BAPTISM, COHABITATION & CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS - WHY I CAN'T IN CONSCIENCE

Because clergy and parishes differ in their approaches to baptising the children of unmarried couples, it is difficult for orthodox clergy on the ground to form a shield-wall with others on this key theological, moral and social issue.

This is not the place for a long theological discourse on the nature of baptism. The core issue here relates to the public promises that couples who bring children for baptism make: I turn to Christ as Saviour; I submit to Christ as Lord; I come to Christ the way, the truth and the life.

In conscience Cranmer's Curate could not participate in an act of corporate worship where individuals are publicly declaring their submission to Christ as Lord when they are clearly disregarding His biblical teaching that heterosexual, monogamous, life-long marriage is the only right context for the expression of sexual love and the procreation of children. Cohabiting couples and couples in civil partnerships bringing children for baptism are by definition unable to say with integrity: I submit to Christ as Lord.

The Book of Common Prayer in the Solemnization of Matrimony states clearly that the causes for which marriage was ordained were:

1). ‘The procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.’

2). ‘For a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ’s body.’

3). ‘For the mutual society, help and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.’

Canon A5 clearly affirms that the Book of Common Prayer expresses the biblical doctrine of the Church of England and therefore to participate in the baptism of the children of cohabiting couples or of those in civil partnerships is in fact uncanonical. It is to sanction what both Holy Scripture and Anglican teaching calls ‘fornication’.

Ecumenically, such action undermines faithful Christians including those in Roman Catholic adoption agencies who, when the Sexual Orientation Regulations were being imposed, took such a courageous stand for the God-given institution of heterosexual marriage as the right context for the nurture of children.

More widely within society, it is also clear that the assault on the institution of marriage since the 1960s has unleashed a tidal wave of toxic evil on our nation, spiritually, morally and socially. The Church of the nation is called to serve the nation and upholding an institution that a loving God created for the good of humanity is a vital aspect of that service.

Like most clergy Cranmer's Curate sincerely wishes to enjoy peaceable relations with people particularly in the local community he is called to serve, and in his experience most cohabiting couples are willing to have a celebratory service of thanksgiving in which their children are blessed. In conscience cc must by God’s grace uphold the Lordship of Christ if he is to have integrity both as a Christian and as an ordained minister.