"Church in Wales takes next step towards allowing same-sex marriages"

Llandaff Cathedral                                                                                                                                Source: Church in Wales

Martin Shipton writes in Nation Cymru:

 "The Church in Wales is taking a further step towards changing its rules so same-sex weddings can take place in its churches. Since 2021 it’s been possible for gay couples who have exchanged wedding vows in a civil ceremony to have their new status blessed in a church service. But so far the necessary constitutional move has not been made to permit weddings themselves.

"According to the Church in Wales’ own rules, all three of its sections – clergy, bishops and lay members – must approve such a change, each by a two-thirds majority. But while senior figures are confident that the clergy and bishops would approve the change, they have not been sure of the lay section, a significant number of whom maintain the conservative view that marriage can only be between a man and a woman."

As previously reported, Llandaff Cathedral is to hold a national memorial service for "people who have suffered exclusion from Christian communities because of their sexuality or gender". It is organised by OneBodyOneFaith, the UK’s oldest Christian LGBT+ members’ network, in partnership with The Gathering, an LGBT+ church in Cardiff, and supported by Church in Wales bishops.

The advancement of LGBTQ+ issues now appears to be the main focus of the Church in Wales as they continue to exclude those who keep the faith.

Current Church in Wales rules provide for same-sex blessings following a Civil Ceremony of Marriage or Partnership in a five year experimental rite which expires on 30 September 2026.

The Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, has expressed his hope that same-sex weddings will then be held in churches in Wales.

To that end the consecration of 'the youngest person ever to become a bishop in the Church in Wales' may have more to do with the fact that the new assistant bishop of Bangor is engaged to a man in a same-sex partnership.

Postscripts 

17.05.2024

Church Times (£): Bishop of Lancaster: I cannot judge Welsh bishop

"Provincial autonomy trumps personal convictions about sexuality for Dr Duff at the consecration of the new Assistant Bishop of Bangor."

18.05.2024

Anglican Ink: The start of an episcopal free for all?

Budget shock

"This ‘great altar stone’ as Lutyens’ referred to it, would stand as a memorial feature in the
Commission cemeteries and could be used by those of all faiths and none and act as a symbol of common sacrifice." CWGC

I was not the only person who was surprise by the Chancellor's opening statement in yesterday's budget speech as reported in the Daily Mail: 

"Jeremy Hunt has announced £1million plans for Muslims who died in the First and Second World Wars in his Budget. The chancellor said it would honour those Muslims lost 'in the service of freedom and democracy'."

Some responses here, here, here and here, all neatly summed up by Nigel Farage here.

Need one say more!

Holocaust Memorial Day

27 January, 2022 is Holocaust Memorial day when households around the UK are encouraged to light a candle in a stand against hate and prejudice.

You can watch the Holocaust Memorial day UK ceremony here on 27 January 2022 at 7 pm.