Council under fire after churches told they must perform same-sex marriages
The Christian Institute
Thursday 15 May 2014
For immediate use
Local church leaders have criticised Essex County Council after it wrongly demanded that churches be licensed to perform same-sex marriages.
Essex County Council had circulated a letter saying that “with immediate effect” churches “must be licensed” to conduct gay marriages. This contradicts the law which says churches do not have to perform same-sex weddings and forbids any attempt to force them to do so.
The council issued an apology a week after the original letter, following a complaint.
Peter Shirtcliffe, pastor of Prettygate Baptist Church, Colchester, said that by sending out this intimidating letter, Colchester Registry Office demonstrated that they really don't understand the law:
“As a church and as a Christian leader we are concerned that ordinary Christians understand that they have the freedom and right to disagree with same-sex marriage.
“This letter gives the impression that they have no choice. Thankfully, we knew our legal rights as a church which believes marriage is between a man and a woman, and so we contacted the council immediately to tell them they were wrong to insist we register to perform same-sex marriages.
“But not all churches are aware of their legal rights, and could have felt under pressure to go against their beliefs. I wonder if any churches obeyed the council edict in the week it took them to issue a clarification. Or how many church leaders spent the week worrying about whether they were breaking the law by refusing.
“The council made a serious mistake in sending this letter. We really need to know how this letter could ever have been approved for sending out when it so flatly contradicted the law that they are responsible for implementing, and why it took them a week to issue a correction, a correction that was radically different from the original letter.”
Martin Peirce, pastor of Greenstead Evangelical Free Church, said:
“The council’s initial letter shows a real lack of understanding and I’m sure some churches got quite a fright when they saw it. To get the new law through Parliament the Government included express legal protections so that churches cannot be forced to do same sex weddings.
“It’s incredible that Essex County Council officials were apparently unaware of these protections, despite the fact that they were headline news. It may have been a genuine mistake this time, but Essex has to train all of its officials to make sure no one is pushing their own agenda and going beyond the law.”
Revd John Parker, Church of England Priest in Charge of Fordham, also criticised the council’s actions:
“We did not receive the offending letter, since the registration of marriages is handled in a different manner in respect of Church of England churches. It has however caused considerable alarm and disquiet among leaders of other churches who have been in touch with me, and having seen the subsequent letter of apology from Essex County Council, I very much hope that it is taking firm steps to prevent any such errors in the future.”
A spokesman for Essex County Council said that its guidance on registering a building for same-sex marriages “applies only to those institutions which want to conduct such ceremonies”.
“A letter sent to churches in April may have created a different impression and we issued a clarification within a week explaining the correct procedure.”
Simon Calvert, spokesman for The Christian Institute, said the council needs to launch an investigation:
“Essex County Council should undertake an internal investigation to find out how the department responsible for implementing the law on marriage could get that law so badly wrong. They must tell local churches what they are doing to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
“Situations such as this are the very reason why The Christian Institute has produced a free legal guide for church leaders. They need to know their legal rights when it comes to upholding traditional marriage. The guide is available at christian.org.uk.”
“The Government also needs to act in order to avoid this happening elsewhere. All local authorities should be issued with advice about the importance of respecting freedom of religion and conscience when it comes to marriage.
“Millions of people across the country, religious and non-religious, believe marriage is between a man and a woman. Public officials should not be so careless with their civil liberties.”
For media enquiries, please contact The Christian Institute’s office on 0191 281 5664 or Simon Calvert on 07802 796512.
Essex County Council’s letters to churches
The Christian Institute’s free legal guide for churches
Notes for editors:
1. The Christian Institute is a registered charity which seeks to be a Christian influence in a secular world. The organisation campaigned against the introduction of same-sex marriage as part of the Coalition for Marriage umbrella group.
2. The first same-sex marriages took place on 29 March 2014 under the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.