressed hopes that it would lead to the Church of England accepting same-sex marriage.

But Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern and a member of the General Synod, said it was “extraordinarily disappointing” that a clergyman “would defy the Church’s teaching, but more importantly defy God’s teaching as clearly set out in the Bible”.

“The Archbishop of Canterbury should set out a clear stand and the bishops should set out a clear stand – for the good of the people, the good of the Church and the good of the nation – what marriage is: between one man and one woman,” The Independent reports Ms Williams said.

Last week, Ms Williams commented on the resignation of a gay teacher in Birmingham by claiming that school children were being indoctrinated into homosexuality.

She told a local BBC radio station: “Let’s be clear, the parents were not complaining about the teacher being gay, but rather that he was promoting homosexuality in books designed for five-year-olds. Little children do not need to be made aware of sexuality and gay and lesbian relationships.

“These are thoughts that wouldn’t enter into the minds of little children and parents have a right to know what their children are being taught in school.”

She added: “Same-sex relationships are not a norm”.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/14/the-head-of-Christian-concern-is-horrified-that-a-gay-chaplain-has-married-his-partner/

   Bloody Christian bigot.

Reader comment.....

Derek Northcote • 7 hours ago

Hypocrite.

"“....would defy the Church’s teaching, but more importantly defy God’s teaching as clearly set out in the Bible”.

1 Timothy 2:12 - Suffer NOT a woman to speak or usurp the authority of the man. but to be in silence.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 - In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.

1 Corinthians 11:5 - But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Jeremiah 4:30 - And [when] thou [art] spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life

Clearly she is directly defying gods teaching as CLEARLY set out in the bible.

Cherry picking idiot.


    

Being a true Blue Conservative I do appear to have missed something, or has something sidestepped me............

When the debates and the positioning and the proposing was happening pre vote in the HOC re same sex marriage, I was under the impression it was allowed only to pass cleanly as the the Churches in England would not become involved and be under no legal obligation as it was deemed against their teachings.

So now we have two C of E clergymen being married.............. The Rubicon has been crossed IMO. I am waiting for the onslaught of despair and other nice words form the some on here, but I have said all along the Church will not be able to fight this............ And they can't. So any member of the Church refusing to carry out the ceremony is now a sitting duck for litigation at best.

Those that were against the term " Marriage " in the first instance will now have more hurdles and very expensive leagl bills to fight.

Sassy wrote:They didn't marry in church Stephen, the Church doesn't like it because he is a priest, but he married in exactly the same way other gay couples will marry and the only link to the church is his priesthood.   Church of England priests are not forbidden to marry.  

BUMP.

they should just kick him out, he knew the rules he broke them...

Godisgoodallthetime wrote:they should just kick him out, he knew the rules he broke them...

Avatar
David Greensmith Derek Northcote • 5 hours ago

"God’s teaching as clearly set out in the Bible" - so for marriage would that be (amongst others): Killing your bride if you find out she's not a virgin (Deuteronomy 22:13-21); marrying your half-sister (Genesis 20:12); forcing a rape victim to marry her rapist (Deuteronomy 22:28-29); having as many as eight brides and so many bits of "spare" you lose count (1 Chronicles 3:1-9) - not just, as she claims, between one man and one woman. Or perhaps we can look at Matthew 8:5-13 which has been interpreted as referring to Jesus blessing a gay couple by healing one who was ill. Given her desire to comply with her god's word in the Bible, in addition to the above quotes from 1 Timothy and Corinthians, this woman with her bright red lipstick, thick foundation and obviously tinted hair should pay head to Proverbs 11:22.


 ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: ://?roflmao?/: 

wally ...

simple he broke the rules kick him out...simples,,

Godisgoodallthetime wrote:wally ...

simple he broke the rules kick him out...simples,,

  .....Well that sow should be kicked out then, for breaking other church rules!

            

Catman wrote:

Godisgoodallthetime wrote:wally ...

simple he broke the rules kick him out...simples,,

  .....Well that sow should be kicked out then, for breaking other church rules!

            

anyone who breaks the church rues, especially those in a position of trust or authority should be thrown out...

Godisgoodallthetime wrote:

Catman wrote:


  .....Well that sow should be kicked out then, for breaking other church rules!

            

anyone who breaks the church rues, especially those in a position of trust or authority should be thrown out...

.....Well, didn't Jesus hate praying within stone walled buildings, so why do you pray in a church then?

  

Catman wrote:

Godisgoodallthetime wrote:

anyone who breaks the church rues, especially those in a position of trust or authority should be thrown out...

.....Well, didn't Jesus hate praying within stone walled buildings, so why do you pray in a church then?

  

LOLZ catman made a very good Theological point,  :::grouch::  Christ did take his sermons to the hill.

And does that mean that being gay is against church rules but being a peado isn't?  :\\:[: 

I sort of agree the church has every right to kick him out if they want to, I'm pretty sure the could use the same legal loop hole that allows for the selection of Actors and Corporate reps regarding the need to fit description of a Fictional Role and/or community held image.

We've gone through this before, but if people were to strictly abide by Christian rules, men with "wounded testicles" would never be allowed in church, and it would be OK to own a slave or three ...