Synod Motion to Ban Pride Flags from Churches
A Private Member’s Motion has been submitted to the General Synod asking the Archbishops’ Council to ban the rainbow flag, main symbol of the LGBT+ movement, from all church buildings and at Pride events.
Sam Margrave, a lay delegate from Coventry, is the author. In his explanation, Margrave asserts that “what the flag represents …is contrary to the word of God.”
Margrave’s motion asks:
“That this Synod–
“Affirming that God loves all people, nevertheless consider that the ‘Pride’ rainbow flag, activity, and events, and what it represents in terms of the ordering of lives and relationships is contrary to the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:3, Genesis 5:2, Mark 10:6-9, Matthew 19:3-12, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:24-27, Genesis 2:24, 1 John 2:15-17, Romans 6:1, 1 Corinthians 4:6, Jeremiah 23:16-17, Luke 17:1-2, Matthew 18:6-9, Ezekiel 3:18-19, 2 Timothy 2:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 John 2:3-6), the Canons and Doctrine.
“and therefore:
“a. call upon the House of Bishops to state that support for Pride (including the use of the rainbow flag, and blessing, participation in, publicising, resourcing, and endorsement of Pride events or flags) is incompatible with the Christian faith, its agenda being contrary to scriptural teaching, Church doctrine, and hte Canons of the Church of England;
“and;
“b. request the Archbishop’s Council to introduce legislation to enfore the Earl Marshall’s warrant of 9 February 1938, and to prohibit the display of any political or other campaigning flags or banners in or on church buildings.”
One of the standard bearers for the LGBT+ movement, Jayne Ozanne (Oxford) responded by stating, “As someone who had the privilege of carrying the Pride flag in the Queen’s Jubilee pageant, where we were met with cheering crowds along the whole route, I find this motion both incredibly offensive and intentionally divisive.
“It is about time the Archbishops spoke out once and for all about this prolonged and sustained attack on the LGBT+ community from a section of the church who are indifferent to the harm that they cause.”
Margrave’s Private Motion must gain the signatures of 100 members of General Synod before it can be scheduled for debate.
