Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director of Mission and Public Affairs, the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England writes: Well done Tom Harris for tackling the question of same-sex marriage and for coming out as a “recovering evangelical”. Having an insider’s understanding of a culture you no longer share usually leads to worthwhile insights, and Tom’s piece here is no exception.
But there is a lot more to the Church of England than its evangelical wing, and there is a lot more to the church’s submission to the GEO consultation on “Equal Marriage” than Tom has spotted, so may I try and put the record straight?
Tom conflates two things – the opposition of some Christians to gay lifestyles and all that goes with them, and the church’s official response to a flawed government consultation on the very specific issue of same-sex marriage. If you read that submission (here: http://bit.ly/MoNuTX ) you’ll see that it states, in terms, that same-sex relationships can embody important Christian virtues and that it affirms Civil Partnerships very strongly. That’s not quite consistent with the viscerally anti-gay stance that Tom attributes to all Christians.
The key point in our submission on same sex marriage is that the virtues of faithful homosexual relationships cannot embrace everything that is good about heterosexual marriage. There is an inescapable difference and complementarity between men and women that allows procreation to be an important component of a marriage between a man and a woman. Yes, of course many marriages are childless, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that a flourishing society needs some sort of social institution that celebrates and encourages having children and their upbringing in a family with their biological parents wherever possible. Our concern is emphatically not to say that same-sex relationships are wicked, but to ask what sort of a society we would have if the social meaning of marriage was stripped of any expectation at all that it involved having children. You don’t have to agree with our analysis of this, but many would surely agree that it is a question worth asking.
Unfortunately, the Coalition’s consultation on Equal Marriage is based on a profound ignorance of the current laws about marriage and, to be blunt, is a dog’s breakfast of erroneous assumptions and begged questions. The mistaken assumption that “religious marriage” and “civil marriage” are two different things in law is only the most egregious example of the GEO document’s failings. These points have nothing to do with Christian approaches to sexuality, but the church had no option but to oppose a proposal which would be based on such an utter misreading of the law and of the Church of England’s present role as a “purveyor of weddings to the nation”.
So, Tom, please don’t attribute the views of some homophobes to all Christians. There’s a profound debate going on in the CofE about ethics and sexuality, and our submission on same-sex marriage does not foreclose on that debate. The issue of same-sex marriage raises wider questions about the nature of a good society, and in particular about how far societies need to balance the common good against individual freedoms. The Church of England was not likely to rewrite the law of marriage because David Cameron waned to detoxify the Conservative Party or because Lynne Featherstone put out a confused and misleading consultation paper. But we would hope that friends in all the parties, including you, might want to be part of a mutually respectful debate about the common institutions which might make for a better society.
(Author: Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, Director, Mission and Public)What Is Enough?
Sara reflects on a Christian approach to austerity, hardship and welfare (Author: Sara Kewly Hyde)
Trapped In A Sexual Society
Rosie writes about the problem of sexualisation of our young. (Author: Rosie Colthorpe)
No One Gets Left Behind - Benefits and Labour
Jeremy Dillon writes about benefits, equality and Labour. (Author: Jeremy Dillon)
How Equal Are You?
Gwyn Bailey reflects on the Beatitudes and being 'all in it together'. (Author: Gwyn Bailey)
Food poverty and tax justice
This is the text of a talk given by Greg Smith at the Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty Tax Justice Bus event in Preston on October 14th 2012 (Author: Greg Smith)
Truly Ethical Banking
Emma tells us about the 'pop-up' foodbank that CSM put on in Manchester during the Labour Party conference. (Author: Emma Aston)
Why Is No One Talking About The Third Way?
