In a detailed email, Mrs Ahmed explained that the parents were not homophobic or transphobic, they were not against anyone, they fully respected the Equality Act 2010 and they taught their children to respect everyone in the manner they would expect to be treated.
Read more'One of the things which impedes that change of view (towards embracing same-sex marriage) in the life of the Church is a fear lest it be seen to be in any way compelled to make up its mind by external forces, even if that is not the intention of the amendment. I recognise it is not, very clearly. However, that external pressure would itself be a rallying call to those opposed to change.'
Read more"We've always thought of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as a joyous outburst of human solidarity. We have a hymn tune from the symphony's Ode to Joy. But McClary helped me to understand that this symphony tells a more violent story, which is one of rape," Bishop Rachel said, acknowledging both theories were based on McClary's book Feminine Endings: Music, Gender and Sexuality.
Read moreWould he get in trouble under the Clergy Discipline Measure for refusing to conduct a service celebrating a person's gender transition? Would he be disciplined by his bishop, prosecuted by the British State or both for Islamophobia for refusing to take part in a multi-faith service?
Read more"Evil is a make-believe concept we've invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans holding values and beliefs and perspectives different than our own," he sermonised. Soon after, in the Shangri-La of Tajikistan, he and his flower-power companions met the wicked witch from the Brothers Grimm. Two ISIS terrorists, overflowing with the milk of global goodness, rammed them with a car, then stabbed and shot them.
Read moreThe new figures came during the Synod debate on the future of youth evangelism in England, in which the Church agreed to prioritise recruiting more youth workers and being inclusive of LGBT teenagers.
Read moreAs with those letters, many of the sentiments are commendable and uncontroversial. But from the point of view of biblical Christianity there are some notable problems, and some striking omissions.
Here are the 'highlights', with commentary:
Read moreHowever vicars in rural parts of the country, who have been increasingly responsible for "up to 20 churches" in their area due to the decline in clergy, say they are unable to abide by the law and left with little choice but to break it.
In recent years growing numbers of parishes have held one combined Sunday worship where previously each church would have held separate services.
Read moreHe drew on 1 Peter as he said Christians were called to share the hope they have in Jesus 'with gentleness and grace' and not be like the surrounding culture where there is 'the absence of love, competition, no grace, no hope'.
'Communication is so very complex and whatever is said has also to be heard and whatever is heard is not always reflected on in the same way as the original speaker may have intended,' he said.
Read moreChurch rules hold that such cases must be decided on an individual basis by either the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Archbishop of York.
The procedure does not apply to anyone who has chosen to stay single following a divorce or whose former spouse has passed away.
Vows of marriage by couples exchanged during Church of England weddings hold that their commitment is a life-long one.
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