![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/church-of-england-should-allow-same-sex-marriage/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000295179574_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg&description=The Church of England should allow same-sex marriage for both its clergy and congregation, the Bishop of Oxford has said. The Rt Rev Steven Croft said he wanted to acknowledge the "acute pain and distress of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church". In a lengthy essay, the bishop said he was sorry that the Church has been "so slow" to "reach better decisions and practice on these matters". He also apologised for his own views being "slow to change". But the bishop also said clergy must have the option not to opt in to any new arrangements, saying that it should be recognised that it is a "legitimate and honourable position" for those who want to keep a "traditional view of marriage and human sexuality". He wrote: "I need to acknowledge, right at the beginning of this essay, the acute pain and distress of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church. "I am sorry that, corporately, we have been so slow as a Church to reach better decisions and practice on these matters. I am sorry that my own views were slow to change and that my actions, and lack of action, have caused genuine hurt, disagreement and pain. I remain on a very steep learning curve. "Listening to this pain and distress has been key in my own journey and to the changes in my own views." Bishop's list of desired changes Listing the changes he wished to see, the bishop said the Church should allow for the provision of public services of blessing for same-sex civil partnerships and marriages. He also said it should give freedom of conscience to clergy and ordinands "to order their relationships appropriately", give freedom of conscience to clergy to enter into their own same-sex civil marriage, and remove the legal barriers to the solemnisation of same-sex marriage in the church. He insisted this freedom of conscience should also be applied to those who disagree with his proposed changes, with no clergy or parishes being forced to opt in to the new possible arrangements. He called for a "differentiation of provi){kind=link}
Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Steven Croft, says organisation has been ‘so slow’ to ‘reach better decisions and practice on these matters’
The Church of England should allow same-sex marriage for both its clergy and congregation, the Bishop of Oxford has said.
The Rt Rev Steven Croft said he wanted to acknowledge the “acute pain and distress of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the Church”.
In a lengthy essay, the bishop said he was sorry that the Church has been “so slow” to “reach better decisions and practice on these matters”. He also apologised for his own views being “slow to change”.
But the bishop also said clergy must have the option not to opt in to any new arrangements, saying that it should be recognised that it is a “legitimate and honourable position” for those who want to keep a “traditional view of marriage and human sexuality”.