Latest News
Media Statement 25.7.12:
Posted on 25 July 2012
MEDIA STATEMENT FROM REFORM
It is reported today that the Prime Minister David Cameron has compared the advance of the cause of gay marriage within the Conservative party to the same cause within the Church of England, saying that opponents of the redefinition of marriage within the church are "locking out people who are gay, or are bisexual or are transgender from being full members of that Church."
In response, the Rev'd Rod Thomas, the Chairman of Reform, the conservative evangelical network within the Church of England, said: "it is very regrettable that the Prime Minister has spoken in such terms. To suggest that the church is ‘locking out' any section in the community is a misinterpretation of the church's position.
"As Christians we advocate and show pastoral care and love to all in the community, following Christ's command to love our neighbour as ourselves. However the church's mission is to bring God's word to God's world. God designed marriage to be the union of one man and one woman, reflecting the union of Christ as bridegroom and his church his bride. That purpose will never change.
"God is not a person with whom even UK prime ministers can negotiate a more congenial set of commands.
"We utterly deny that by supporting the Biblical definition of marriage anyone is being ‘locked out' from meeting God through Jesus Christ and experiencing his transforming love."
Ends
Further information contact the Reform media officer:
Rev'd Paul Dawson, tel 07791 495824