In this situation, compromise only serves to prolong the culture wars.

According to the BBC, the bishops of the Church of England will not accept same-sex “marriages.” The decision follows five years of discussion over the church’s stance on sexuality.

However, the discussion will continue. Next month, the proposal of the bishops will be discussed before the General Synod of the church. However, this conversation will have little effect, at least for the time being.

A number of bishops told the BBC that the church’s doctrine that marriage is between one man and one woman will not be altered. This item will not be voted on.

That will be viewed by conservatives as a victory.

After a civil marriage, “prayers of dedication, thanksgiving, or for God’s blessing” will be offered to same-sex couples. As mandated in 1991, clergy in same-sex partnerships will no longer be required to stay celibate. According to the BBC, the Church of England will apologize for “excluding” LGBT individuals.

Liberals will undoubtedly view this as a victory, but it will not be sufficient. They want everything.

The Church of England appears to be seeking to accommodate both sides of the dispute. My prediction is that it will satisfy neither side and will just exacerbate the decades-long culture battles. Putting off dispute resolution often results in the conflict’s escalation.

Archbishop of Canterbury , the senior bishop of the Anglican Church, acknowledged that the proposals “will appear to go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others.”

“This response reflects the diversity of views in the Church of England on questions of sexuality, relationships and marriage,” Welby said, according to The Associated Press. “I rejoice in that diversity and I welcome this way of reflecting it in the life of our church.”

It appears that Welby is also playing both sides. What happened to strong leaders standing up for their beliefs?

The LGBT contingent has already pledged to continue fighting.

Both Piotr Baczyk and Charlie Bell reside in southeast London. Bell is a minister. The BBC stated that they have been waiting to marry until the church permits gay weddings.

Bell said the couple felt “deep disappointment” about the decision. “It leaves same-sex couples in a bit of a limbo and also as second-class citizens. … We’re still saying to gay couples that their relationships are less than relationships between people of opposite sexes.”

“This isn’t over,” Bell said. “If the bishops think this will resolve the current situation they are very much mistaken.”

Jayne Ozanne, a renowned LGBT champion in the church, told the Associated Press that the bishops’ decision was “utterly awful.”

More on this story via The Western Journal:

“I cannot believe that five years of pain and trauma has got us here,” Ozanne tweeted. “We have had countless apologies over the years but no action to stop the harmful discrimination.”CONTIUE READING…