1,100 Church of England Clerics Willing to Conduct Same-Sex Marriages
The Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church conducted a survey that reveals that 1,100 licensed clergy in the Church off England would be willing to facilitate same-sex marriages if they were to become legal. This number represents about 5% of the clergy in the Church and roughly the same percentage of the overall population that professes to be of a same-sex orientation.
The Revd Nigel Pietroni, Chairman of the group, told Church Times, “It is clear from the feedback after Living in Love and Faith that the majority want the current situation to change.” Since the polling was of members of the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church, the poll hardly reflects the overall membership of the Church.
Pietroni went on to stridently declare, “There can be no more delay. We look to the bishops to allow freedom of conscience for clergy who wish to bless same sex couples, and for clergy married to their same sex partners to serve in ministry. The bishops must give a clear message that marriage equality will follow.”
Canon John Dunnett of the Church of Evangelical Council responded to Piertroni through Church Times, “If the General Synod embrace change in the Church’s doctrine and liturgical practice, we will have to contend against that, because we think that’s asking us to accept things that scripture says we can’t accept.”
