An Anglican pastor has quit the church and is taking his congregation with him after the governing body moved ahead with plans to bless same-sex relationships.<\/p>\n
Charlie Hughes, the former vicar of St Michael’s in Henderson, says he cannot reconcile the decision of the church to recognise same sex relationships with his ordination vows.<\/p>\n
He said the vows were a pledge to uphold the constitution of the Anglican Church. The constitution states it is “not lawful to ordain anything contrary to God’s word written”.<\/p>\n
“It’s not because we have a problem with people who are in a same sex relationship but because of the commitment we have to shaping our lives around the teachings of the Bible,” Mr Hughes said.
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\nMr Hughes said he knew of other churches in which rifts had formed.<\/p>\n
“There is a large body of Anglican clergy who are convinced this is the wrong way to go.”<\/p>\n
There was also a group of lawyers \u201d\u201d including two QCs \u201d\u201d who were working on a legal challenge to the church’s move.<\/p>\n