Quote from speech in the House of Commons

‘Hands off the Church of England, it is he only thing that stands between us and Christianity’.

This was supposed to be a jocular remark, made no doubt with an input of cynicism, but it contains quite an amount of truth. When you consider the attitudes and response to same sex ‘so called marriages’, and general re-interpretation of Scripture, there is nothing to be jocular about; rather sadness, frustration and a touch of disgust.

I read there is to be a meeting of all the bishops in Oxford at which discussions will be held and the question of allowing the Church to perform blessings for same sex unions. It is suggested there will be varying views, which shows how much the Church has departed from the original Articles of the Church of England, and more importantly the way in which it is allowing the liberal lobby to change the Church’s approach to Scripture where we are more ready to adopt culture’s agenda rather than God’s. Many of us with a defined Catholic or Evangelical belief will reasonably ask, why discuss the issue; the Articles of our Church clearly define what we must believe?

When the Church decided to consecrate women as bishops it was stated there would be no great effect on the Church. Within a very short time and with the first female appointment came the call to address God as Mother. If same sex blessings are to be authorised, it will be accepted as a first step to call it ‘marriage’, and there will be wailing of unfairness and discrimination if not followed up.

There are no possible reasons to justify having same sex blessings in Church. How can we possibly bless what is distinctly against God's will as expressed in the Bible? If such blessings are authorised there will inevitably be a section of the Church which will want to break away, and I cannot see how anyone who respects and is faithful to Scripture can remain in what will be an Apostate institution. Unfortunately it cannot be expected to find any denomination willing to stand up against society's culture,and the remorseless pressure of the liberal lobby within the Church; there are those in the Methodist Church straining to do the same despite a poll among members was overwhelming against doing so. The leaders of the denomination meekly decided to delay a decision until next year.

The Episcopal Church in the United States accepted what they called same sex marriages and consequently a large number of Anglicans decided that they could no longer belong to such a Church that had reconfigured the Apostolic teaching and left.

The new Anglican Church in North America now has 28 dioceses, one thousand congregations and over 100,000 members. There will undoubtedly and justifiably a similar breakaway here in England.

The Church of England has already offended the Roman and Orthodox Churches by appointing women bishops, now it appears ready to offend the wider Anglican Communion.

When Justin Welby was made Archbishop of Canterbury there was much surprise, but also joy and hope that now a product of the country’s most evangelical Church was appointed we could move forward with an authentic and traditional programme. Such joy and optimism was soon shattered as he wavered, dodged, and prevaricated going both ways at the same time. I read that only recently he was reported in the press to have advised. ‘don’t evangelise unless you are asked to, and have promised to attend a ‘gay wedding ceremony’.

It will be noted that there has not been an unequivocal statement that the Church will only recognise marriage as between a man and a woman. It will also be noted that neither the Archbishops nor Bishops have taken positive action against those clergy who have ignored the Church’s ban on such ‘so called marriages’. This reveals just how much integrity there is within the Church.

Credit and admiration should be given to Bishop Inwood, who acted during retirement as stand in for a diocesan bishop, refused to grant a Licence to officiate to a clergyman in a chaplaincy who defied the ban. The case went to a civilian employment tribunal, where despite an activist bishop opposing him, Bishop Inwood’s action was upheld.