Sandi Toksvig has disclosed that the Archbishop of Canterbury has conceded progress on same-sex marriage in the Church of England would be “glacial”.
The comedian revealed she had met Justin Welby for a “long-promised coffee” and the meeting had been “calm and considered”, but the church’s current position was “unsound”.
In a video, she said it was clear the “Church of England and the society it claims to represent are not remotely in step”.
They met after she expressed her dismay last year that Mr. Welby had reaffirmed the validity of a 1998 declaration by the church that gay sex was a sin.
The archbishop has recently said he welcomed the Church of England’s proposals to bless same-sex married couples but said he would not personally carry them out due to his “pastoral relationship for the whole communion”.
Toksvig in her video said;
“Yesterday I went to have coffee, tea, actually, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, not a sentence I thought would ever come out of my mouth. From our very calm and considered conversation yesterday, it is very clear that the State’s Church of England and the society it claims to represent are not remotely in step.
“Justin was keen for me to see that they are moving forward, but conceded that any progress, as I would see it if it happens at all, will be glacial”.
Sandi Toksvig
She said it was also “very clear” opposing factions of the worldwide Anglican Communion were being in part held together at the expense of the human rights of the LGBTQ+ community, she said;
“It’s not okay. And I said so”.
Sandi Toksvig
Toksvig asked Archbishop to come out as gay ally
Furthermore, she said:
“I asked Justin if he could just come out. I don’t mean to make a surprise announcement about his sexuality, but come out as a gay ally.
“Basically, to come up for love, love for all without exceptions, and not the current Orwellian position, where it would seem we are all created equal, but some are more equal than others.
Sandi Toksvig
She added that she hopes that will happen but she does not intend to wait upon the church.
“I hope that will happen, but I do not intend to wait upon the church. In the next few weeks, I will be reaching out to the LGBT+ community and all our allies to see what can be done.
“The present position is untenable. In the meantime, please. Let’s all come out for love”.
Sandi Toksvig
Last week the church formally apologized for its “shameful” treatment of LGBTQI+ people.
It came after it said it would refuse to allow same-sex couples to get married in its churches but would bless same-sex civil marriages for the first time.
The letter said:
“We want to apologize for the ways in which the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people – both those who worship in our churches and those who do not. For the times we have rejected or excluded you, and those you love, we are deeply sorry. The occasions on which you have received a hostile and homophobic response in our churches are shameful and for this, we repent.
“As we have listened, we have been told time and time again how we have failed LGBTQI+ people. We have not loved you as God loves you, and that is profoundly wrong. We affirm, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQI+ people are welcome and valued: we are all children of God”.
Church of England
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the decision on same-sex marriage was a bid to “seek the common good” but admitted it will “go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others”.
The plans, which will be outlined in a report to the General Synod, will allow same-sex couples to attend church for services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving, and God’s blessing following a legal marriage ceremony.
The synod will be asked to discuss the proposals when it meets from February 6 to 9. The main debate on the proposals is set for 8 February 2023.
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