• FOR hundreds of years the Anglican Church has survived some enormous issues, not least being the controversy over marrying people who have been divorced.

Now we are faced with whether or not we marry same-sex couples.

The General Synod, the highest governing body of the Church of England, is an assembly of three houses, bishops, clergy and the laity, and has voted in favour of same-sex blessings.

A considerable number of congregations have come out against this resolution, which could put these churches at risk of dissolution.

The basis of this decision is that Bible teaching declares the gay stance to be untenable. Of course, the Bible declares that there are lots of behaviours which are not allowed.

Take the Ten Commandments, for example. Jesus also addressed the populace concerning the woman taken in adultery: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” All the stones dropped to the ground because we are all wrongdoers, according to biblical teaching, whether or not we have a faith.

It may be that churches rejecting synod should be allowed to sustain their belief; there is ample scope within other faith settings, or those churches who go with synod, for the conduct of blessings or same-sex marriages.

It remains for all of those who celebrate the sacrament in a Christian church to realise they may share in the love and forgiveness of a faith which says: “Come here when you are broken and we will bind you up and send you out to do good in the world”, straight or gay!

CHRISTOPHER MASON
Address supplied