Sorry to hear Kevin has unsubbed. I guess there's a wide range of opinions in
this group, a bit like Methodism in general. I agree with you, Tony, that
whichever way Conference goes, there will be a loss of members, which our
denomination can ill afford.
I think it's a pity we couldn't have found a middle way, on the lines of, "We
won't conduct same sex marriages until we see what the Anglicans decide to do
(after all, we're supposed to be in a covenant with them). However, if
individual ministers wish to conduct a blessing of an already registered
marriage or civil partnership and the Church Council agrees, that will be
permissible". Among other things, that would save us having to re-write the
Methodist Worship Book, as if the legal bits had already been said, we would be
free to compose whatever words we felt were appropriate for the occasion.
In practice, if Conference votes in favour of GILUU, I don't imagine that
hordes of people will be lining up to get married on our premises. It will be
folk we know; our own members, or their children or grandchildren and partners
who will request services. I suspect they will receive a surprisingly positive
response from many of our people who, if you were to ask them now, would say
they were opposed to same-sex marriages. Hypothetical cases and real situations
can appear very different.
John Barnett
Tony Buglass <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Just had word from Freelists that Kevin Savage has unsubbed from the egroup. I
know he is very unhappy about GILUU, and I suspect the flood of negativity
about David Hull’s offering won’t help. To be honest, I haven’t opened it,
because I know what I expect to find there. I know he is a scholar and a good
bloke, and I respect the right of MET to hold the position they do, but I think
this is mistimed and unhelpful. I will be very surprised if Conference doesn’t
accept GILUU. I will be equally surprised if there isn’t a notable loss of
people and probably churches, but I think that would happen if we took a clear
stance on either side of the issue. The hope is that we find a way to hold the
two sides together, even if the alliance is uneasy. Christian history is full
of schisms and branches – I hope and pray this doesn’t become one.
Blessings,
Tony
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