When same-sex marriage was passed, provisions were included to stop clergy from having to solemnise the ceremonies. Today, the House of Lords debated an amendment to remove this key protection. Although the Bishop of Chelmsford opposed the amendment, he spoke about the CofE working closely with Stonewall and held out the prospect that church doctrine on homosexuality could change. After the government opposed the amendment, it was withdrawn. Tim Dieppe analyses the debate.
The issues of ‘gay pride’ and the LGBT ‘agenda’ have featured a lot in the news recently, whether through ITV ‘exposés’ on ‘conversion therapy’, the silencing of an ex-gay X Factor contestant, or news of parents fighting against schools promoting LGBT. But all of these stories have created a mixed response from Christians; confusion still reigns around how Christians should respond to ‘gay rights’ and ‘gay pride’.