NationStates Jolt Archive

Since there seem to be many a well-versed and knowledgable person here in General upon religious matters, and myself having an extremely limited knowledge of any and all religions, I'd like to ask what might be quite a simple question to you of NS General:

1. What is the official CofE view on Gay Marriage?

2. Something I'm researching for a friend - and please don't think me daft, just naive - is gay marriage legal in the UK?

Many thanks - and could any/all opinions/flames be kept out please? I'm just enquiring politely.

EDIT: 3. Where is the nearest country from the UK in which Gay Marriage is legal? And would marriage be legal in the UK?

Gay marriage is not legal in the UK.

The CoE seems to say it's against it but a lot of people on both sides are up in arms. Remember that bsiness over canon Gene Robinson? (was that his name?)

The Anglican Church mostly takes a neutral view on the issue, preferring to focus on the spiritual and temporal works of a person. Not the sexual habits thereof.

To determine the precise beliefs, you will need to ask an Anglican.

gay marrage isnt legal as a term, Its called a Civil ... something, they get all the same rights except the term "marrage".

It typically ends with a cerimonal lyncing from the nearest lampost :) Only joking...

EDIT: 3. Where is the nearest country from the UK in which Gay Marriage is legal?

The Netherlands or Belgium.

I thought the Anglican Church was trying to force the factions in Canada and the US to break away for deviant views on the matter?

The Netherlands or Belgium.
The Netherlands and Spain, as well as, (forgive my error), Denmark. Overseas, it's Canada.

I thought the Anglican Church was trying to force the factions in Canada and the US to break away for deviant views on the matter?
Some Churches were considering breaking away from the Anglican Church. That is the more conservative Parishes disagreeing with the more mainstream Parishes who are beginning to accept homosexuality.

The Anglican Church has an opinion?

(Sorry, couldn't resist it)

The Netherlands and Spain, as well as, (forgive my error), Denmark. Overseas, it's Canada.

"Where is the nearest country from the UK in which Gay Marriage is legal?"

Anyway, Denmark doesn't have gay marriage. They have civil unions.

Gay marriage is not legal in the UK.
Will be from the 5th of December (well, civil partnerships, same thing).

Chalk one up for human rights :)

Will be from the 5th of December.

That won't be marriage.

Since there seem to be many a well-versed and knowledgable person here in General upon religious matters, and myself having an extremely limited knowledge of any and all religions, I'd like to ask what might be quite a simple question to you of NS General:

1. What is the official CofE view on Gay Marriage?

2. Something I'm researching for a friend - and please don't think me daft, just naive - is gay marriage legal in the UK?

Many thanks - and could any/all opinions/flames be kept out please? I'm just enquiring politely.

EDIT: 3. Where is the nearest country from the UK in which Gay Marriage is legal? And would marriage be legal in the UK?

Answers

1) Poofs shouldnt get married, but sex with children is cool
2) The rights of marriage can be attained, through a Civil union (I think its called that) but it doesnt happen in a church its in a registry office
3) France no doubt, it wouldnt surprise me, if not them Netherlands, everything else is legal

That won't be marriage.
I know, I was editing my post when you posted that, realised I hadn't mentioned that.

That won't be marriage.
Correct. Similar to when Tasmania gave Civil Commitment ceremonies the same powers, rights & responsibilities as a marriage. Whilst skirting around federal law.

EDIT: 3. Where is the nearest country from the UK in which Gay Marriage is legal? And would marriage be legal in the UK?


as of beginning of December Scottish courts will recognise Gay marriage as legal

however no such legislation(AFAIK) is being prepared for rest of UK

the anglican church is just a veil for catholisism to survive Henry VIII purge mind you there are probably more gay anglican clergy than any other Cof E denomonation

the anglican church is just a veil for catholisism to survive Henry VIII purge mind you there are probably more gay anglican clergy than any other Cof E denomonation
Go away.

as of beginning of December Scottish courts will recognise Gay marriage as legal

however no such legislation(AFAIK) is being prepared for rest of UK

You, sir/madam, are wonderful. That is exactly the answer I needed. Take a cookie. In fact, many cookies!

The Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion aren't quite the same thing.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England. He also has a primacy of honour in the worldwide Anglican Communion, but neither the Archbishop nor the Church of England can impose doctrine on the rest of the Communion - which consists of a series of self-governing regional and national churches with considerable lee-way on doctrinal matters.

Superficially, this is similar to the structure of the Orthodox Church (with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople replacing the Archbishop of Canterbury), with the obvious difference that the different autochephalous Orthodox churches are far more united and consistent in doctrine than the different branches of the Anglican Communion will ever be. To use a different example, some branches of the Anglican Communion ordain women. Others don't.

At the risk of oversimplification, the current problem over homosexuality is that the American Episcopal Church (the US branch of the Anglican Communion) is far more liberal than the third world - particularly the African - branches of the Communion.

As I understand it, the current position of the Church of England (that is, the Anglican Church in England specifically) is that only men and women can be married. Gay clergy, on the other hand, are technically acceptable provided that they're celibate. That the new Bishop of New Hampshire in the USA is not only gay, but also living with his partner, is where the problem with the Episcopalians lies (I'm not up on the Canadian situation). This is likely to lead to a serious split in the Anglican Communion in the next five years.

Note that, contrary to what some previous posts have implied, the opinion of the CofE on gay marriage need not be the position of the UK government. England and Scotland may both technically have established churches (though the Church of Scotland is Presbyterian, not Anglican), but church doctrine and UK law are not the same thing. If they were, the UK still wouldn't have Sunday shopping...

as of beginning of December Scottish courts will recognise Gay marriage as legal

however no such legislation(AFAIK) is being prepared for rest of UK
I don't believe this to be true.

Civil Partnerships (which are going to be across the whole of the UK from the Civil Partnerships Act), maybe. Not marriage.