Two Male priests marry in Anglican church's first gay 'wedding'
Pastor Dale Morgan
Two Male priests marry in Anglican church's first gay 'wedding'*
By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last updated: 12:10 AM BST 15/06/2008
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.
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."