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(Tel.) One C of E rector faces backlash in pews over same-sex ”˜wedding’ plans

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Kendall Harmon

An Anglican clergyman is facing opposition from parishioners over a service in his local church to bless his same-sex civil partnership.

The Rev Dominic McClean, the Rector of 13 parishes around the village of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, invited parishioners to the special service this weekend to mark his civil union with his partner, Tony Hodges.

The service, taking place in the 14th Century St Peter’s Church in Market Bosworth on Saturday next week was given a go-ahead by the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, who led the Church of England’s opposition in the House of Lords to the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

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Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, * Culture-Watch, * International News & Commentary, --Civil Unions & Partnerships, Anglican Provinces, Anthropology, Church of England (CoE), England / UK, Ethics / Moral Theology, Law & Legal Issues, Marriage & Family, Religion & Culture, Same-sex blessings, Sexuality, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion), Theology, Theology: Scripture

One comment on “(Tel.) One C of E rector faces backlash in pews over same-sex ”˜wedding’ plans”

  1. Pageantmaster Ù† says:
    September 17, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    The Church of England does not officially bless same-sex unions but allows parishes to offer informal prayers of dedication.

    Since when? Says whom?

    But an announcement leaflet distributed in the pews last weekend described the service as a “blessing”, according to Mr Chalmers.

    “A person’s private life is entirely their own affair, provided it doesn’t cause any harm or injure other people nobody is going to interfere,” he said.

    “Here we have what is effectively a high profile demonstration where the parish priest is able to use his own church for his own gay wedding in all but name and has upset a lot of people.

    “Now the Bishop of Leicester, who was very vocal in the House of Lords in his opposition to gay marriage, has given his consent.”

    Time for Tim Stevens to face proceedings under the Clergy Discipline Measure to answer for his conduct.

    That is if bishops expect any respect or obedience from anyone else – or are we to turn into ECUSA with the division and chaos that will bring?