Today I'm happy about......

[Prufrock]

Don't throw stones if you live in a paper house.

[TANGODANCER]

Don't throw stones if you live in a paper house.

Oh, very Bushido.....

[thebish]

in the model village just down the road from where I lived until this week...

[Worthy4England]

Is that the Beast of Bodmin?

[Prufrock]

Ha, love that!

[thebish]

[thebish]

I am at the United Reformed Church general assembly where we have voted for our churches to be allowed to conduct same-sex marriages - the first mainstream denomination to do so.

[malcd1]

I am at the United Reformed Church general assembly where we have voted for our churches to be allowed to conduct same-sex marriages - the first mainstream denomination to do so.

Where is the LIKE button?

[Montreal Wanderer]

I am at the United Reformed Church general assembly where we have voted for our churches to be allowed to conduct same-sex marriages - the first mainstream denomination to do so.

Where is the LIKE button?

The United Church of Canada (the largest Protestant denomination in Canada) has approved same sex marriages since 2003. The United Church was formed by the union of Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists in 1925 and is considered pretty mainstream. The Anglican Synod votes on the issue on Monday.

[thebish]

...
In the UK

[Prufrock]

Googled it after that post. Didn't realise there still hasn't been any same sex marriages in church. Ridiculous.

So yeah...erm...how wonderful.

[LeverEnd]

Googled it after that post. Didn't realise there still hasn't been any same sex marriages in church. Ridiculous.

So yeah...erm...how wonderful.

Yiu can be sarcastic about it all you like but I as an atheist think it is a step forward.
People aren't going to change their minds and agree with you overnight.

[thebish]

Googled it after that post. Didn't realise there still hasn't been any same sex marriages in church. Ridiculous.

So yeah...erm...how wonderful.

under the Act of Parliament that set up the URC and the Basis of Union that governs the structure of the conciliar URC - how quickly do you think the URC could have possibly (legally) conducted a same sex marriage?

(quick hint: the general assembly which is the only place such a decision can be made takes place every 2 years - and in between general assemblies there is a "blocking mechanism" whereby regional synods may object - and there has to be a consultation process with over 1000 local churches - the URC being a conciliar church - not an autocratic church. It was only legal in the UK AT ALL from 13th March 2014. )

I would bow to your superior knowledge of the legal processes by which we are bound - but I cannot see a path which would have led to us legally making such a decision earlier than we did.

in other words - my view is that you're talking utter crap from a position of ignorance.

if you're thinking the CofE - then they are specifically NOT allowed to by act of parliament - even if they wanted to.


so - I reserve the right to be happy that we have made the decision absolutely as quickly as legally possible.

[Prufrock]

Two years ago was after 13 March 2014 was it not? It was hardly a surprise the Act was going to be passed.

And that it has taken this long because people have kept blocking it hardly strengthens your argument.

I mean, don't get me wrong, fair play to the people who've pushed it through, but it's fecking depressing they've had to. And that two and a bit years later they're the first ones to do so.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Bad news from the Anglican Synod. Same sex marriage failed by a single vote.

The vote, which required a two-thirds majority in each of the Orders of Laity, Clergy and Bishops, received 72.22% support from the laity and 68.42% in the Order of Bishops, but only 66.23% in the Order of Clergy—0.43% shy of the 66.66% needed.

The people wanted it, the bishops wanted it and the large majority of clergy did, but not two thirds.

Surprisingly (to me) one of the naysayers was a female Inuit (you'd think someone in that group would be open to inclusivity as they were the object of discrimination for such a long time).

“It is not about unconditional love,” said the Rev. Annie Ittoshat, an Inuit priest working in the diocese of Montreal. “It is about what is clearly written in the word of God.”

Oh dear!

[thebish]

Two years ago was after 13 March 2014 was it not? It was hardly a surprise the Act was going to be passed.

And that it has taken this long because people have kept blocking it hardly strengthens your argument.

I mean, don't get me wrong, fair play to the people who've pushed it through, but it's fecking depressing they've had to. And that two and a bit years later they're the first ones to do so.

again - you misunderstand.

it has not taken "so long" because people keep blocking it - it's that synods (by law) have to have the opportunity to block it. As it happened - they didn't.

I repeat - unless you can tell me how (I'd be interested) - the URC could not have made this decision any quicker (LEGALLY) than we did.

I reserve the right to be happy that we can legally conduct same-sex marriages as quickly as we possibly (and legally) could have done.

[Burnden Paddock]

Bijou Bob in Barnstormers last night - 'I don't know where this reputation for me being tight comes from. Rioja keeps repeating it and it seems to have stuck'.

Ten minutes later at the turnstile, BB says - 'Over 65, please'.

He didn't know whether to laugh at having saved a fiver, or cry at having passed as over 65!

Nope. I have no idea where that reputation comes from! Sorry BB, that was too good not to share!

[Worthy4England]

Bijou Bob in Barnstormers last night - 'I don't know where this reputation for me being tight comes from. Rioja keeps repeating it and it seems to have stuck'.

Ten minutes later at the turnstile, BB says - 'Over 65, please'.

He didn't know whether to laugh at having saved a fiver, or cry at having passed as over 65!

Nope. I have no idea where that reputation comes from! Sorry BB, that was too good not to share!

[Bruce Rioja]

Rioja keeps repeating it and it seems to have stuck'.

[Bijou Bob]

Some context here..................ah feck it, what's the point.........