The law has permitted places of worship to host civil partnership ceremonies since December
The signatories, from the diocese of London, want discretion to uphold loving homosexual relationships.
It is the first sign of significant resistance within the Church to its refusal to permit civil partnership ceremonies in Anglican churches.
The law has allowed them in English and Welsh places of worship since December.
In their letter to the London diocese representatives on the General Synod, the signatories stopped short of calling for same-sex marriage.
However, they said they should be given the same discretion in deciding whether to hold civil partnerships in church as they currently have in deciding whether to remarry divorced people.
One of the signatories said they were dismayed at having to deny ?the Church?s fullest ministry? to increasing numbers of gay couples with loving relationships, said BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott.
The Church said in December it would not host civil ceremonies, just as a ?gentlemen?s outfitter is not required to supply women?s clothes?.
?Dictatorial, homophobic?Secretary general William Fittall wrote that no religious premises would be allowed to host the registration of civil partnerships without written permission from the general synod ? the Church?s governing body.
The government said no religious group would be forced to hold ceremonies.
However, the Church?s stance angered pressure groups and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell urged clergy to defy the ban, which he called ?dictatorial and homophobic?.
The government will open a consultation on the issue of same-sex marriages ? as opposed to civil partnerships ? in March.
A consultation on the subject by the Scottish government ended in December.
On Wednesday, more than 50 people protested outside York Minster at comments made by the Archbishop of York on same-sex marriage.
Dr John Sentamu had told the Daily Telegraph that marriage must be between a man and a woman, adding it was not ?the role of the state to define what marriage is?.
Civil partnerships give same-sex couples the right to the same legal treatment across a range of matters as married couples but the law does not allow such unions to be referred to as marriages.
The law has permitted places of worship to host civil partnership ceremonies since December
A letter signed by 120 clergy is calling for the Church of England to reverse its ban on civil partnership ceremonies being held in churches. The signatories, from the diocese of London, want discretion to uphold loving homosexual relationships.
It is the first sign of significant resistance within the Church to its refusal to permit civil partnership ceremonies in Anglican churches. The law has allowed them in English and Welsh places of worship since December.
In their letter to the London diocese representatives on the General Synod, the signatories stopped short of calling for same-sex marriage. However, they said they should be given the same discretion in deciding whether to hold civil partnerships in church as they currently have in deciding whether to remarry divorced people.
One of the signatories said they were dismayed at having to deny ?the Church?s fullest ministry? to increasing numbers of gay couples with loving relationships, said BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott.
The Church said in December it would not host civil ceremonies, just as a ?gentlemen?s outfitter is not required to supply women?s clothes?.?Secretary General William Fittall wrote that no religious premises would be allowed to host the registration of civil partnerships without written permission from the general synod ? the Church?s governing body. The government said no religious group would be forced to hold ceremonies.
However, the Church?s stance angered pressure groups and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell urged clergy to defy the ban, which he called ?dictatorial and homophobic?.
The government will open a consultation on the issue of same-sex marriages ? as opposed to civil partnerships ? in March. A consultation on the subject by the Scottish government ended in December.
On Wednesday, more than 50 people protested outside York Minster at comments made by the Archbishop of York on same-sex marriage. Dr John Sentamu had told the Daily Telegraph that marriage must be between a man and a woman, adding it was not ?the role of the state to define what marriage is?.
Civil partnerships give same-sex couples the right to the same legal treatment across a range of matters as married couples but the law does not allow such unions to be referred to as marriages.
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One wonders whether ? If the Church of England had been open to the possibility of the Blessing of Same-Sex Unions on church premises at first ? the current public and governmental pressure for Same-Sex Marriage would have been quite so vehement.
In his haste to defend Marriage as only applicable to heterosexual relationships, the Archbishop of?York (who has elsewhere stated his acceptance of same -sex partnerships where there are children being cared for by the couple) may have exacerbated the situation where same-sex couples, being denied a Blessing in church for their Civil Partnership, may seek refuge in the government?s proposal to legalise Same-Sex Marriage ? something that the Archbishop seems not to approve of.
If only the Church had the foresight to see that committed, monogamous, Same-Sex Partnerships are as worthy of the Church?s Blessing as that of any other loving couple; there may not have been the same pressure by the general public to see Same-Sex Marriage as the only viable alternative.
Perhaps this petition from 120 London Diocesan clergy may help the House of Bishops and the General Synod of the Church of England?to understand the seriousness of their stance on withholding the Blessing of the Church from members who wish to see their parnerships?authenticated by the acceptance of the Church. If Archbisho Sentamu? wants to preserve the uniqueness of Marriage for heterosexual couples; then perhaps both he and the Church of England will have to be prepared to open it?s doors to Same-Sex Blessings. This is only applied justice.
Father Ron Smith, Christchurch, New Zealand
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About kiwianglo
Retired Anglican priest, living in Christchurch, New Zealand. Ardent supporter of LGBT Community, and blogger on 'Thinking Anglicans UK' site. Theology: liberal, Anglo-Catholic & traditional. regarding each person as an unique expression of Christ, and therefore lovable.sacramento kings portland trail blazers leah messer justin timberlake engaged bluefin tuna jonestown hayden panettiere
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