Services in Ripon and Leeds fall far short of "Gay Marriage"

A national newspaper has alleged that the Bishop of Ripon had authorised same sex marriages in his diocese. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement pointed out that these services of prayer and blessing use unauthorised liturgical material and sadly fall far short of the Authorised Blessings now available to lesbian and gay people in other parts of the Anglican Communion.

The Revd Martin Reynolds Director of Communications for the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement said:

"These services are sadly not part of the Church's liturgy, they only represent simple acts of prayer and blessing. For the moment they are the best lesbian and gay people can expect in the Church of England.

"Affirming love and a life long commitment through prayer and blessing is surely a time for all people to rejoice and respect. I find it hard to understand why anyone can find fault in such an act of pious commitment. 

"Any bishop would be pleased to see two people - no matter what their gender making such individual statements of covenanted love. What we regret is that the blessing does not bind together in the eyes of the church.

"We look forward to a time when these acts of commitment are not only blessed by God, His bishops and priests but by the whole Church."

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