Gay Vicars – find out more
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Organisations
Affirming Catholicism
St Matthew's House
20 Great Peter Street
London SW1P 2BU
Website: www.affirmingcatholicism.org.uk
Affirming Catholicism maintains that acceptance of same-sex relationships
is consistent with the Gospel and that the time is right for the
Church to develop its theology and practice so that faithful lesbian
and gay Christians are fully welcomed into its life.
EACH - Educational Action Challenging Homophobia
Freephone helpline: 0808 1000 143 (Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-midday)
E-mail: help@eachaction.org.uk
Website: www.eachaction.org.uk
If you're a young person affected by homophobia or an adult concerned
about a young person, EACH offers support for young people, including
the children of a gay or lesbian parent.
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG)
7 York Court
Wilder Street
Bristol BS2 8HQ
Helpline: 01454 852 418
E-mail: info@fflag.org.uk
Website: www.fflag.org.uk
Offers confidential support, information and a sympathetic ear
for parents, families, straight partners and friends of lesbian,
gay and bisexual people.
The London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
PO Box 7324
London N1 9QS
Helpline: 020 7837 7324 (24-hour phone service to anyone in the
UK)
E-mail: admin@llgs.org.uk
Website: www.llgs.org.uk
Offers information, support and referrals to lesbians, bisexuals,
gay men, transsexuals and straight people wanting advice on gay
issues.
Straight Spouse Network
E-mail: ssnetwork@softhome.net
Website: www.ssnetwk.org
The only organisation specifically supporting those who find themselves
married to a gay or lesbian partner. The organisation is based
in the USA but there are contact details for the UK division online
and the e-mail will go to their UK contact.
Websites
Civil Partnership
www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/lgbt/partnership.htm
The Civil Partnership Act was passed in Britain in 2004. This webpage
explains its implications, offers an FAQ section and information
about civil partnerships in other countries.
Clergy to Face Action over Partnerships
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9418
Article about those Church of England vicars who are giving blessings
to same-sex couples despite some bishops warning them that they
will face disciplinary action.
Gay Church
www.gaychurch.org
This is an affirming gay Christian website with a discussion forum,
book review section and other information.
Thinking Anglicans
www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk
Good, up-to-date website with links to a large number of news articles
and archives.
Stop the denial
www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1536031,00.html
Richard Haggis, a practising priest and homosexual responds to
the Church of England's announcement that it will support civil
partnerships for gay priests, as long as they don't have sex for
the rest of their lives.
Books
Calling the Rainbow Nation Home: A story of acceptance and
affirmation by E T Sundby (iUniverse, 2005)
Aims to help Christians who are struggling to reconcile their homosexuality
with their faith, and to heal their relationships with those who
love them and want to understand.
Get
this book
The Church and the Homosexual by John J McNeill (Beacon
Press, 1994)
Argues that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, discusses
the pastoral ministry to the homosexual community, and suggests
that the church should renounce its prejudiced actions against
gay men and women.
Get
this book
A Church at War: Anglicans and homosexuality by Stephen
Bates (I B Tauris, 2004)
Lays bare the politics, manoeuvring and hypocrisy behind one of
the most ignoble episodes in the Church's history.
Get
this book
Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct: Breaking
the silence edited by Donald L Boisvert and Robert E Goss
(Haworth Press, 2005)
A compelling indictment of Roman Catholic teachings on homosexuality
and sexuality, this book examines how the current crisis of clerical
abuse affects and stigmatises gay priests living in a climate of
hysteria and condemnation.
Get
this book
Permanent, Faithful, Stable: Christian same-sex partnerships by
Jeffrey John (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2000)
Argues that the church should offer homosexual couples a positive
theological understanding of their relationship as well as practical
acceptance and support.
Get
this book
