The statement below is from the Rev. Dr. Alan McCann and the Vestry at Holy Trinity Church, Carrickfergus, Ireland. It is in the Diocese of Connor. Further information is available at: http://www.holytrinitycarrick.org.uk/index.htm. This Anglican Church states: "First and foremost we are a Christian Church and as such form part of God's worldwide church. Secondly, we are Church of Ireland, and we endeavour to live according to our biblically based faith, which is set out in what we call `The 39 Articles of Faith.'"
http://www.holytrinitycarrick.org.uk/110916.pdf
http://www.holytrinitycarrick.org.uk/110916.pdf
Statement by the Select Vestry of Holy Trinity Woodburn, Diocese of
Connor
The Select
Vestry of Holy Trinity Woodburn wishes to make the following statement as a result
of the recent confirmation that a member of the clergy of the Church of Ireland
has entered into a same-sex civil partnership.
We
acknowledge that every person is a child of God and is therefore deserving of
respect, love and a welcome in the church that God has called us to be. None of
us are without sin. We are all dependent on the love, grace and mercy of God
expressed in the forgiveness which He freely offers to a fallen sinful world
through His Son Jesus. Everyone is welcome at Holy
Trinity Woodburn.
However we
believe that the Bible is clear on the issue of human sexuality and that God’s design
and correct place for sexual activity is within the context of a faithful
marriage relationship between a man and a woman. Anything outside of this is
outside of God’s purposes for humankind and is as the Bible states sinful. This
is what the Scriptures clearly teach and this has been the historical teaching
of the Church for two millennia.
This is the
doctrine and the teaching of the Church of Ireland also. The message
of the gospel of Christ Jesus is one of transforming grace through faith in the
death and resurrection of Jesus. This transformation of life, through the power
of the Holy Spirit, enables men and women to grow not only in faith but also in
holiness of life.
We regret
that those called to lead the church of God would wish to espouse, or live, a patently
unbiblical way of life. We are deeply hurt and offended by the actions of dean Tom
Gordon and further distressed that this step was taken with the apparent
knowledge and tacit approval of the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory. If, as dean Gordon
has stated, Bishop Burrows was fully aware of the Dean’s way of life and gave
approval for his entering into
a civil partnership he has departed from the teaching of the Church. This we consider
to be a grave matter and one which seriously questions the unity of the Church
of Ireland. This decision, if not repented of and turned away from, will, in
our humble opinion, inevitably lead to the breaking of fellowship and to
division. This matter cannot be ignored by us as a
church fellowship nor by the wider Church of Ireland.
We call on
all members of Holy Trinity Woodburn to diligently pray for godly leadership in
the church; for repentance on the part of those who have so publicly fallen and
departed from the apostolic faith; and call on the bishops of the Church of
Ireland and those who sit in the councils of the church to reaffirm and to work
for the restoration of the biblically orthodox position on human
relationships which heretofore existed.
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