`Ello fellow believers! I bid you greetings from Hertfordshire, where the gay mob is vacillating between rainbow-flavoured outrage and blubbery distress.
A gay couple have called for a vicar to step down after he refused to bless their marriage at their local church, according to the Mirror.
Andrew Springett and his fiancé Jason Dexter (Image: SWNS- Cambridge)
Andrew Springett and his fiancé Jason Dexter knew they couldn't be legally married by the Church of England, but they had dreamed of having a traditional service for their friends and family. So, when they find their deviant dreams unfulfilled, the SOP (standard operating procedure) of the Sapphic Syndicate is to alternate between threats, phony outrage, and rainbow sobbing.
The 'couple' were upset after the Reverend Alan Comfort, 53, - who believes marriages should be between men and women only - said he had to "hold to the integrity of my own beliefs whilst wishing others well in whatever they choose." Good show, Sir. Chuffed!
He refused to hold a special community event at All Saints Church in Dane End, Hertfordshire. Other ministers offered to hold it at neighbouring churches.
Here comes the rainbow sobbing. Mr. Springett, 38, said:
"I'm so frustrated, I've desperately tried not to be angry about the situation but it's a real set back to not have it in our own village. I just didn't foresee that he would be that objectionable since we were so embedded in the community. I certainly thought that he may have listened and he may have, we thought, been more understanding about how the world is now."
Incidentally, gay couples cannot be legally married in a Church of England church.
Locals dubbed Mr Springett and his fiancee Jason Dexter, 24, "Pinky and Perky" after they moved to the hamlet of Dane End in Hertfordshire 18 months ago.
The couple who delivered their parish newsletter have now been forced to have their blessing three miles away at St Andrew and St Mary Church in Watton-at-Stone. Oh, the hardship!
Asked if he believed the Rev should step down, he said:
"100%. He should listen to his community, he needs to understand, how accepting the world has become and that his views are outdated. "What we are battling is someone's personal views and not legal views or the views of the community. "He should take a real hard look at himself and realise that he is not a community leader nor should he be one with that much authority."
Mr Springett, who owns nursery chain Ability 2 Create Ltd, claimed a "very very large" proportion of the local community had rallied around him and his fiance over the issue.
Hundreds of comments of support were made after he told of his shock when the vicar refused to hold a traditional church event ahead of the formalities at a registry office last week. No doubt. Gay activists (world-wide) are quite committed to supporting their own against the dreadful oppressions of normal humanity--who still believe in biblical truth.
Springett, who was brought up in a "traditional Church of England" home near Chelmford, Essex, said holding a community event as part of their marriage was "really important" to him and his fiancee. Apparently it wasn't important for him to pay attention in Church all those years when the Bible was read.
The gay dog-lovers take their two beagles on walks past the church every day from their stunning 15th century cottage home which they say is "open" to the whole village. Andrew has put in a formal complaint over his treatment to the Bishop of St Albans and is awaiting a response. He is also planning to seek legal advice over the incident.
The Rev Alan Comfort said:
"The Church of England has not agreed for same sex marriages to take place, and the debate concerning this is a struggle for many of us. "As a Christian I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman and I must hold to the integrity of my own beliefs whilst wishing others well in whatever they choose. I did encourage Andrew to talk to other churches or church leaders who may see things differently as I know some may do."
A spokesman from the United Benefice of Standon and the Mundens with Sacombe, part of the Diocese of St Albans, said:
"We believe we have offered kindness to Andrew and Jason but need to clarify what current Church of England rules allow us to do. "Clergy of the Church of England are unable to marry couples of the same sex and, under the House of Bishops' pastoral statement on same-sex marriage, 'services of blessing' should not be provided for those who enter into civil partnerships or same-sex marriages. Church of England ministers are not permitted to carry out or bless same-sex marriages, but the local church is still there for its community and visitors to the area."
The gay couple say they have been overwhelmed by the “tear-jerking” response from the community after they spoke out about his response.
"Some of the responses have been quite tear-jerking. The community have rallied around us. It’s not a legal issue we are battling, nor is it a ‘Church of England’ issue. But a personal one with the clergy,” he added. Now even if they offered to bless our marriage at the church we would not want to.”
This is most unusual. Their take-their-ball-and-go-home huff is belied by the fact that they are attacking this church pastor for his personal convictions on sexuality. They are calling upon him to resign.
“Hopefully in the future we might adopt children but the local school is attached to the church that refused to accept their parents. “We are not upset, it is just frustrating. We want to fight for the future so other people don’t have to go through this.”
Andrew and Jason are having to rethink their wedding plans as a result of the set back with All Saints Church. Oh, the trauma.
That's the news from old England, Chaps. Stay close to the Word!
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
Cheerio,
ChurchMouse