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Original poster

Is the Methodist Church right to allow same sex marriage? And what does this mean for C of E and Catholic Church?

229 replies

Notfeelingsopeachyandkeennow · 30/06/2021 16:15

Personally, I am very pro this and think its about time!

I have just read that the Methodist Church is the 4th largest Christian denomination in Britain.

So - do you think that the Catholic Church and Church of England will inevitably follow suit at some point in time - even if that's still 50 years away?

And are you in favour of these changes?

OP posts:
pointythings · 30/06/2021 16:22

I'd like all religious denominations in the world to get over their issues with the LGBTQ community and treat everyone the same. So yes, I support the change. It's going to take a long time, though.

JackieTheFart · 30/06/2021 16:23

I think anyone who wants to marry should be allowed to. What happens between two consenting adults that love one another is none of my business.

Original poster
Notfeelingsopeachyandkeennow · 30/06/2021 16:35

@JackieTheFart

I think anyone who wants to marry should be allowed to. What happens between two consenting adults that love one another is none of my business.
Yes. This.
OP posts:
RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 30/06/2021 16:36

@JackieTheFart

I think anyone who wants to marry should be allowed to. What happens between two consenting adults that love one another is none of my business.
Yep
VeryQuaintIrene · 30/06/2021 16:40

Some of the Anglican communion like the Episcopalians are already OK with same-sex marriagem, so I reckon it's just a matter of time. At least, I hope so.

Duckyneedsaclean · 30/06/2021 16:41

Why do people never seem to ask this about Islam or orthodox Judaism?

Original poster
Notfeelingsopeachyandkeennow · 30/06/2021 16:44

@Duckyneedsaclean

Why do people never seem to ask this about Islam or orthodox Judaism?
Because Christianity is the dominant religion in the UK... although won't be the case for much longer as Islam and atheism are the two fastest growing belief systems at the moment I believe
OP posts:
Original poster
Notfeelingsopeachyandkeennow · 30/06/2021 16:45

@Duckyneedsaclean

Why do people never seem to ask this about Islam or orthodox Judaism?
And why do people never seem to ask this about Hinduism? etc etc etc etc etc

Your point is sort of non-sensical

OP posts:
Youdiditanyway · 30/06/2021 16:46

Catholics still think abortions are bad so I don’t think they’ll follow suit any time soon, if ever. I thought CofE did allow it already tbh.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 30/06/2021 16:47

I don't know how I feel about it. I mean I'm delighted that the Methodist Church chose to and I fully support gay marriage, but equally if an institution doesn't want to allow gay marriage, or for that matter only allow gay marriage then I think that is OK,
I'm not comfortable with a world where people are only allowed to do and think in a certain way.
I guess I'm a live and let live sort of person but that needs to work both ways.

VerticalHorizon · 30/06/2021 16:51

The problem the Methodist church, and for that matter most other denominations has is that for years, it has preached that homosexuality is wrong and used the bible as evidence of God's word against it...

In recent decades, it's had to climb down a bit and try to save face, by trying to claim the physical act of homosexuality is wrong, but the people themselves should simply abstain from the act etc.

Now they are faced with overwhelming public opinion in favour of homosexuality, and to be 'against' it causes massive ructions, but they don't want to have to say 'all those centuries we've said it was wrong, well, now it's ok'... and that is their predicament.

For Islam and Judaism, their geographical strongholds remain in regions where homophobia is readily accepted, if not endorsed. They have no need to 'accept' it, because the population isn't at the same stage as the Western World (or large parts of it).

It's taken donkey's years for Christianity to come even close to accepting homosexuality (and it still doesn't, not really). Only when faced with overwhelming secular condemnation does it seek to change opinion, albeit grudgingly.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 30/06/2021 16:54

Episcopal Church in Scotland allows same sex marriage and has done for a wee while.

The church of Scotland discussed it at this year's General assembly and it seems to be moving forward.

The C of S theological Forum papers on the subject make interesting reading.

Personally (as a lesbian and a Christian) i would rather any change happened slowly, bringing the church community along rather than working in opposition.
This is because I have a civil partnership which protects me legally and I would want a religious marriage to be something that was meaningful and sincere and not something that felt like exploiting a loophole.

