‘Gay wedding’: underlying problem of false teaching sidestepped

Posted on October 25, 2008 
Filed under News

David Phillips - Church SocietyDavid Phillips, General Secretary of Church Society –

St Bartholomew the Great statements

The Diocese of London has issued a statement regarding the so called ‘gay blessing’ service at St. Bartholomew the Great. The Rector, Martin Dudley, who conducted the service has allowed a letter to be published in which he indicates that his action was not in line with the House of Bishops’ guidelines on civil partnerships. He goes on to indicate that he does not agree with those guidelines but will abide by them. He also calls attention to the anecdotal evidence that the guidelines are being breached by many others.

The House of Bishops guidelines were themselves a travesty because they do not uphold Biblical standards and accept the validity of Civil Partnerships which are a mockery of marriage. Moreover, the House of Bishops has consistently failed to stand against the root problem. They have focussed on certain actions such as entering into a Civil Partnership or being in a non-celibate relationship whilst ignoring the Biblical focus on false teaching.

Those who encourage others to sin are just as guilty, apparently more so, than those who engage in sin. Speaking of children the Lord Jesus Christ said: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18.6). And the Apostle James wrote reminding teachers of the weight of responsibility they bear – “we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3.1).

The presence of gross false teaching within the Church of England has fractured it as evidenced by the statement recently issued by members of the Deanery in which St. Bartholomew the Great is situated. The statement by Mr Dudley and the Diocese of London will not close the matter because the underlying problem of false teaching has once again been sidestepped.

David Phillips
General Secretary, Church Society.

– from Church Society’s news website, EVnews.

For earlier stories, see here.