Church pulls out of same-sex wedding radio stunt

The Anglican Church is adamant that it has always been clear about its stance on marrying gay couples.

Radio Network station ZM was going to unite the winners of its Fabulous Gay Wedding competition at liberal Anglican church St-Matthew-in-the-City in central Auckland.

However, that plan has been scrapped because Vicar Glynn Cardy says that a religious ceremony can only be held for a gay couple after they have been married in a civil ceremony elsewhere.

"The non-religious part, the part that you could do in a registry office that takes ten minutes, that needs to be off site," he said.

Afterwards a religious ceremony including hymns and blessings could be held at the church as means of celebrating the relationship, the Vicar said.

But ZM says it was always led to believe it could conduct the wedding in the church.

"They said yes, then said no. Three weeks ago we met with the church and they fully understood what we wanted," a ZM spokesperson told ONE News.

"There was never talk of, or time for, a ceremony elsewhere first as they knew we were picking up the license at 8.30am when Births, Deaths and Marriage opened."

In response to ZM's claim, Bishop Ross Bay said that no directive was given to St-Matthew-in-the-City as there was never an intention for such a wedding to take place as the Vicar was working within existing Anglican Church policy.

The Anglican Church defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

"Within the Church, discussions are taking place about the nature of marriage and the Church's response to those who are seeking same-gender marriage. The Anglican Church seeks to be a welcoming place to all people, including the gay community, and is committed to how that can be so in practice while retaining respect for the diverse beliefs of many people in the church over this issue," Bishop Bay said.

He also said that the Anglican Church's governance structures in New Zealand are independent of the Church of England.

"It is not possible for the Church of England to issue orders or instructions to the New Zealand Church. Such a suggestion by ZM is incorrect and a result of a misunderstanding of church governance structures," he said.

'Some more equal than others'

ZM has decided to look for a new church instead, saying St Matthew's decision was "discriminatory".

"That's a bit like saying everybody's equal, but some are more equal than others," radio host Polly Gillespie told TV ONE's Breakfast.

"And I think we've come so far, to then sort of compromise and sort of say, 'Well actually, you're still not quite normal,' is not what this is about. It's sad."

Vicar Cardy also agreed that the policy was discriminatory.

"St Matthews for a long time, and other congregations, have tried to be receptive and welcoming to gay and lesbian people and their partners for quite a long time. But the Anglican doctrine, the policy I suppose of the Anglican Church& defines marriage as between a boy and a girl, and that's the constriction that we're within."

"I think it's discrimination, yes. The church is legally able to discriminate like this. I think that morally it's not right, that's why I'm committed to change," he said.

But that change could take a law change and several years, he said.

"I really respect ZM and I really like what they're doing, and I think it's great to celebrate the first gay marriage."

Ms Gillespie said "old church law" would eventually change.

In the meantime, the radio station has to find a new venue for its gay wedding promotion.

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Source: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/church-pulls-same-sex-wedding-radio-stunt-5513550?ref=rss

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