24/08/2021
One of the largest independent student bodies has sent its thanks and congratulations to the Methodist Church in the United Kingdom after the Methodist Council voted to allow samesex couples to be married in its churches on the understanding that the congregation agreed. The Student Christian Movement is a long standing body representing tens of thousands of Christian students and has a long standing reputation as intellectually thorough on issues of progressive theology. It has long welcomed LGBTQIA students. In a press release, the organisation said “The Student Christian Movement are delighted by today’s news that the Methodist Conference has approved same-sex marriage within its churches. This decision comes as a welcome change to LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, as well as allies, who have been advocating for this change for many years”. Meanwhile, Mark Rowland, one of SCM’s LGBTQ+ chaplains said “"I'm very pleased by the decisions of the Methodist Conference today and the powerful message they send to LGBT+ people within and beyond the Methodist Church that our relationships are affirmed and reflect God's love. At the same time, I continue to hold in my prayers and thoughts Methodists for whom these decisions will be troubling and unsettling. My prayer is that we move forward in love together, even where we disagree."
https://www.movement.org.uk/blog/congratulations-methodist-conference