UK: Influential Anglican Leaders Call for Gay Marriage Against Church Teachings

Group Suggests Christians in UK Should Rejoice That Same-Sex Couples Want to Marry
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter
April 25, 2012

A group of Anglican Church leaders, including some from the General Synod, the Church of England's governing body, has stated in a public letter opposition to the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, and a desire for it to include same-sex couples.

Homosexual marriage has been a controversial issue in Britain and especially in the Anglican Church. British Prime Minister David Cameron and several other political groups and leaders in the country want the government to allow same-sex couples, who already can partake in civil unions that allow them many of the same benefits as heterosexual couples, to make vows and marry.

The Church of England stands firm in its support of traditional marriage and says:

"Opening marriage to same-sex couples would confer few if any new legal rights on the part of those already in a civil partnership, yet would require multiple changes to law, with the definition of marriage having to change for everyone." the rest

The full letter was made available on the Thinking Anglicans website, and is signed by some high-ranking Anglican officials, including Canon Giles Goddard, General Synod, Southwark, the Very Rev. Jeffrey John, Dean of St. Albans and the Rt. Rev. Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham.

BBC: Gay marriage 'nothing to fear', say senior Anglicans

(I just finished reading Ezekiel 34:1-10 as one of the OT reading choices for Good Shepherd Sunday-which I very much doubt will be proclaimed from the pulpits of any who signed or agree with this letter.   -PD)