Church of England Bishop’s statement on marriage proposes doctrinal stretch

We welcome the statement issued today by the Church of England that the Bishops will not be proposing to change the Church’s doctrine of marriage that ‘Holy Matrimony is between one man and one woman for life’.

This is God’s good plan for human flourishing and our way of worshipping him is to align with his revealed will.

We would urge our brothers and sisters in the Church of England to teach and celebrate God’s plan for marriage, and to call all people to obedience to all God’s commands. It was this marriage, between a man and woman that is clearly taught at the beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, and is reaffirmed by our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles.

The Bishops will also be issuing an apology to ‘LGBTQI+ people for the rejection, exclusion and hostility they have faced in churches and the impact this has had on their lives.’

We are also sorry for times when Christians and churches have been unwelcoming and unloving to those struggling with issues of sexuality. Anyone is welcome to our meetings to hear about the love of Jesus and forgiveness for anyone who turns to him in repentance and faith. Affirming Christ’s teaching on marriage and sexuality applied to the lives of all God’s people is a sign of love for God and for our neighbour and is not hostile or unkind.

At the same time, we are puzzled by the logical inconsistency that ‘same-sex couples will be able to come to church to give thanks for their civil marriage or civil partnership and receive God’s blessing.’ How can something that is not Christian marriage be affirmed as a good thing? It sounds like the blessing of same-sex marriage by the back door.

We are also not sure this will be the end of the process for those who want full recognition of same-sex relationships in marriage. As Justin Welby himself says, ‘these proposals will appear to go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others’.

Please pray for our churches to be places where love and truth are proclaimed and all are welcome to be transformed into what God wants us to be.

Graham Nicholls is one of the authors of the Greater Love Declaration which professes that marriage is an essential part of God’s pattern for human life and a witness to the eternal love of Christ for his Church. One way you can signal your affirmation of the Bible’s teaching on marriage is by signing the declaration. You can do that here: www.greaterlove.org.uk