Gay Marriage & The Church
Let No One Be Turned Away
I have been married for 30 years, but I'll not put that forward as any sort of qualification.
Experience is not the same thing as wisdom. Wisdom is like a guide and grandmother to the changing, exploring, learning mind. Wisdom says that it's a good time to change your mind when it widens your heart.
I have changed my mind about marriage and had my mind changed by marriage many times in 30 years. It isn't over yet. I could say the same thing about my many years of interpreting and articulating the treasures of the sacred scriptures. I suspect that the aim of scripture is not so much fixing the mind as it is widening the heart.
Church of Scotland Expected to Move Towards Gay Marriage
May 21, 2017 - Scotland is moving towards being the country in the UK with most liberal Christian practice on gay marriage with the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church both taking steps in this direction in the near future.
On Thursday the Church of Scotland is expected to back same-sex marriage in a debate on how such weddings could take place in church.
Church Recognizes Gay Pastor’s Union
GLENN DALE - A church pastor and a Web page designer yesterday got as close to marriage as two same-sex Episcopalians can in Maryland.
During a service led by the Right Rev. John Bryson Chane, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the 12-year relationship between the Rev. Michael Warren Hopkins and John Clinton Bradley was blessed and their relationship recognized by the church.
"We've always wanted to be able to have a public celebration of our relationship," Hopkins said before the ceremony. "Our time has come."
Statement on Same-Sex Marriage
CALGARY - Yesterday the Liberal government introduced their much-awaited marriage legislation.
The decision I have come to has been a difficult one. I have spoken to many hundreds in my riding of Calgary Centre-North. I have met with many community leaders including religious leaders from Calgary and representatives of the gay community. I have held an open Town Hall Meeting and I have done my best to understand the legal and theological issues that this decision has raised.
For me, the marriage question is one of individual liberty - of constitutional liberty.
Same-Sex Marriage: A Call For Intense Dialogue
In the present ongoing discussion about same-sex marriages, the one thing that seems to be missing within the Roman Catholic Church and within our country, is a dialogue among people who respect one another.
And for me, as your pastor, it is much easier to remain silent, than to take up the challenge to use my own mind, and to listen to my own conscience, about how to deal with this very contentious issue, and to share some thoughts with you today.
I do not mean to be disrespectful towards the Pope, or towards our Canadian Bishops, but I am concerned that we are being treated like "parrots" rather than being recognized for the important role that we have as members of the Body of Christ of being pastors, parishioners, and yes, some are even parliamentarians. What we need is dialogue, not dictates.
Scottish Episcopal Church Approves Gay Marriage
The Scottish Episcopal Church has voted to allow gay couples to marry in church.
It makes it the first major Christian church in the UK to allow same-sex marriages.
Man Marries Christian Partner In The First Muslim Gay Wedding Of UK
July 11, 2017
Jahed Choudhury and Sean Rogan have married in what is being called Britain's 'first' ever same-sex Muslim wedding. The newlyweds want "to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim" after exchanging vows in West Midlands.

24-year-old Choudhury told Express and Star that he was bullied in school and was banned from his local mosque. And after attempting to change his sexual orientation, he even tried to kill himself before Rogan entered his life.The two had been living together since 2015 and it was last year on Rogan's birthday that Choudhury proposed.
The two had been living together since 2015 and it was last year on Rogan's birthday that Choudhury proposed.

