Bishops rebel against Church marriage policy

They say that the Church’s official position does not speak for them, nor for a substantial number of clergy and churchgoers.

Their intervention comes as critics prepare to challenge the policy at General Synod next month, exposing faultlines within the Church.

It now faces a second highly divisive row in the coming weeks – as the leadership struggles to avoid a disastrous split over women bishops.

Two weeks ago the Church published its formal response to the Government’s proposal to allow same-sex couples to marry, declaring itself firmly against the move.

The two bishops are the most senior figures to attack the stance. The Rt Rev Alan Wilson, the Bishop of Buckingham, said: “The statement is narrow and legalistic ... Jesus didn’t say anything about being gay, but he said a certain amount about loving your neighbour as yourself.”

The Rt Rev Tim Ellis, the Bishop of Grantham, said the official position did not reflect the true “mind” of the Church.

An online petition against it has now been signed by more than 3,000 people.

While many Anglicans welcomed the official response as a restatement of traditional values, the breadth of opposition to it beyond the liberal wing has taken observers by surprise.

Some critics have objected on the basis of Scripture, while others have questioned the right of the Church authorities to make such a definitive statement on their behalf without consultation.

Bishop Ellis said he was concerned about the “freedom” of bishops like himself and objected to being bound by a “party line” on the issue. “In truth, the bishops in the media have not spoken for me or the way in which I understand this thorny matter,” he wrote on his blog, “and I suspect they do not speak for a sizeable minority or even majority within the life of the Church.”

The Church of England paper said same-sex weddings were against Anglican teachings and would undermine the state of marriage, as well as being “divisive” and “legally flawed”.

But Bishop Wilson said: “The statement doesn’t speak for me at all, frankly. There is a groundswell of opinion that says, 'This does not speak for us.’

"That’s just a matter of fact. It corresponds with the feedback I’m getting, and other colleagues are having the same experience. There is a sea change going on.”

He added: “What’s guiding me is Evangelical stuff. There is a disconnect between the statement and the Sermon on the Mount. We are saying to people, 'You are thrice cursed because of something you are.’

“It is fair enough to expect bishops to have asked, 'What would Jesus do?’ I don’t think they did.”

Before the drafting of the Church’s response to the consultation Bishop Wilson joined several clergy, including Dr Jeffrey John, the openly homosexual Dean of St Albans, in encouraging their colleagues to welcome the Government’s proposals.

In an open letter on April 21 they argued “God’s grace” was at work in allowing same-sex couples to marry, adding the Church had “nothing to fear” from the introduction of marriage for same-sex couples – which would only be permitted on civil premises, and not in places of worship, under the proposals.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, the Bishop of Salisbury, has been the most senior Church figure to back the Government’s proposals, comparing bishops opposing marriage reforms to 18th century Christians who believed slavery was “God-given”.

However, he has so far not spoken out publicly against the Church’s published document, which was privately discussed by the House of Bishops – in which he sits – before publication.

Those who oppose the document hope the three bishops will join them at a protest on the first day of next month’s Synod.

They plan to present the petition to Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.

Fr Ian Stubbs, an Anglican priest who set up the petition, is planning on carrying it 60 miles on foot from his parish in Glossop, Derbyshire, to York, gathering support along the way.

Clergy and laity who have signed the petition are frustrated that despite the document being distributed as one of the Synod's papers, time has not been allowed for it to be debated.

Synod members are preparing to raise the issue in formal questions to bishops at the meeting.

Dr Sentamu has been one of the most prominent opponents of same-sex marriage, claiming last month that the Government's proposals have only been put forward to meet an “emotional need” rather than to correct an injustice.

Last week the Chief Rabbi became the latest religious leader to oppose the plans.

A submission to the Home Office by the London Beth Din – the Chief Rabbi’s court – and the United Synagogue, which he leads, said a change in the law would “undermine the concept of marriage”.

Lord Sacks supported an argument in the Church’s submission that, if the law is passed, homosexual couples could appeal to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge any ban on same-sex marriages being held in places of worship.

His position contrasts with the Jewish Reform and Liberal movements, which have both backed the Government’s plans.

The homosexual marriage proposals have been fiercely criticised by the Roman Catholic Church, which distributed a letter to 2,500 parish churches urging Roman Catholics to oppose the move.

Ministers will now review the submissions received by the Home Office and prepare the legislation, which they plan to pass by 2015.