Guernsey Press

Churches not prepared to embrace same-sex marriage

GUERNSEY'S churches have reiterated their stance on same-sex marriage after the States ratified the law which brings equality to marriages from this Thursday.

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The Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, said that the issue was still the subject of 'a very wide conversation' going on in the Church of England nationally.

'It would be premature for me to comment,' he said.

The church's biannual General Synod voted at its February meeting to reject a report which wanted the church to keep its opposition to same-sex weddings but adopt a 'fresh tone and culture of welcome and support' towards gay people.

Mr Barker said the ongoing 'conversation' is likely to return to the Synod, but probably not at its next meeting on 7 July.

'The Catholic church's position, as far as I am concerned, is that marriage is between one man and one woman,' said the Catholic Dean, the Rev. Canon Michael Hore.

Methodist Church circuit minister, the Rev. Howard Stringer, said that the British church as a whole was still having discussions about issues such as human sexuality and the redefinition of marriage.

Until such time as the national body took a decision to allow same-sex marriages 'nothing can change as far as people getting married in Guernsey are concerned,' he said.

The United Reform Church internationally has given its backing to individual churches holding same-sex ceremonies, but the final decision will be down to the congregation of each church.

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