UK: Archbishop of Wales apologises for gay prejudice

The head of the Church in Wales has apologized "unreservedly" to gay couples for prejudice in the church. Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan spoke at a meeting of the governing body in Llandudno. 

The church tweeted "Archbishop of Wales offers a pastoral letter on same-sex relationships apologizing unreservedly for prejudice within the church."

Last year, r Morgan said it would be "foolish" to bring forward a bill for same-sex marriages in church. A statement released by the church said although it was not ready to allow or bless same-sex marriages, "the debate is not over".  Read more via BBC

UK: I would go to my child's gay wedding, vows Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said he would attend the gay wedding of one of his children, despite the Church of England opposing same-sex marriage. In an interview, Archbishop Welby suggested that if one of his five children asked for his blessing for a gay marriage, he would pray with them and attend the ceremony. He also refused to say that a gay relationship was 'sinful or inappropriate', insisting he would 'always love them' whatever their sexuality.

During a parliamentary debate, Archbishop Welby warned the Same-Sex Marriage Act would 'weaken' the the idea of the 'family in its normal sense'. But speaking to Justice Secretary Michael Gove in an interview in The Spectator, he made clear that his relationship with his two sons and three daughters was paramount.

Mr Gove challenged him on the views of some evangelicals and asked if he would tell his child that while he loved them 'their relationship was sinful or inappropriate'. But Archbishop Welby hit back: 'I would say, 'I will always love you, full stop. End of sentence, end of paragraph.' Whatever they say, I will say I always love them.' Read more via DailyMail 

Church of England evangelical activist, comes out as a lesbian

One of the Church of England’s leading evangelical campaigners announced that she is a lesbian and said she decided to be open after trying various ministries to cast out her sexual orientation.

“God is a God of surprises,” said Jayne Ozanne,  as she took up her new job as director of Accepting Evangelicals, a network of Christians who believe the time has come to move toward the acceptance of loving same-sex partnerships and a positive Christian ethic for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people. Read More 

Church of England bishop: Church has a legacy of serious institutional homophobia

The Bishop of Buckingham has recorded a Christmas sermon for the LGBT community in which he condemns the Church of England’s treatment of gay people. The full video was recorded by the Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson.

In it, he congratulates all same-sex couples who have married or converted their civil partnerships to marriage this year, and condemns the Church of England for its treatment of gay people. He says: “Christians believe God is love and those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. But, you may say, churches have a funny way of showing that sometimes. Read More

Bishop of Buckingham speaks out in support of same-sex marriage

Equal marriage was praised by Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, in a debate on whether same-sex marriages should be allowed in church. Same-sex marriage passed into law in March, but gay weddings in the Church of England are still prohibited. A prominent supporter of gay marriage, he told worshipers that the Christian tradition holds “the root of marriage is not sex but companionship”. He said: “The idea that marriage is about friendship has become extremely powerful in England.” Read More