To celebrate the legalisation of same-sex marriage ZM Radio and Woman’s Day is running a competition called “The most Fabulous Gay Wedding ever”.
The sponsors promise that,”Together we will put on the most fabulous food & venue and the most glamorous theme, entertainment, celebrant, cake and more”.
Part of the prize was a wedding in a church.
ZM Radio has annouced that “St Matthew In The City told them that they could host the wedding at their church, but have now decided that the marriage ceremony can no longer take place at St Matthew’s”.
St Matthew’s vicar, Glynn Cardy, said,”We are sorry that we were unable to negotiate a way to hold the first same gender wedding ceremony here at St Matthew’s”.
“At St Matthew’s we think that policy is discriminatory and we are committed to working to change it; although realistically such change may take many years”.
“We wish the couple well, and wish ZM all the best as you support them”.
ZM Radio blamed “higher powers in the Church”.
But Cardy said that while he thought the Anglican policy discriminated against gay and lesbian couples, St Matthew had always intended to work within the rules.
Those required same gender couples to be legally married in a civil ceremony elsewhere before taking part in a ceremony at the church.
“We were in a process of discussion and clarification with ZM,” Cardy said.
“When it became clear to them that the civil ceremony part couldn’t be part of what we would do at St Matthew, then they decided they couldn’t proceed,” he said.
A statement from the Anglican Diocese of Auckland said Reverend Cardy had told the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Reverend Ross Bay, that there was no intention for the church to offer such an event, although a blessing would be possible following a legal civil marriage elsewhere.
The bishop says no directive was given to St Matthew’s because there was never an intention for such a wedding to take place because the vicar was working within Anglican Church policy, which he understood.
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