Cleric confirms gay partnership
BY SAM McBRIDE
A SENIOR Church of Ireland minister has entered a same-sex civil partnership.
In what is believed to be the first gay union involving a serving Church of Ireland cleric, the Very Rev Tom Gordon, who is originally from Portadown, yesterday confirmed that he had formalised the relationship under new laws introduced in the Republic earlier this year.
The Rev Gordon, who is Dean of Leighlin Cathedral in Co Carlow, said that the ceremony had taken place at a registry office on July 29.
A spokesman for the Churchof Ireland declined to comment in detail, saying that it was a “civil matter”.
It is understood that there was one other case previously, which involved a retired Church of Ireland minister who entered a civil partnership.
The development seems certain to re-ignite the fierce and long-running Anglican debate about homosexuality.
Generally the Church of Ireland has been more conservative than the larger Church of England, which has seen several clergy enter civil partnerships since the new unions were created by the government in 2005 but requires them to affirm that they will remain celibate in the partnerships.
When contacted by the News Letter yesterday at his home in Carlow, the Rev Gordon said: “I’m a very transparent person and I can confirm with you that yes, the civil partnership happened on July 29. That’s a matter of openness.”
The 54-year-old cleric said that he “hadn’t really” thought about the reaction to his decision to enter a civil partnership.
However, when asked whether he had spoken to the church prior to his decision and whether he had received support from the church, the Rev Gordon said: “I don’t think that I would be prepared to comment on anything else on that.
“I’m a very, very transparent person. I would be surprised if this came as a surprise to anyone and I suppose that is as far as I would really want to comment.”
A spokesman for the Church of Ireland said: “This is a civil matter. I understand that it [the partnership] has taken place. In answer to your enquiry about whether it is the first instance [of a Church of Ireland minister entering a civil partnership], I understand that it is not”.
The Rev Gordon has been in the Republic since 1991. He is a former lecturer at the Church of Ireland theological college in Dublin and is coordinator of religious programmes involving the Protestant churches for RTE.
In January 2009 the Church of Ireland Gazette reported that the Rev Gordon was one of two staff at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute who were “leaving their posts this year ‘by mutual agreement’ between the church and themselves”.
Last September the Rev Gordon was installed as Dean of the Cathedral of St Laserian, Leighlin, in the Diocese of Cashel and Ossory.
A report on the diocesan website said that the service was conducted by Bishop Michael Burrows and the preacher was the Rev Dr Adrian Empey, former principal of the Church of Ireland Training College.
Bishop Burrows is seen as being one of the church’s most liberal bishops and prior to being appointed a bishop said that he regularly gave communion to practising homosexual couples.
* What are your views on same-sex relationships in the clergy? Write to Letters to the Editor, 2 Esky Drive, Carn Industrial Area, Portadown, BY63 5YY or email letters@newsletter.co.uk
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There are 8 comments to this article
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Loud 'n' Large
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 07:07 PMBishops - Who will break the silence? Where are the Bishops of the Church of Ireland? Outside of a statement from the Archbishop of Armagh we have nothing to tell us what they think The silence may be some collegial system being honoured; the silence may be fear of speaking too quickly, which on this sensitive subject might seem commendable; or are we to come to a point where their silence must be taken to mean their agreement with, and support for, Bishop Michael Burrows. As the gossip channels rumble it begins to materialise that there is the possibility that more than Dean Tom Gordon among the Ordained of the Church of Ireland are living in openly non-celibate homosexual relationships; why is there no-one willing to speak? Is the silence of those Bishops who we might have expected to speak because they are aware that skeletons are going to tumble out of their own diocesan cupboards? Have too many of our Bishops been sitting on situations in their own dioceses and are now afraid of being branded hypocrits? If the Bishops are silent because they have always spoken and acted collegially, then it is time for that to change. Often it is our silence that diminishes and devalues the authenticity of the Gospel. Bishops were not consecrated to silence, but to responsible stewardship of the Gospel. On the other hand if their silence is because the subject is sensitive we might posit it to be wisdom to be slow to speak, but in the meantime we risk many becoming even more disillusioned and led astray as to what is truly a God honouring way to live. If their silence is their embarrassment at what they allowed to go on under the radar, then their repentance will be met with grace. However, silence is often a mask for fear of men, a veil for spineless unwillingness to break the status quo! I want to hear them speak and speak soon, lest we begin yet another exodus of Church of Ireland people to other more publicly orthodox Christian traditions. A society already disillusioned with the Church is becoming increasingly intolerant of the Churches inability to stand for anything! Where is the Spirit of Peter who at Pentecost stood up and spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit? Where is the belief that all authority in heaven and on earth stands on the side of those who contend for the Gospel? Two weeks have now gone by since the news broke that Dean Tom Gordon had entered a Civil Partnership and the Bishops have remained silent. Their silence is hard to fathom. Bishops must speak; individual members of the Houses of Clergy and Laity have been more than willing to share their thoughts. It’s now fast approaching embarrassment that we have not heard from individual members of the House of Bishops! God put Bishops in the position of leadership; why on earth are we being given no lead? So help us God; is there anyone who will stand?
revmervyncotton
Monday, September 5, 2011 at 08:58 AMKenNuke Adamwilliam, Now don't start charging God foolishly; it is God's Word that condemns sin, therefore those that live contrary to Biblical truth are under condemnation in the sight of God. Why are you apparently targeting the messenger? it is the message that you should be concerned with. 'Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' (1Cor6:9-11)
Adamwilliam
Monday, September 5, 2011 at 08:19 AMKenNuke I agree with you on this matter.
KenNuke
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 10:26 PMTo all those who would condem this pastor Read John 8, 5 - 7 Especially verse 7 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
revmervyncotton
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 07:07 PMThis abhorrent behaviour is in direct contradiction to Christian teaching, values and principles; in fact it brings terrible reproach against the visible church. The Bible declares that homosexuality as sin; so no matter how it is dressed up, whether in the rags of civil partnership or under the flag of denominational convenience, it is still wrong in the sight of Almighty God. What makes this situation so repulsive, is the fact that the Reverend gentleman is apparently homosexual and still occupies a position in his Church; it is bad enough for a person to bring reproach against themselves by sinning with a high hand, but for a Church to accept that sort of reproach is breath taking.
loe
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 02:07 PMBest wishes to Rev Gordon, he is doing nothing wrong by getting his love for another recognised by the state. After all his partner is another consenting adult, thats more than can be said for a lot of the priests down here in the south..
KenNuke
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 01:47 AMOnly those involved will have to answer to God. We cannot comment since we are ALL sinners
groomsport 1
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 08:15 PMsad to see that scripture is being rejected. we can not pick and chose what God says is right and wrong. He is always right or he would not be God.
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