EV News :: Civil Partnerships and Christian Leadership

Evangelical and Anglican Reformed believers in England continue to battle against the government's intrusion into church matters.  The United Kingdom is now trying to make gay marriage legal for the country and to force the Church of England to perform same sex marriages.  The first step is the so-called "civil partnerships" law:

Civil Partnerships and Christian Leadership
Church Society Press Release

9th January 2013

9.30am, for immediate release

Civil Partnerships and Christian Leadership

The church is open to all people, whatever their sexual orientation, to respond to Jesus' call to "Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark chapter 1 verse 15). We stand in firm agreement with the church's clear and biblically-faithful statement that sex is exclusively for heterosexual marriage.

We recognise how pastorally unhelpful the existence of civil partnerships is for gay, lesbian, and bisexual disciples in our congregations who are positively committed, in response to God's word, to celibacy and fleeing sexual sin daily. Like many heterosexual believers, some have given up long-term relationships in their pursuit of Christ-like godliness in this area, often with great pain and immense difficulty. Our prayers are with them, and we would ask the whole church to be sensitive and supportive, as they look to Christ Jesus our only Lord and Saviour.

In this context, we do not believe that church leaders at any level should confuse and undermine the call of the gospel — to deny oneself and follow Jesus — which unfortunately would be the case if those who have chosen a different path by entering civil partnerships are permitted to undertake authorised public ministry in the church.  [Click here to read the story at the original page:  EV News :: Civil Partnerships and Christian Leadership].

Addendum:  Unfortunately there are many theological liberals in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion who are pushing for the same thing.