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| "A prayer for our new service of blessing for same-sex partnerships which launches online today, for use from October 1" Source: Twitter/CinW |
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, we come together in the presence of God to celebrate the union of N. and N. and to ask his blessing on their future together.
Act of Commitment
N. and N. you have already committed yourselves to each other at your Wedding / Civil Partnership when, [in the presence of your family and friends] you made solemn promises to establish a covenant of love and faithfulness between you for the rest of your life together.
I now invite you, to renew your commitment to one another before God and the Church.
N. and N. is it your desire to proclaim afresh your love and commitment to one another [before your family and friends and] in the presence of God?
Couple: It is.
There follows The Blessing of the Rings (optional), The Exchange of Rings or Gifts or Lighting of a Symbolic Candle and The Blessing of the Couple.
It is no coincidence that in 'celebrating love' the CinW liturgy mirrors the marriage service which is described as the lifelong, faithful union between a man and a woman. CinW bishops make no secret of the fact that their goal is to permit the marriage of same sex couples in church.
Love manifests itself in many ways. Pink News, for example, reveals that "Evangelical candidates for upcoming Church of England elections are being encouraged to discuss threesomes when asked about diversity and LGBT+ inclusion."
Why stop at threesomes? Based on the bishops' interpretation of love there could be many other forms of partnerships to consider, often very loving.
A 'leading evangelical' vicar explains the situation here in an interview with Coalition For Marriage (C4M).
The CinW appears content to lose many faithful worshippers to satisfy a minority of folk who reinterpret the bible in a way that satisfies their own desires.
The floundering Episcopal Church in the US made the same mistakes. The Church of England is following the same 'popularity' path to destruction despite throwing money at dwindling numbers while gay rights activists seek to take more control.
Ironically, if current downward trends continue, there will be no Anglican churches left in which to conduct marriage services.
Postscript [26.09.2021]
Christian Today "After the Church in Wales' same-sex vote, what options are open to evangelicals?"
An interview with the Rev Peter Jones, Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship in the Church in Wales (EFCW).
The only threesome guaranteed not to be discussed will be the Holy Trinity.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58681075
ReplyDeleteWere no Christians interviewed?
A parody of a sacrament from a parody of a church led by a parody of bishops rubber stamped by a parody of a synod in a parody of Christianity.
ReplyDeleteTruly satanic.
PP. A threesome or three way is certainly not in keeping with Biblical teaching, nor could in all honesty be attributed to the Scriptures neither be viewed as a modern often "get out clause" process of the leading of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteBe it a marriage between a man and women or, a same-sex act of commitment. To bringing a third person into the partnering, is surely adultery as in marriage fidelity is between two. How can their be such commitment of 3 when in marriage "two become one". Is this new Church logic saying in this new "PC" society,that the two that became one, in a marriage solemnation; adding this third person in a threesome is actually a union between two?
Societal norms are so blurred these days to allow sexual freedom in marriage using the term "open relationship". Which engages the exploring of "three way", and other such deplorable activities, like orgies, dogging, partners allowing partners to go alone for extra marital concocted depravity.
Scripture condemns any of these activities and more, So how can any Church accept, bless and condone such, that threesomes are publicly acknowledged in a ceremony in God's house The Church that does this slides into the mire. It may as well offer "hand-fastings" which in a pagan coven only last for a year and a day. Or, God forebid, a priest going around a dogging spot in full kit, blessing the activities with Holy water.
No, it's time in these consistently growing loose moral society for a Church that condemns but, lovingly leads the "sinner" into acknowledgement of their sin and to Christ. If it means being unpopular, so be it. I am reminded of the paraphrase of God word "let the redeemed of the Lord, say so". As the last few verses in the messages to the 7 Churches in Asia Minor (Rev) paraphrasing - "Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches". I can only add from a recent sermon "are we listening? Sadly, lone voices like the prophets in the wilderness, call a Church to account, but sadly the Church may hear, but to heed the message would meaning loss, loss of face, so instead of being "salt and light".
You have omitted the 'swingers' PP.
DeletePP. LOL Trust you Enoch.
DeleteIrrespective of our theological convictions, and whether we like it or not, the vast majority of people in Britain today see little, if any, difference between people who are married and those who have entered into civil partnerships. Indeed, the term "gay wedding" rapidly gained currency when the latter were introduced even though legally they weren't the same.
ReplyDeleteEven more don't bother with "marriage" at all but prefer to co-habit.
DeleteWhen it all goes pear shaped at least an expensive divorce can be avoided.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58698406
ReplyDeletePoor old Keir Starmer, can't make his mind up if women have a cervix or not!
🤣
What next from Sir Keir? E may, or may not, equal m c squared? An apple may, or may not, fall on Newton's head? A dalmation may be a dog, or may be cat?
Delete@ Ruth:
ReplyDeleteI'm baffled as to why Keir Starmer, given the rather parlous state of the Labour party in terms of electoral success in recent times, is still succumbing to the temptation of prioritizing opining solemnly on this sort of issue.
As far as most ordinary voters are concerned this is a subject only of interest to a tiny minority of Brits, and Labour's apparent obsession with niche issues of this nature only reinforces what seems to me a widespread sense that Labour pays more heed to clamour from small fringe minorities than they pay to the concerns and interests of the bulk of average voters.
This is the problem of wanting to be all things to all people, John. They end up as nothing to everyone - it is a bit like the Anglican Church!
DeleteSeymour
Just like the Church in Wales and the Church of England.
DeleteIndeed; that does seem an apt analogy.
DeleteBut there is no mass exodus....or have I missed anything?
ReplyDeleteSurely divorce and remarriage was the first attack on marriage in the Church in Wales.Heterosexual immorality is bad too according to the New Testament.
ReplyDeleteWell said Richard!
Delete