Chaplains would bless gay couples
Some college chaplains say they would be happy to bless same-sex unions
The views of Oxford chaplains on the blessing of samesex unions have been drawn into question, following an announcement by a Cambridge college chaplain that he wishes to offer such blessings in his college chapel. At least three Oxford college chaplains said they would be willing to follow suit, with others admitting they would personally like to, but feel constrained by the laws of the church.
The Reverend Dr Harriet Harris of Wadham College said she would be entirely happy to bless such a union, but declined to comment further. Dr Walter Houston, Mansfield college chaplain, expressed a similar willingness to consider the issue. “I’d need to think about it. It depends on the circumstances, but if a couple came to me, I would take it seriously.
Canon Brian Mountford, Vicar of the University Church and Chaplain of St Hilda’s, told The Oxford Student, “I am not against this in principle, but it is a pastorally sensitive matter, both in the Church and with each couple. I would therefore only make a decision on an individual basis after careful consultation with the people concerned.” He added, “There are many relationships which it would be appropriate to bless: parent/ child, friendship, partnership and so on.
From the Christian point of view the key thing is that people in relationships should act in a self-giving way to one another, trying to model themselves on the example of Jesus Christ.” The Dean of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Reverend Jeremy Caddick, made his statement about single-sex unions last month, in the first breach of the Church of England’s ban on clergy offering services after civil partnership ceremonies.
He expressed his views in a letter to the Bishop of Ely, saying, “To put it bluntly, what planet is the House of Bishops on? I cannot recall the last time I presided over the marriage of a couple who were not already sleeping together. “In setting its face so publicly against gay relationships, the church imperils, perhaps terminally, its standing to speak authoritatively on the subject of relationships generally.
This ban was issued by the Church of England bishops in 2005, but Cambridge colleges are not under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Ely. Reverend Mark Birch, chaplain of Exeter college, confirmed that Oxford college chaplains are also, strictly speaking, not subject to the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Oxford. Bishop Richard of Oxford added, “College chaplains are appointed by their college and are accountable, in the first instance, to the college governing body.
However as priests in the Church of England, who hold my licence, they are obliged to pay attention to the House of Bishops guidelines on civil partnerships.” Other chaplains said they felt unable to provide blessings, since this contravenes Church of England regulations. Hertford’s chaplain Reverend Leanne Roberts told The Oxford Student, “Despite personal feelings, one must toe the party line. It would be very difficult to justify going ahead.
I expect that most will feel like this, unless they’re really against it.” Reverend Emma Percy, chaplain of Trinity, responded, “There are issues about what I’m allowed to do in chapel as opposed to what I’d do personally. It’s not a decision I could make personally.” However, several Oxford colleges maintain an entirely traditional approach towards the idea of blessing same-sex unions.
The chaplain of Exeter, Revd Mark Birch, said, “The official line is that there should be no religious content in the union. It’s down to the diocese and the bishops to decide whether their clergy can perform blessings. Unfortunately that’s the situation we’re in.” Revd Geoff Maughan, the chaplain of Wycliffe Hall, agreed. “I would not bless single-sex unions because the Church of England has asked its clergy not to do this, as the church considers this to be an inappropriate action.
The reason is that marriage is understood to be the union of a man and a woman.” Brother Prins, from Greyfriars, said, “God’s will in Genesis is that a man and a woman get marries. Any sexual relationship between two men or two women, even if it bears the commitment of public declaration, is not a marriage according to God’s will…it would be impossible to give a blessing, which would be a public acknowledgment that it’s equal to marriage.
OUSU VP (Welfare and Equal Opportunities) Aidan Randle-Conde said, “There’s clearly a wide variety of opinion on the subject of blessings. Ideally there would be more Chaplains willing to take part in blessings, but this is a very personal matter and one that only the individual chaplains can make. “It would be great if more forward-thinking chaplains could take part in blessings, but they do have to reconcile their own beliefs with what they think is right.”
2nd Mar 2006