Same-sex marriage: Methodists and evangelicals add to chorus of concern over lack of opt-out clause

The Methodist Church in Ireland and the Northern Irish wing of the Evangelical Alliance have added their voices to those expressing fears about the lack of any legal “opt out” mechanism for many Christians when it comes to same-sex ceremonies.

It comes after the island’s biggest Protestant denomination – the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (which had 345,100 people identifying as ‘Presbyterian’ in the 2011 census) – suggested that the planned rules breach human rights law when it comes to freedom of religion.

It all comes ahead of the end of the public consultation into the rules at 11.45pm on Sunday, which have been drawn up by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

Whilst the planned rules would protect clergymen from being forced to take part in same-sex weddings, they explicitly rule out similar protections for civil registrars and for businesses that cater to weddings – florists, photographers, hotels, bakers, and others.

Rev David Clements, Methodist minister in Carrickfergus and chairman of the church’s Council on Social Responsibility, is “content” with the regulations – in as far as they protect clergy.

But when it comes to protecting Christian businesses or registrars, he hopes that “in a given work environment there would be sensitivity from the management, the bosses, perhaps not to ask a particular member of staff to do a particular thing when there are others willing”.

He added: “I’m not a legal eagle, and wouldn’t quite know how you’d draft it in legislation. But there should be some level of protection for people who have a belief system that conflicts with some of the work they may be asked to do.”

In the 2011 census, 54,300 people identified as Methodists.

David Smyth, head of the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland said: “We are concerned though not surprised at the approach being proposed by the government.

“We oppose discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation while at the same time are advocating for reasonable accommodation for registrars and service providers on the basis of freedom of thought, conscience and belief.”

He said the government should “consider both the law and spirit of the Ashers judgment” when it comes to finalising the rules.

The Evangelical Alliance UK-wide has 3,500 churches as members, plus another 700 or so Christian organisations (such as charities). There was no precise figure for Northern Ireland available at time of writing.

Meanwhile the Church of Ireland (which had 248,800 people identifying as belonging to the denomination in the 2011 census) did not answer when the News Letter asked its stance on the proposals.

It said only that this was “under consideration”.

The Catholic Church was also contacted, but did not respond at all.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CONSULTATION.

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