A vicar… [has] defended government proposals for same-sex marriage against the official policy of his own Church….
…Michael Bowie, Anglican vicar at St Peter’s Church in Berkhamsted High Street, described the [Church of England] stance as “disappointing and legalistic”.
In an emailed newsletter, he writes: “As usual we are seen to be providing a mean-spirited reaction to something that our society sees as not only acceptable but just.
“It appears to the world that ”˜morality’, for us, is about sex and nothing more….”
Read it all. Also, you may find the parish website there.
I’m sure there are any number of young, conservative clergy would would be delighted to accept this position once the vicar is dismissed.
Some prophetic attitude: Secular society finds Gay “marriage” acceptable so all good Christians must get in line and say “Amen!”
Hogwash!!
What a misleading headline!
The word “defies” can imply to an unwary reader that the vicar intends to carry out a Same Sex Marriage in defiance of church law. But the article just says that he supports same sex marriage and wants to raise it at Diocesan Synod – how is THAT supposed to be news in the CofE?