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<\/p>\nA fairytale romance, especially since they are both men:<\/p>\n
Reverend Colin Coward fell in love with Nigerian model Bobby Egbele after they met at a Christian conference in Togo in 2007. The pair plan to tie the knot in October<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
From here<\/a>:<\/p>\n
A 65-year-old vicar has stunned church bosses by announcing plans to ‘marry’ his 25-year-old Nigerian male model boyfriend.<\/p>\n
Gay Reverend Colin Coward, a priest at St John the Baptist church in Devizes, Wiltshire, is entering into a civil partnership with his boyfriend Bobby Egbele.<\/p>\n
But the marriage has caused a stir among Christians because the couple plan to receive a ‘blessing’ service in church after tying the knot.<\/p>\n
Rev Coward has also refused to confirm that he will remain celibate following the union, which is a requirement the Church of England asks of its ordained gay clergy.<\/p>\n
Today, Rev Coward, who lives with Bobby in Marston, near Devizes, revealed that he hopes his union sets a ‘visible example’ to other gay people within the church.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘My goal is for everyone within the church to feel comfortable with the situation because at the moment the majority of gay Christians marry secretly.<\/p>\n
‘It is a taboo subject but the church is now under huge pressure to change its stance and that pressure will only increase in the future.<\/p>\n
\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n
Rev Coward’s boss, the Right Reverend Stephen David Conway, who is the Bishop of Ramsbury, is also expected to ask him to remain celibate – a request he plans to refuse.<\/p>\n
Under Church of England laws sex is only permitted for married couples and same-sex civil partnerships are not officially regarded as marriage.<\/p>\n
Rev Coward said: ‘I have big doubts whether he will ask me that because it’s a very intrusive question. It’s a ridiculous situation and a real mess.<\/p>\n
‘What we’re allowed to do, as a gay couple, is what this is all about and certainly those in ordained ministry are not supposed to be sexually active.<\/p>\n
‘But in practice, some bishops absolutely will give their approval knowing that a couple is in a civil partnership and that they are sharing the same bed, and will encourage them to do that.’<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
As Rev. Coward notes, \u201cit\u2019s a real mess\u201d;<\/em> what he fails to note is that he created the mess.<\/p>\n
This particular mess is a good illustration of the idiocy of the Church of England\u2019s permitting its clergy to \u201cmarry\u201d other men while asking them to remain celibate \u2013 nudge, wink. A typical Anglican attempt to find middle ground that doesn\u2019t – and shouldn’t – exist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fairytale romance, especially since they are both men: Reverend Colin Coward fell in love with Nigerian model Bobby Egbele after they met at a Christian conference in Togo in 2007. The pair plan to tie the knot in October … Continue reading