Marriage and same-sex relationships
Statement re: meeting with Dorset clergy on 14 February concerning the Bishop of Salisbury’s comments on same-sex relationships in The Times and on BBC Radio 4
The Bishop of Sherborne, the Archdeacon of Dorset and I met with 10 clergy from Dorset who had contacted me following my remarks on same-sex relationships in an interview published in The Times on 3 February, and on the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme on 5 February.
Bishop Graham and I disagree about the appropriateness of using the word 'marriage' for same-sex relationships. He expressed his concerns to me privately and in the meeting. We are, however, committed to working together creatively.
I welcomed the open and robust conversation, which covered the following areas:
- My thanks for their constructive response to what I had said
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The context of the wider interview from which the published remarks were drawn
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The state of the debate about same-sex relationships
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My intention to encourage an honest conversation
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Our understanding of what marriage constitutes and means
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The place of same-sex relationships and couples within the life of the Church and our pastoral care of them
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The nature of same-sex relationships
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The difference between contractual and covenantal relationships and their relationship to Civil Partnerships and marriage
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The appropriateness of using the language of marriage for same-sex relationships
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Our understanding of the authority of Scripture and Tradition, and their immutability
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The significance of scriptural references to homosexuality
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The Church’s relationship with the wider community and its culture
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The current discipline and practice of the Church of England
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My role as Bishop and leader in the Diocese
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Pluralism, the width of the Church and the Bishop’s relationship to it
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How we address contentious issues within the Diocese
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Our relationships with the Church in other parts of the world, especially Sudan
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Concerns for local Ecumenical relationships
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How we might go forward constructively when we are in such profound disagreement about the definition of marriage
At the end of the meeting I reaffirmed my commitment to:
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Supporting marriage as it is currently understood
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Upholding the current discipline and practice of the Church of England
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Supporting those clergy whose standpoint differs from my own
I ended by welcoming future opportunities to continue the conversation.
+Nicholas Sarum
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