*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

Don’t get emotional about the gay debate

by
28 August 2015

iStock

From Mr Richard Adams

Sir, — Canon Colin Craston (Letters, 21 August) is very sensible to warn us about the risks of basing our arguments on emotionally founded judgements.

The Revd Alan Chidwick, writer of an adjacent letter in the same issue, might take note of that when he argues that most English people are happy with gay marriage. Our happiness or unhappiness with a given activity is not the basis on which we can decide whether or not that activity is consistent with God’s will.

The gay-marriage debates are fraught with this problem. Nothing is to be gained, and much is being lost, by emotional name-calling and polarisation of opponents.

I am not arguing for one side or another — my views on gay marriage won’t add anything — but we would benefit from using less emotive language when disagreeing with one another over our efforts to seek and obey God’s will.


RICHARD ADAMS
Tros y Mor, Llangoed
Beaumaris, Anglesey LL58 8SB

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Letters to the editor

Letters for publication should be sent to letters@churchtimes.co.uk.

Letters should be exclusive to the Church Times, and include a full postal address. Your name and address will appear below your letter unless requested otherwise.

Forthcoming Events

 

Festival of Preaching: Preaching Truth to Power

13 September 2025

Join us at London's Southwark Cathedral for this one-day event — a transformative gathering of bold voices, prophetic vision, and Spirit-led conviction..

tickets available

 

Finding inspiration in the Psalms : a Church Times one day festival

2 October 2025

Join us in York for this one-day event exploring the gift of the Psalms through poetry, art, liturgy and music.

tickets available

  

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)