The Anglican Church of Canada has been considering getting out of the marriage business and, instead, just “blessing” the state version of marriage.
An obvious reason for this is that the state has altered the meaning of marriage from the union of one man and one woman to the joining in a sexual, but otherwise indeterminate fashion, of men with men and women with women. The Anglican Church of Canada, applying its typical reverse-prophetic sycophancy, wants to go along with this, but has to overcome one minor hurdle: the Bible.
The answer to the problem is simple: stop marrying people altogether, just “bless” what has already been done.
From here:
A small group of bishops will lay the groundwork for a discussion of marriage within the life of the church at the November House of Bishops meeting in Niagara Falls.
The impetus for this discussion is a General Synod request to the faith, worship and ministry committee to consider the implications of having Anglican clergy cease to solemnize marriages.
It all makes perfect sense: by devaluing the idea of marriage, the church has rendered it meaningless, so why keep on doing it?
What’s more, there is a efficient replacement:
When Miguel Hanson and Diana Wesley get married today, they won’t stand before a gray haired minister holding a Bible.
Instead, they’ll be looking at a 30-inch monitor.
On one half of the screen, they’ll see a virtual minister with an animated, square face with blue eyes and thin, oval glasses.
His voice will be heard over a sound system while the text of what he’s saying will show up on the other half of the screen.
And the sermon would be shorter and make more sense.
I was looking over the “welcome” package that our Church has prepared. One of the pamplets is about marriage, and of course gives the appropriate information about obtaining an marriage licence. But does not mention anything about a marriage certificate that a couple may have if they have the banns read in Church.