The Church in Wales’s decision to allow blessings of same-sex couples has been met with deep sadness among evangelicals – and fears of an impending split within the denomination.
The Evangelical Fellowship in the Church in Wales (EFCW) said: ‘For many in EFCW, this decision will come with a sense of sadness that the Church in Wales has decided to depart from a traditional understanding of marriage, and with great uncertainty about how to move forward in good conscience.’ The EFCW executive was due to meet as en went to print.
The Church of England does not allow same-sex blessings or marriage.
Referral not refusal
A ‘conscience clause’ set out in guidance published after the vote states: ‘No cleric of the Church in Wales is obliged to officiate at this service. In circumstances where a cleric does not feel able to officiate at a service requested by any couple, he or she shall refer the matter to me as diocesan bishop and chief pastor to decide what provision shall be made. A blanket refusal should not be given.’
This means clergy will be unable to simply refuse on the basis that same-sex blessings are unbiblical, but will be required to refer it to someone else who does not believe it is unbiblical.
Carys Moseley of Christian Concern said: ‘The bishops’ track-record speaks for itself. These are wolves in sheep’s clothing who should not be running a denomination at all. The minority in the Church in Wales who are Biblically faithful are now having to consider where they stand and who will support them spiritually.’
It is possible some Welsh evangelicals may join the fairly new Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE) which is linked to GAFCON under Bishop Andy Lines.
But the issue of church buildings may be a stumbling block, since – in contrast to England – in the Church in Wales almost all of them are owned by a central denominational body.
Some Welsh evangelicals have admitted that because they expected to defeat the change, insufficient planning had been carried out for the situation in which they now find themselves.
Responding to the result of the vote, Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool, said: ‘This is a good decision.’ But evangelical bishops have remained silent.
