Too late:
Posted on 07/19/2008 6:25:48 PM PDT by PotatoHeadMick
The rector who presided at the controversial 'gay marriage' of two priests has caused fresh outrage by conducting £1,800 'white wedding' services for Japanese tourists.
The Rev Martin Dudley has benefited from a craze for Western-style ceremonies among Japanese couples - many followers of Shintoism or Buddhism - by blessing their unions in his London church.
The blessings - which feature traditional music, a white bridal dress, prayers and Bible readings, bouquets and confetti - are not banned by the Church of England but critics say they undermine the dignity of marriage.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
By their fruits you will know them PotatoHeadMick.
I look at this way, the people in the UK who are outraged, they are Christians, the ones who aren’t, aren’t...
Anglican ping
The Rector Rectum.
Wrecktum? It killed em both!
Too late:
Ok, maybe it’s just me. But if they want a white church wedding, why is this such a sacrilege? It doesn’t seem any different to me than many destination weddings that Americans plan (ie, Bahamas, Jamaica, etc). I know an English couple who traveled to Texas for their wedding, wanting the whole American cowboy theme. And I know many people that have no affiliation with any church but have a white church wedding, finding whatever church and pastor is available for that date.
So what’s the difference?
LOL.
So what’s the difference?
Not a lot actually. However up to now, the English have had a little more decorum in this than Americans. Most of what you describe, I'd call sacrilegious too. (If people put HALF the effort into the marriage as they do a wedding, our divorce rate would be cut in half.)
The Church I go to requires counseling and a course--and typically membership too--before the pastors will marry anyone. Why? Marriage is serious business, and a church wedding shouldn't ever be for sale, period.
I don't find it surprising at all that this "pastor" is happy to sell weddings to non-Christian foreigners. His "joining" of homosexuals shows he hasn't the foggiest what marriage is about anyway.
The difference is that the people who go to the Bahamas and get married in a Christian service are taking a holy oath before God and witnesses. They may be wearing snorkels or parachutes when they do it, but they believe in the service and in the vows they are taking. Those vows are ancient, created by the church fathers of a church that serves the One God, and they have meaning.
These Japanese tourists do not believe. They are not Christians. Our holy traditions and institutions are just decorations for them. They are not taking vows they believe to be holy, in the Name of Christ the Son of God; they don’t believe in Him. Yes, this is blasphemous and wicked.
They see our American movies and want to duplicate the experience. And the cost of a traditional Japanese wedding is extremely expensive. Several thousand dollars to rent the fancy kimono.
Weddings in Japan are just plain expensive. It's not like these faux church weddings are any cheaper. One of my Japanese nieces is getting married later this month at one. My brother-in-law told me the cost for the whole shebang will be over $40,000.
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Sorry but I think that a lot of people that get married and have to look for a church aren’t thinking about God or holiness. They just want a church wedding and don’t even really think about why (because it’s the ‘done’ thing’). To me, it’s not the building although that I have a reverent respect for my church, and many people get married all over the world without a minister. Those people that have to have a church, any church, rarely will ever step foot in one again.
You think those places in the Bahamas are keeping their services about Christianity and keeping God in the picture? Pfft. They’re running a business, pure and simple (just like dressmakers and florists and caterers and DJs and yes, even funeral homes). They may try to make it appear pious but it’s about the money, it’s an industry, a business catering to Americans. Many of the couples down there aren’t even married by a minister. It’s about a show in a resort, even if the couple truly intends to abide by their vows.
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