The Gay Marriage Project Crashes at the C of E General Synod. The (formerly gay) Rev. Peter Ould, in Conversation.

By Gavin Ashenden

From Substack

Feb 16

It started in America. So much does. In the 1980’s TEC, the Episcopal Church led the way with the legitimisation of homosexual blessing and marriage.

It split denominations, shrunk congregations, and changed the focus of Christian living from holiness to self-authentification.

The strategy was always the same. You start with talking about the authenticity of ‘lived experience’ and then change Church rules.

The same strategy and play book happened in the Church of England, and mirrored my young adulthood. We, the campaign and I, travelled in tandem through the 70’s, 80’s 90’ and beyond. As I remind myself and Peter Ould in the conversation that takes place below, I was caught up in the emotional pressure to ‘welcome in’ the confused affirmation seeking gay God-seekers.

I spent nearly fifteen years as an LGBTQ+++ advocate. Until my mind and judgement was dramatically changed. That in itself is a story. But Peter Ould’s is better. More dramatic, more costly, more transformative. Peter is/was gay.

As a Christian he discovered that as a gay disciple of Jesus he was being called to chastity. He became chaste. Then he met a woman and discovered that as a gay man he was being called to heterosexual marriage. He and his wife have four children.

He was ordained, and after a number of years as a parish clergyman returned to secular employment where he is a senior, internationally regarded statistician.

For a while he was one of the most astute commentators on Anglicanism anywhere. He has an astonishingly sharp mind which he combines with a deep spirituality. A word of advice. Never cross him, Never make him your enemy.

In the last few days the carefully crafted progressive strategy that was designed to bring high octane gay marriage to the C of E has crashed and failed. So much strategy, so many hours of conversation, so much emotional blackmail, so many papers, have been the fuel behind this campaign, and to the deep deep chagrin of the activists, the puritan-rooted evangelical Bible-reading, Bible-believing Anglican laity have defied all attempts to get the two thirds voting majority in the General Synod which is a prerequisite for changing doctrine and major legislation in the Church of England,

I wanted to discuss this all with an astute and well-informed companion. And phoned Peter.

Here is the conversation; which includes some gratuitous words of advice to the Catholic Church; - should it want any. https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=ashenden+on+gay+marriage+crashing&mid=66125E9E73DE62FF6AC466125E9E73DE62FF6AC4&FORM=VIRE