Marriage equality: Churches Together England rejects Quaker

[muriel_volestrangler]

Not very together from Churches Together.

Churches Together England has declined to accept British Quakers’ nomination for a senior role because of some churches’ discomfort about marriage equality. The group rejected Quaker appointee Hannah Brock Womack, a young, radical peace activist, who campaigns against the arms trade and works in the voluntary sector, because she is married to a woman.

Churches Together England said in a statement:

While remaining committed to the journey of unity we are on as churches from many traditions, the Member Churches of CTE, through the Enabling Group, have recently requested the Fourth Presidency Group to refrain from enacting its Presidency at this time, leaving the Fourth Presidency as an ‘empty chair’ for the current term of office. This empty chair represents the lack of agreement within the churches in England regarding human sexuality, and the reality that this dimension of the churches’ pilgrimage together is not yet complete.

British Quakers also published a statement with comments from Mark Lilley and Paul Parker:

Mark Lilley, Quaker representative to CTE Enabling Group and clerk of Quaker Committee on Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) said, “The grief this situation is causing Friends (known as Quakers) must not be underestimated by other churches. Work must be done to heal the pain through creative conversations about our differences. We are confident that the ecumenical movement will continue to serve as a model of cooperation and mutual understanding that recognises the unique gifts of each member.”

Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain said, “This is a deeply sad decision. Quakers in Britain value the fact that CTE seeks to encompass the wide diversity among Christians in England. It is important to us that the Quaker voice is heard in discussions between Churches.

“As Quakers, we are called to answer that of God in everyone. We recognise the inherent worth of each person. That leads us to welcome all committed same-sex relationships as equally as committed opposite-sex relationships. We value equally all people, regardless of sexuality or other defining characteristics. These characteristics are not the right way to decide if someone is right to serve as our CTE President.”

https://bathquakers.org/2019/11/23/marriage-equality-churches-together-england-rejects-quaker-local-school-parts-with-its-chaplain/

Generally, CTE has six Presidents, representing various church groupings. Each grouping appoints Presidents. The churches in the Fourth Presidency Group appoint a President every four years, in turn. Quaker Rowena Loverance served as a CTE President from 1998 to 2001. This time, Hannah Brock Womack was nominated by Quakers in Britain, to represent members of the Fourth Presidency Group which includes Lutheran Council of Great Britain, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, German-Speaking Lutheran, Reformed and United Congregations in Great Britain, Church of Scotland (Presbytery of England) and Quakers in Britain.

https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/churches-plan-for-new-president-falters-because-of-same-sex-marriage

So, although the organization is for all kinds of ecumenical work, a majority of the others want to see it hobbled rather than associate with someone in a same-sex marriage.