This series Sex & Sexuality - God's creation Covenant & marriage - God's way Same-sex love, sex & marriage (What does the Bible say?) Gender - God's idea? Ours? Singleness & Sexuality Pornography & Self-Image

The wider Baptist perspective (GB) Baptist Union Council History (2013 Same Sex Marriage Act) Context – church buildings, registered for same-sex marriages...

The Baptist Union Declaration of Principle The Basis of the Baptist Union is: That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws. 2. That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who 'died for our sins according to the Scriptures; was buried, and rose again the third day'. 3. That it is the duty of every disciple to bear personal witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part in the evangelisation of the world.

BU Council March 2016 BU Council statement “Yes you can, but please - preferably - don’t…”

Rules for Baptist Union Ministers “Unbecoming Conduct” “Sexual misconduct which brings the church and ministry into disrepute n.b. This specifically includes sexual intercourse and other genital sexual activity outside of marriage (as defined exclusively as between a man and a woman)…” “Homosexual orientation (whether male or female) is not of itself a reason for exclusion from the Ministry, but homosexual genital practice is to be regarded as conduct unbecoming”.

In other words… at present, to become (or continue as) an accredited BU minister, a minister should be either: single, and therefore celibate, or… if married, then within a monogamous, heterosexual marriage.

BU ministers & same-sex marriage BU ministers could potentially conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies, if: Their own church meeting asked them to The church / building was registered for same-sex marriages, and… Doing so agreed with their own conscience BUT – Council has asked BU churches for the above not to be the case…

What does all this mean for Chapel A?