Summary
For my assignment, I read Pepinster’s “Church of England submits blessings for same-sex-marriage couples to fierce debate in Synod” (2023). Same-sex marriage has been discussed within the religious sphere for decades, and this continuously divides the Church of England. The notable heads of the church came together to discuss a new way forward of acknowledging the LGBTQ community and how the church will treat marriage between same-gender couples, which seems to deviate from the biblical affirmation of marriage being one man and one woman for their entire life. The biblical concept of marriage is given to human beings by God, and it practically represents the covenant between Jesus and the church.
The notable leaders, however, did not alter the church’s doctrines on marriage or move toward blessing same-sex couples in church, but will only dedicate to God an existing relationship of same-sex married couples. The Church of England urges all congregations to welcome same-sex couples joyfully (Pepinster, 2023). This is to prove the point that churches want to make everybody feel welcome. The challenge that the church faces is that the decision to bless same-sex marriages has been met with opposition from both sides.
The supporters of same-sex marriage argue that the church has failed to accept their demand for church weddings for same-sex couples, as is often the case with couples of the opposite gender, and are treated as second-class citizens (Pepinster, 2023). They consider this unfair treatment and a sign that the church is unwilling to embrace the LGBTQ community fully.
On the other hand, those opposed to same-sex marriage feel that the decision to bless same-sex couples is a sign that the church is fully embracing the practice. They argue that the church’s doctrine recognizes marriage as being between a man and a woman. For the church to bless same-sex couples, it will have to change its doctrines, something that is yet to be done. They feel that the church’s leadership is going against tradition to please the political class.
Application of Diversity Concept
Diversity is one of the concepts we learned in class. The article by Pepinster (2023) explains the church’s effort to embrace diversity and the challenges that it brings. There is immense pressure for the church to be seen as non-discriminatory towards a section of society. The church faces a unique situation where embracing diversity in terms of sexual orientation goes against some of its fundamental principles and doctrines.
As explained by Pepinster (2023), the tradition of the church recognizes marriage as one that is between a man and a woman. However, the socio-cultural environment in the UK and around the world is changing. The country and many other Western nations have legalized same-sex marriage. The church is seen as the weak link in the fight to promote diversity and inclusivity in society. As such, the article shows that there have been cases where some legislators have directly piled pressure on the church to accept same-sex marriages.
To understand the context of the article, it is necessary to review the arguments made by Smith (2019) on the issue of same-sex marriage in the church. The author argues that the Bible has several verses where this practice is clearly defined as immoral and undesirable. Similarly, this article outlines the argument of the conservative members of the church who believe that the move goes against the teachings of the Bible.
Convincing such members of the church that it is now necessary to embrace the practice primarily because of the need to embrace diversity and please the political class is a major challenge. Although the article does not support the practice nor provide a direction for the church, it acknowledges the dilemma that it presents. It indicates that it may take some time before there is consensus because both sides are dissatisfied with the current decision taken by the top leadership of the church.
Application of Conflict Theory
When analyzing this article, it is necessary to reflect on conflict theory. This theory states that society is in a state of constant conflict because people are competing for limited resources (Rusu, 2020). In this case, the conflict is not brought about by the competition for limited resources. Instead, it is caused by the conflicting opinions of members of the church on one of the most fundamental principles of this religion. The article explains that the United Kingdom has fully legalized gay marriage (Pepinster, 2023).
However, it is important to understand that the UK is a secular state where religiosity plays little to no role in the country’s governance. Similarly, religious leaders also expect the state not to interfere with the doctrines of religious societies. However, the political class is determined to influence the practices and beliefs of the church (Pepinster, 2023).
In response, the leadership of the Church of England is responding in a way that is likely to exacerbate the problem if care is not taken. Individuals have the freedom and capacity to join religious outfits that they consider aligned with their beliefs and practices. Numerous churches in the country, such as the Open Episcopal Church, fully permit same-sex marriages (Spellers, 2021).
An individual can easily choose to be a congregant of these churches. However, the Church of England has specific traditions and fundamental doctrines, and changing them to please the political class or appear to embrace diversity will only worsen the problem. At the moment, conservatives are disgruntled, as they feel that the church is going against its tradition. On the other hand, same-sex crusaders feel that the church is treating them as second-class citizens. To please everyone, the decision has caused further division in the church, and it may not be easy to restore trust in the current leadership.
Application of Tolerance Concept
The article explains that the Church of England is currently facing the challenge of maintaining cohesion among its global congregants. One of the concepts learned in class is tolerance. This article explains the Church of England’s desire to be as tolerant to all its congregants as possible, irrespective of their sexual orientation (Pepinster, 2023). The church is committed to ensuring that its principles and doctrines are aligned with the laws of the country.
The problem with same-sex marriage is that it remains one of the most controversial topics in the country and around the world. Pepinster (2023) explains that in Asia and Africa, the practice is largely considered illegal and immoral. It not only goes against the doctrines of the church but also contradicts most of the traditional practices of people around the world (Tkacik, 2022).
The church finds itself in a unique situation where its tolerance towards LGBTQ society goes against its tradition. Outside Europe and North America, there is a growing desire for members of this church to distance themselves from the decision that was made at the headquarters of the church. There is a fear that these churches may consider breaking away from the Church of England, especially those in Africa and Asia, something that the church’s top leadership is keen on avoiding (Pepinster, 2023).
It made the decision to bless such marriages, which means that gays and lesbians cannot officiate their marriage in church. They will need to consider civil marriage before coming to church, a move that the church’s leadership made to please the conservatives. It is meant to remind them that the church still maintains the tradition of only officiating a wedding between a man and a woman. It was also an acknowledgment that changing some of the fundamental principles and doctrines of the church may take some time. This issue will need to be managed carefully to avoid a fallout in the church.
Reflection
My approach to the assignment has significantly changed from the draft to the full analysis because of the insightful comments provided by the supervisors. The comments helped me think differently about where to include my personal views in the assignment. They also enabled me to rethink religion in the news more generally, such as the piece analyzed in this paper. By the time I wrote the final draft of this paper, I had learned to take time before forming an opinion when addressing a controversial topic, such as same-sex marriage in church.
References
Pepinster, Catherine. 2023. “Church of England submits blessings for same-sex couples to fierce debate in Synod.” Religion News Services. Web.
Rusu, Stelian. 2020. Street Names through Sociological Lenses: Functionalism and Conflict Theory. Bucharest: Editura Universitatii.
Smith, Charlotte. 2019. “The Church of England and Same-Sex Marriage: Beyond a Rights-Based Analysis.” Ecclesiastical Law Journal 21(2): pp. 153-178. Web.
Spellers, Stephanie. 2021. The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community. New York, NY: Church Publishing Incorporated.
Tkacik, Michael. 2022. When Questions for Catholicism: Women, Homosexuality, Ecumenism, and Non-Ordained. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock.