The Church of England and Same-Sex Marriage: Beyond a Rights-Based Analysis

Abstract

Some scholars, faced with the apparent conflict between the Church of England's teaching on marriage and the idea of equal marriage embraced by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, have focused on the implications of that Act for the constitutional relationship between Church, State and nation. More frequently, noting the position of the Church of England under that Act, academics have critiqued the legislation as an exercise in balancing competing human rights. This article by contrast, leaving behind a tendency to treat religion as a monolithic ‘other’, and leaving behind the neat binaries of rights-based analyses, interrogates the internal agonies of the Church of England as it has striven to negotiate an institutional response to the secular legalisation of same-sex marriage. It explores the struggles of the Church to do so in a manner which holds in balance a wide array of doctrinal positions and the demands of mission, pastoral care and the continued apostolic identity of the Church of England.

‘Then You Will Know the Truth, and the Truth Will Set You Free’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Career Experiences of Gay Clergy in the Church of England

“…The study's results suggest several implications for how the Church can help support its gay employees. This research demonstrates the strength of feeling held by gay clergy with regard to the current policies which deny gay clergy the right to marry or conduct a sexual relationship (Clucas 2012;Smith 2019). Most participants displayed a level of anger and frustration with the Church and its leaders yet were resigned to the belief that the status quo will be maintained for the foreseeable future.…”

“…However, within the context of faith leadership, the psychological contract between the employee and the organisation, is perhaps a secondary consideration to what could be considered to be a 'spiritual contract', between the employee and God. It could therefore be suggested that the 'stickiness' of calling that participants experience as priests within the Church lasts, despite any sense of discomfort with their employment, as a result of the spiritual contract manifest in their employment (Duffy et al Duffy et al 2018, 2019. This is not to conclude, however, that this is easy for participants.…”

“…There has also been some research which explores the way that Christians reconcile their faith and their sexuality. There is, however, scant literature exploring the experiences of LGB people who feel that they are called to positions of leadership in religions that adopt a heteronormative outlook such as the Church (Clucas 2012;Nixon 2008;Smith 2019). This study aims to address this gap in the literature, exploring the experiences of gay clergy working for the Church, and how they reconcile their sexual identity, their faith and their employment.…”

Overcoming othering through agape

“…The Church has unwittingly created an othering scenario 'as it has striven to negotiate an institutional response to the secular legalisation of same-sex marriage'. 9 In July 2013, the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 10 was passed, enabling same-sex couples to marry in civil ceremonies. However, Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights 11 guarantees religious freedom.…”

Pendekatan Gereja Dalam Menghadapi Konflik Perkahwinan Sesama Jantina: Satu Kajian Kepustakaan

“…Ia bersangkutan daripada campur tangan luar termasuk paderi sendiri iaitu Alan Wilson (Bishop Buckingham). Beliau meminta gereja-gereja di England membenarkan paderi mengahwini pasangan sesama jantina (Smith, 2019).…”