From Mr Jon Blanchard
Sir, - In the Gospels, Jesus calls all to the Kingdom of God,
irrespective of family relationships, number of children, or
married state. The family is at times strongly represented as a
barrier to be overcome. Human marriage and family are given no
priority for disciples.
My civil partner and I now have all the legal protection and
benefits of married couples. We have been accepted as a couple in
all the congregations with which we have been associated over many
years. We believe that to create a new category of same-sex
marriage is not only legally unnecessary, but colludes in the
misleading idea that marriage is the only satisfying and socially
and religiously acceptable human state.
It is completely right to mark such relationships with a
religious service, but not necessarily on the model of many church
weddings.
It is an issue that will lead to much bad feeling in the Church.
It is only likely to provoke further hostility from those opposed
to any legitimacy for same-sex intimacy.
If the well-meaning people in the pro-same-sex-marriage party
win, they will only reinforce an exclusive, conformist, and
sentimental view of marriage. This does nothing to address the
highly complex issues of human sexuality.
JON BLANCHARD
22 Birdhurst Rise
South Croydon CR2 7ED