18 year old, Cornelius Harding, explores if there is a third way (Author: Cornelius Harding)
We need to resist Cameron’s privatisation of marriage
Dave Landrum offers another response to the debate on same-sex marriage (Author: Dave Landrum)
Don't Be Fooled By Olympic Individualism
Emma takes a deep look at the phenomenon that has gripped the nation... (Author: Emma Aston)
Confessions Of A Recovering Evangelical
Here, Tom Harris, MP for Glasgow South, sets out his thoughts on the equal marriage debate (Author: Tom Harris MP)
society + inequality
homepage (Author: )
Is the Big Society Descending into Farce?
Paul Bickley of the public theology think-tank Theos wrote this article recently for Prospect magazine.
It makes some prescient points that can inform a positive response from left to the 'Big Society' agenda.
(Author: Ian Geary)
Reflection on the Monarchy
This article was recently posted on the Respublica blog. (Author: Ian Geary)
CSM member writes about soup run ban
A link through to John Kuhrt's Guardian article on the banning of soup runs in Westminster (Author: Rob Carr)
BIG SOCIETY - SMALL WORLD
Article about a speech from Rowan Williams on the Big Society debate. (Author: CSM)
Labour and the 'Big Society'
Ian Geary reflects upon whether the 'Big Society' agenda is simply the flavour of the month or if Labour can respond to it in a positive manner. (Author: Ian Geary)
Challenging notions of a “Big Society”
CSM's chair dissects the Big Society with the wisdom of someone who has worked with and within the voluntary sector (Author: Alun Michael MP)
From the Third Way to Lord Wei
What are the deeper currents beneath the "Big Society"? Is it the wrong answer to the right question? (Author: Ian Geary)
Pay, Poverty, Inequality
How can Christian teaching inform our responses? (Author: Christopher Stephens)
The CSM in Green tights: The Robin Hood tax, and why we support it.
The Robin Hood tax is a small tax on banks, which will take, on average, 0.05% of all banking transactions. This is less than 50p for every £1000 that they spend. (Author: Timothy Telford)
Citizenship is Fragile
Hard-won citizenship rights that ensure our entitlement to vote or to be tried before our peers are entrenched in law and tradition. Like the low rumble of traffic noise, citizenship is unremarkable, taken-for-granted and unnoticed. (Author: Dr Eric Stoddart)
From ConDemned relationship to a civil partnership?
The Relationships Foundation asks whether the new coalition has the sort of relationship that will survive. (Author: Peter Lynas)
I love the BBC
Christians and people who value quality art, not to mention independent journalism, should reject calls to cut back the BBC in the name of competition. (Author: Jonathan Langley)
Justice, Rights and Human Wrongs (Part 1)
Examining the issue of human rights from a Christian perspective (Author: Chris Le Marquand)
Why Does Thou steal….?
Theology student, Eva Parker, responds to Father Tim Jones' controversial statement, that he might recommend stealing. (Author: Eva Parker)
'My advice, as a Christian priest, is to shoplift.' Father Tim Jones' Sermon
And when we, as a society, are found time and time again to fail to lift those at the very bottom, then for the love of God, a God born in a stable of all places, let us not punish them for trying to survive as best they can. (Author: Father Tim Jones)
Justlife Community Interest
Justlife is a social enterprise which exists to raise aspirations for vulnerable adults by opening doorways to healthcare, housing and employment. The dream is that by enabling people who are so often marginalised to seek the help and support they need... (Author: Gary Bishop)
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Many people around you are hurting. Some are hard to spot because they wear the mask of success. Others are clearly down and out. How can you change their lives? One life at a time! One act of kindness at a time. But you have to care enough to sacrifice.. (Author: Jim Holian)
Clause 13: Protecting the Unheard
Rachel Davies, Human Trafficking Officer at Care explains the complexities of Clause 13 and a vote which could have a big impact on lives like Anna .. (Author: Rachel Davies)
Increase Welfare Benefits
Seeking support to challenge the current regulations governing social welfare benefits. (Author: Robert Ackland)
Something to be hopeful about
If we are serious about hope, then it is time to listen to the voices of young people. (Author: Helen Dennis)