…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Labour former minister Ben Bradshaw suggests that allowing same-sex weddings in Church of England would help increase dwindling congregation numbers.
He urges the Church’s representative in Parliament to reconsider its stance on same-sex marriage in light of declining attendance at services.
Church’s Position on Same-Sex Marriage
While the Church of England has recently announced its willingness to bless same-sex civil marriages, it still maintains its opposition to gay marriage and does not permit same-sex couples to marry in its churches.
Inconsistency in Church’s Stance on Families
Bradshaw highlights an independent report’s conclusion that a family does not require a specific relationship or family form, but rather the depth of connections and support.
He questions the Church’s continued rejection of same-sex couples and refusal to solemnize their committed relationships, considering this inconsistency.
Response from Church Representative
Conservative MP Andrew Selous, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, acknowledges the independent report and its reception by the Church.
He agrees with Bradshaw’s view that the report contains sensible suggestions.
The matters raised by Bradshaw will be addressed at the upcoming General Synod of the Church of England in York.
Concerns over Declining Church Attendance
Conservative former minister Tim Loughton highlights the significant drop in people attending the Church of England over the past decade.
He points out that the number of weddings in Church of England churches has decreased, and congregational attendance has dropped by 15% since the current Archbishop of Canterbury took office in 2013.
Loughton raises the question of how the Church can influence the population on family and marriage matters when many congregations are diminishing in size.