Last night, as he chastised “outsiders” attempting to persuade the Church of England to alter its stance on marriage and blessing rituals for homosexual couples, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby fought back tears.
The Synod, the church’s legislative body, is debating a resolution that proposes clergy blessings for same-sex couples as a way of atoning for the church’s failure “to be friendly to LGBTQI+ individuals.”
The proposals maintain their stance on homosexual marriage and maintain the prohibition on same-sex marriage in churches.
Members of a discussion last night rejected 16 efforts to alter the idea to bestow blessings on same-sex relationships.
They will come back this morning to cast the deciding vote.
Bishops have so far rejected requests for vicars to officiate at same-sex marriages, but they have apologized for the prejudice that some churchgoers have experienced and urged that new blessing rituals be permitted.
The planned use of gender-neutral terminology, according to some traditionalists, is another effort by the church to increase its diminishing congregations as young people turn away in growing numbers.
a sentimental The Most Reverend Justin Welby, who supports blessings for homosexual couples, criticized lawmakers who want to compel the church to recognize gay marriage.
Ben Bradshaw of the Labour Party and Chris Loder of the Conservative Party have both said they would think about using the law to compel the church to embrace homosexual marriage.
Welby fervently supported the Anglican Communion members sticking by their views, drawing on his own experiences as a prisoner being held against his will in Nigeria where he would be “dead in the morning” for his beliefs.
The recommendations are welcomed, but Mr. Welby has previously said that he would not personally implement them because of his “pastoral duty for the full communion.”
During the discussion, he said, “I am supporting these resources, not because I believe I’m governed by culture, but because Scripture, tradition, and reason, which are proven in the extensive effort done over the previous six years so expertly by so many. I may be off. I certainly may.
But I can’t avoid it any more than everybody else in this room.
“I implore each member of synod to vote according to their scripturally or spiritually inspired consciences, not because organizations, lobbies, or outsiders have instructed you to,” the speaker said.
“I have heard them throughout the last two weeks in parliament, and despite being given explicit instructions, I’m not doing any of it.”
“I don’t take this lightly,” she said.
“The safety and well-being of the people I love in the Anglican communion” is the highest priority in my life, heart, and prayers.
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