The Church of England, which has said it will not allow any of its churches to be used for civil partnerships, said the reported proposals could lead to “inconsistencies” and “confusion”.
A spokesman said the church had yet to see the plans, but added: “The proposal as reported could also lead to inconsistencies with civil marriage, have unexplored impacts, and lead to confusion, with a number of difficult and unintended consequences for churches and faiths. Any change could, therefore, only be brought after proper and careful consideration of all the issues involved, to ensure that the intended freedom for all denominations over these matters is genuinely secured.”
However, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, gave the news a guarded welcome. He told the BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show that he “believes in a liberal democracy, and actually wants equality with everybody”, but he did not want churches to be told what to do.
Perhaps the SS union/blessing/wedding Liturgies could include readings from Genesis 2:21-24, Genesis 13:13, Leviticus 18:22, Judges 19:24, II Kings 23:7, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7, Romans 1:18-32, I Corinthians 6:9-20, Hebrews 7:25, from the CDC latest reports, published research in medicine and mental health indicating increased incidence of depression, addiction and suicide, and from several NARTH authored books and papers on means of healing and overcoming the conditioned responses, disoriented incomplete identity formation, misdirected desires, arrested emotional maturity due to traumas, unmet emotional needs and the consequent misbeliefs about self and others that result in same-sex attractions and behaviors.
All sarcasm aside, the church is supposed to be loving but firm and a safe place to heal from our disorientations and ways of the flesh, world and devil – and to become fully oriented to God and His Ways.
These church ‘fathers’ are giving out stones, serpents and scorpions instead of The Bread of Life, the transforming Word and love of Christ. Sin cannot be tamed into a neat little ‘committed consensual relationship’ – anything, ANYTHING that violates God’s Word is sin which equals harm. Science and research and Scripture agree. Marriage is for the founding of safe, holy sanctuaries where children can grow to their optimum potential and learn to know, live in agreement with and serve the true and living God, not their desires and fleshly inclinations.
Same-sex sexualized relations are confusion and obscurity of God’s design and will for humanity. We cannot wish it any different. We must always surrender our sinful desires and sinfulness to God in faith and trust. Union with God is more than adequate to fulfill and compensate for any evil desire we ever could relinquish. GOD is the ultimate fulfillment and joy.