The English Church Faces The Threat Of Splits Due To The Blessing Of A Gay Couple's Marriage

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Benjamin Elliott

JAKARTA - The church leader alliance threatened to separate from the English Church because of its plan to let gay couples hold independent services at church. This is considered a deviation from the teachings about marriage.

In a letter to the two most senior bishops in the church, the dissenting group said the plan was "clearly against" their own doctrine asserting marriage was between a man and a woman.

In 2022, the English church decided to allow priests to bless same-sex couples.

The blessing is only allowed as part of regular services that are open to the public, not as independent services, as allowed in marriage.

The proposal, which will be discussed at next month's synod, will allow independent services for same-sex couples as trials. This will not be counted as a marriage, but conservatives say it is still too much.

"If further deviations from the Church's doctrine continue, we have no choice but to immediately establish what de facto will become a new 'authority' within the Church of England," said the alliance, backed by more than 2,000 pastors., June 27.

The group said it would not leave the Church or the Anglican Alliance but would seek "Pregnal oversight of bishops who remain loyal to orthodox teachings about marriage and sexuality".