So obviously I am biased - I would like it to happen - but I wasn't keen to pop next door to the episcopal church and ask if they would perform a wedding ceremony because it wouldn't have been 'my' church.

I don't think institutions formed on belief should have change forced on them. There needs to be a process of examining the ramifications of social change, theological analysis and then adoption of new policy that fits the institution.

I am angrier about c of e clergy in same sex unions being obliged to be celibate.
For me that seems completely inconsistent unless you say any clergy not actively trying to conceive a child should be celibate.

Genderwitched · 30/06/2021 16:55

I think it depends on how the religion feels about it aligning with their scriptures and what their followers want.

I am personally not part of a religion because I don't want to believe what other people tell me to, and I fully support gay marriage.

But lots are part of a religion and their feelings should be respected in a free country. If a religion doesn't move with the times surely it will eventually die out of it's own accord, and this will be a good thing.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/06/2021 17:00

The Catholic Church will never allow same sex marriage ever!

newnortherner111 · 30/06/2021 17:03

The decision did not surprise me given that the URC did this a few years ago. I don't think the C of E will follow suit, nor the Catholic church.

motogogo · 30/06/2021 17:09

Hopefully it means the c of e will be next, not holding my breath though (I work for them and 80.% of the vicars I know are in favour but the ones that shout the loudest aren't!)

mustlovegin · 30/06/2021 17:09

do you think that the Catholic Church and Church of England will inevitably follow suit

I don't think the Catholic Church will follow suit

Also, just because a group decide to do something, it doesn't mean the whole world will 'inevitably' follow. Critical and independent thinking is a good thing

mustlovegin · 30/06/2021 17:10

atheism are the two fastest growing belief systems

Atheism is not a belief system

motogogo · 30/06/2021 17:12

@SuperLoudPoppingAction

Do you really think clergy in same sex unions remain celibate? I've never had the courage to ask my friends! But I can't believe they are, they have been together 30 years.

UsedUpUsername · 30/06/2021 17:13

The leadership is always different from the rank-and-file members.

I’m not religious, but do feel if your holy books says that gay people are not ok, then maybe you should just leave the religion. I mean, at that point, it’s not a freaking metaphor, is it? You can’t really believe in it, right?

VerticalHorizon · 30/06/2021 17:17

The Catholic Church, will bend like any religion will bend, IF the will of the people becomes so strong it can no longer stand against it. That day is a long way off though.

There are some pretty established tenets in Christianity, and unfortunately being against homosexuality is one of them. That's what made it so horribly difficult to turn about face (and they don't ever want to be seen in that light, so have to try and present it as some new more coherent interpretation, or understanding).

It will take centuries longer before homosexuality is truly accepted (if ever). Here in the UK I think we have at least a reasonably high level of acceptance (but there's a substantial undercurrent of homophobia still in existence). However, we are quite progressive. A great deal of the world is not.

bridgetreilly · 30/06/2021 17:17

I think anyone who wants to marry should be allowed to

They already can.

The Methodist church is so tiny as to be irrelevant, tbh. It certainly won't have any impact on the RC church, who decide all such things at a global level. They are, however, in ecumenical partnerships with a lot of CofE churches and there are some attempts towards great denominational unity there, so it may have an impact on the CofE.

Boood · 30/06/2021 17:19

It’s up to individual methodist churches what they do, I’m not sure if there’s even a centralised methodist hierarchy. But if there is, it is definitely not connected to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic church, both of which have several centuries of practice at not doing the same as each other.

bridgetreilly · 30/06/2021 17:19

Atheism is not a belief system

Of course it is. Either you believe there is a God or you believe there isn't. It's belief either way. Belief on the basis of evidence and interpretation, of course, but the same holds whatever you believe. It's not provable fact.

SimonJT · 30/06/2021 17:30

@pointythings

I'd like all religious denominations in the world to get over their issues with the LGBTQ community and treat everyone the same. So yes, I support the change. It's going to take a long time, though.
Yep.