Tutu’s Daughter Barred from Presiding at Church of England Funeral
Mpho Tutu van Furth, the ordained lesbian daughter of the late Desmond Tutu was barred from presiding at the funeral of her godfather, Martin Kenyon at St Michael and All Angels Church, Wentnor. Despite a raging debate, the Church of England still bars clergy from entering same-sex marriages. The funeral location was changed in order to allow her to preside.
Ms van Furth was originally married to Joseph Burriss. The marriage produced two sons but later ended. She was ordained in The Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 2003.
Episcopal News Service journalist, David Paulsen described the situation.
“The Rev. Mpho Tutu van Furth, who now serves as a priest in the Netherlands, was ordained in The Episcopal Church in 2004. Although the United States-based church has long welcomed gay and lesbian clergy and in 2015 approved marriage rites for use by same-sex couples, the Church of England maintains that marriage is only between a man and a woman and requires gay and lesbian clergy to remain celibate.”
