same sex marriage-in church

Smileless, the problem is no priest can conduct a same sex marriage untill it is passed by the governing body. I have friends who are priests, some want to conduct these marriage services some do not , it really isn’t that easy to ignore scripture . I am sure in time it will be accepted but how long? Heaven knows.

The patronising attitude of the Church towards homosexuality is the single biggest cause of my disillusion with Christianity. No-one has the right to tell other people who to love, and all couples should be treated equally.

I do agree Annie that no minister should be forced to conduct a marriage between two people of the same sex if it goes against his/her beliefs and conscience.

That said if ministers are happy to conduct same sex marriages they should be able to do so.

No church / Chapel should be forced by law to conduct marriage between two people of the same sex I fully support civil marriages for people of the same sex. B

What would happen if a man who chose to be a woman wanted to marry a woman who chose to be a man

Well said knickas!

I may not agree with forcing a Religious Instituion to accept something wholly against it's beliefs, I am not however against Gay Civil Marriage and I am slightly appalled at the some posters attitudes to homosexuality. We are what we are people. Love is love in all its forms (between consenting adults). It does occure in nature, and yes, maybe an aberration, but not a bad or unusual one. But live and let live, support and love I say.

Lollee, if unmarried partners make a will as security, surely wills can be changed and leave one partner with nothing.
I have a married friend who has a wealthy husband with dementure, he has just changed his will so to protect herself she is having to divorce him. Everything is in his name, the joint account has little money in it, at least she can get something from a divorce, it's sad they have been together for 30 yrs and he means to leave her nothing!. His reasoning is " I picked her up in a bar, I have given her a good life,(true till recently) she can go back to the bar".
She cannot get power of attorney, he is just belligerent and won't see reason, so even if you are married it might not be plain sailing.

I despair for the children/grandchildren of people like Lioness and Gabriella. Should any of your family be LGBT they could never be themselves around you or be honest about anyone they may choose to live their lives with, how sad. I am an atheist and believe that religion is the cause (along with money) of most of the problems in this world. If someone loves anpther human, regardless if same sex, then they should go for it I'm sure there are many of us stuck in "traditional" relationships who are miserable and if it wasn't for finances I'd get out of mine. As for not having children there are many heterosexual couples who should never be allowed to multiply but that's a whole other thread!

Gabriella what harm does it do between two consenting adults who love each other?

Lollee, we have wills already, but I cannot guarantee that my partner will get a "dependant's" pension unless we are married or civil partnered (if that's the right phrase!), and I do not want to marry again.
I do not think of myself as his dependant, and I do not consider him as mine.

We regard ourselves as equal partners, financially as in other respects - but he has the capital, I have the pension income!

In my experience of the C of E, they seem to be far more beaurocratic than any other organisation I have ever come across. We wanted to by an empty, derelict rectory and it took years for the diocesan board and various committees to decide whether or not it should be sold.

I cannot speak for the Churches in Scotland, in the Welsh Anglican Church a priest has no choice but to refuse untill
It has been passed by the governing body, this is made up of
The House of Bishops , the six bishops in Wales, The House of Clergy , 51 priests, The House of Laity , 86 representatives of the Bishops Parishes. Having been a member of The Houseof Laity I assure you these decisions are not taken lightly, it can go on for several years, and being part of the world wide Anglican Church there are all the countries involved too.

So don’t blame the poor priest of your local church ?

There's nothing blissful about ignorance Gabriella.

It's not right is it paddyann to seemingly be accepted in so many ways by your Church but not when you want to be married there. I hope your friends get their church service.

Some churches think you can ‘cure’ it.

Somebody living in the dark ages methinks. what the tiddlywinks has jigsaws got to do with it pretty sure the ignorance isn’t coming from those that are prepared to accept all forms of love just those that are full of dislike and disbelief
Perhaps Gabriella think we can teach people to not be homosexual ????

well you can actually hold two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle at the same time !

I despair!

I don't believe in any 'god' and certainly not in homo/bi/trans/fluid sexuality or any other aberration. To pretend that it's normal and cite instances regarding animals or that it's been going on for millennia, is to show that ignorance is bliss.
Try fitting two identical pieces of a jigsaw together. It's not meant to be.

some very interesting comments here .I'm interested in this as I said because I have friends who are the same sex and married but who would have preffered to be married by a minister in the church they have attended and worked for for decades.It always seemed odd that the church was happy to accept them volunteering ,working with the elderly and children ,playing music for weddings but they couldn't be married there .I know that one couple have already spoken to their minister to see how to get their civil marriage converted to a church one .Its important to them to be accepted by their church and I couldn't be happier for them .

Jusnoneed. Two pieces of id are usually required......passport, driving licence, birth cert etc. Birth cert. would be supporting id. Also proof of address, usually a bill dated within 3 months. Everything needing to match up of course. Then turn up on agreed date and time, pay money, say a few words and off you go. As i said as plain or frivolous as you wish. You have to state that you declare you are free to marry otherwise you could just plead,'no one asked me!' lol. People do still commit bigamy so death cert or decree absolute must be shown if previously wed, though some will lie through their teeth but generally get found out. First wedding i ever did woman came back next day saying, ' i want a divorce, last night he told me he was already married.' Of course he had told us he was a bachelor!

I agree Bluebell and surely God would prefer a church wedding because the couple believe in Him and want His blessing on their union regardless of their sexual orientation, rather than those who simply want a big 'do'.

I believe most animal groups have some same sex members amongst them
perhaps someone would answer my question ? why would God make people with that orientation if it wasn’t acceptable to him
God is all loving so surely he expects us to be the same, all inclusive, all accepting, and all loving
Nicer world than those tight lipped haters

Yes it’s usually the males the poor old females are trying to keep the hutch clean & feed the babies ?

I agree with Maryeliza -what happens in private between consenting adults doesnt hurt anyone. In a loving carinfg relationship i cant see whats wrong with it. There is no need to know details or indulge in these practices yourself -indeed there are many heterosexual.couples i don't want to imagine doing it!! And many abusive hererosexual relationships too. If gay couples want to make their relationship official and live together faithfully and lovingly whatever is wrong with that?

?exactly Pollyperkins, a case of I know what I should be doing , but where!