Dear Lynn and Stephen,
We are writing to acknowledge our receipt of the letter regarding BUGB Council's statement on registration for same sex marriage, and to express some disquiet.
We are grateful that the statement does leave open the possibility for us, albeit in distinction from the majority view of the denomination, to celebrate such a marriage, while recognising the request that we do not.
However, we are uncomfortable with the suggestion that, as a Union, we have come to a "settled place" that "traditional marriage" is the “biblical” view. Leaving aside the question of how the Bible actually constructs marriage, this phrasing suggests that those of us who also affirm same sex marriage have, at best, chosen to ignore or discount the biblical position, and at worst are deliberately rejecting it. We believe that the position we take is biblical - otherwise, we would not be committing ourselves to it.
We are also disturbed that, having given an opening two years ago for churches to pursue registration, the Council now appears to be narrowing that position. We recognise that the position we hold is a minority one. We also remember there was a time when the position we hold on the place of women was a minority one. At Bloomsbury, we also hold in mind the time when we took a position on slavery that put us at odds with a wider Baptist family. To be in the minority in one generation is not, in and of itself, witness to being wrong. To be given permission to seek to discern the mind of Christ on difficult issues, and then, having arrived through prayer, scriptural study, reflection and conversation, at a sense of discernment, to be encouraged not to act on our settled conviction makes us sad. It also reminds us of the position that too many of our LGBTQI brothers and sisters have been put in – ‘be’, but don't ‘do’.
We remain deeply committed to the Union, and our place within it. We remain deeply grateful for the leadership that is offered. We also remain committed to the duty and call to the local congregation to discern the mind of Christ for the people of God in this place at this time. We are determined to live out the tension and struggle of it, rather than opting out, or insisting that others submit to our decision against their discernment and conviction.
In prayer, humility and love, we remain yours,
Ruth, Dawn, and Simon.
The Revd Dr Ruth Gouldbourne
The Revd Dr Simon Woodman
The Revd Dawn Savidge
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, London.
We are writing to acknowledge our receipt of the letter regarding BUGB Council's statement on registration for same sex marriage, and to express some disquiet.
We are grateful that the statement does leave open the possibility for us, albeit in distinction from the majority view of the denomination, to celebrate such a marriage, while recognising the request that we do not.
However, we are uncomfortable with the suggestion that, as a Union, we have come to a "settled place" that "traditional marriage" is the “biblical” view. Leaving aside the question of how the Bible actually constructs marriage, this phrasing suggests that those of us who also affirm same sex marriage have, at best, chosen to ignore or discount the biblical position, and at worst are deliberately rejecting it. We believe that the position we take is biblical - otherwise, we would not be committing ourselves to it.
We are also disturbed that, having given an opening two years ago for churches to pursue registration, the Council now appears to be narrowing that position. We recognise that the position we hold is a minority one. We also remember there was a time when the position we hold on the place of women was a minority one. At Bloomsbury, we also hold in mind the time when we took a position on slavery that put us at odds with a wider Baptist family. To be in the minority in one generation is not, in and of itself, witness to being wrong. To be given permission to seek to discern the mind of Christ on difficult issues, and then, having arrived through prayer, scriptural study, reflection and conversation, at a sense of discernment, to be encouraged not to act on our settled conviction makes us sad. It also reminds us of the position that too many of our LGBTQI brothers and sisters have been put in – ‘be’, but don't ‘do’.
We remain deeply committed to the Union, and our place within it. We remain deeply grateful for the leadership that is offered. We also remain committed to the duty and call to the local congregation to discern the mind of Christ for the people of God in this place at this time. We are determined to live out the tension and struggle of it, rather than opting out, or insisting that others submit to our decision against their discernment and conviction.
In prayer, humility and love, we remain yours,
Ruth, Dawn, and Simon.
The Revd Dr Ruth Gouldbourne
The Revd Dr Simon Woodman
The Revd Dawn Savidge
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, London.
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