Majority of bishops want legal weddings moved out of the church
Gay couples asking for equal rights require new initiatives
60% of all weddings in Denmark now take place at the town hall. Bishop of Odense, Kresten Drejergaaard, is one of a majority of Danish bishops who wish to separate the sacred from the secular with regard to marriage. He believes that the legal side of marriage, including gay marriage, is best secured through a town hall wedding for all couples, whatever their sexual orientation. Those who so wish can then turn to the church. “Let weddings take place at the town hall, and theologically-grounded marriages in the church.” he says.
The question has become increasingly topical as gay couples request equal rights with straight partners in church weddings. Most pastors in the Danish Lutheran Church are willing to bless the marriage of gay couples, but a number are unhappy about actually marrying them. The bishops’ compromise is an attempt to satisfy all parties.
Committee appointed to make proposals
However, Bishop of Copenhagen, Peter Skov-Jakobsen is reluctant to entrust the wedding ritual entirely to the secular authority. And gay rights spokesman Georg Hinge joins him in arguing that “the aim is not to move marriage out of the church but to secure the same rights for homosexuals as for heterosexuals.”
There is a clear parliamentary majority for retaining church marriage as legally binding. To look further into the matter Minister for Church Affairs Birthe Roenn Hornbech has set up a committee to take soundings and come up with practical proposals: “The committee must work fast and have proposals ready by 15th September this year.”