The Church of England is in turmoil again not because there is  a deep theological split over women bishops, though this looms (and keeps being postponed), but because one of its clergy has organised a service of Christian blessing of a civil union between two gay priests of the Church. Now the C of E, so far as I understand it, does not forbid such blessings, nor does it set down any special form of service, but seems to require that these celebrations are not “public” so, I assume, provided no one is invited and they are carried out secretly at dead of night, such services are allowed.

In this case an adaptation of the Prayer Book service of marriage was used, though the form of words used in the actual union was not used. It took place within a celebration of the C of E Eucharist.

I wonder what our Lord would have made of all this? Certainly he would not be passing the buck by asking the Bishop of London to ask the Archdeacon to ‘carry out an enquiry.