The Church of England could soon change its stance on same-sex marriage and other issues relating to sexuality.
The church’s House of Bishops announced on Monday [November 9] that they would soon begin a formal decision-making process on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
“A group of bishops, chaired by the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, will lead the process of discernment and decision-making about a way forward for the church in relation to human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage,” said the Church in a statement.
This engagement is expected to take place during 2021, and final decisions would be concluded in 2022 and set before the Church’s General Synod.
Currently, the Church of England does not recognise same-sex marriage or officially bless same-sex civil marriages. However, they do allow clergy members to be in same-sex relationships if they are sexually abstinent. The Church still describes sex as between a heterosexual male and female.
In the foreword in a newly published set of resources drawing together the Bible, theology, science and history called “Living in Love and Faith”, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, acknowledge and apologise for the “huge damage and hurt” that has been caused particularly to LGBTI+ people within the Church.
“At the heart of our failure is the absence of a genuine love for those whom God loves in Christ, knowing as God does every aspect of all of our lives,” they write. “Our prayer for the Church through this work is that collectively we demonstrate the same love to one another that we have experienced from God.”
The Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, who oversaw the Living in Love and Faith project, said: “Questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage are deeply personal with real life consequences. Engaging with these resources will be enriching and, at different points for different people, deeply challenging and uncomfortable.
“They ask us to examine afresh what it means for Christians to live in love and faith. We offer them in the hope that the whole of the Church of England will embrace this opportunity to learn and reflect together across difference for the sake of our unity in Christ.”
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You have your wedding day all figured out and you think that you have ironed out every bit of information. However, there might be things you have always…
A summer honeymoon spent by the beach is the perfect way to unwind after a stressful few months of wedding planning. However, you don’t want to overpack or spend too much on multiple outfits that will break the bank.
We’ve got the perfect solution. Tegan Glen, a Cape Town-based photographer, created her brand Summer Glen after struggling for many years to find the perfect fitting swimsuit (like many) and took it on herself to design a swim piece that would both look sexy and support women.
After months of research and careful consideration to several women’s swimwear concerns, the “Infinite” range was born.
The design:
This inventive suit features multi-way straps allowing one to style their swimsuit for any occasion. Due to the adjustable straps, the swimsuit supports A-DD cup sizes, making it even more size-inclusive.
The high leg style avoids cutting over the hips and lengthens legs, providing a more flattering fit. Double lining in the black and triple lining in the coral creates a comfortable, supportive swimsuit and avoids any possibility of sheerness.
Sustainability:
A fashionable suit made with sustainability in mind, what more could you want? The swimsuit fabric is made from Repreve fabric, which is created from recycled plastic. All tags are made from recycled paper, and ribbon is used to attach tags rather than plastic.
The brand also offers scrunchies made from fabric offcuts to avoid unnecessary waste during production.
Online orders are couriered in mailer bags made from cornstarch. Customers can put the bags in their compost heap immediately.
Summer Glen can be purchased directly online at https://summerglen.co.za
Picture/s: supplied
A man appeared to have married four brides during one ceremony in Limpopo this past weekend. In a video circulating on social media, the groom and his four…
There are two reasons why people come to a wedding, other than to celebrate eternal love of course. Those two reasons are: Free food and free booze.
Alcohol and food go hand-in-hand in that you want to ensure your guests have lined their stomachs enough before the drinking begins.
There is an art though, to ensure all your guests dietary requirements are met. While you can make exceptions for the mains, the grazing table is a beast of its own.
You have to consider the vegetarians, vegans, carnivores, gluten-free, sugar-free and everything else in between-free.
To kill 6 birds with one table, here are some tips on what to include in the ultimate grazing table, without anything going to waste.
1. Cheese and crackers
No this is not the most boring combination on Earth. Cheese and crackers are the unsung hero of a grazing table. You’ve essentially covered every single dietary requirement except the vegans. Wheels of cheese are not only the thing dreams are made of but they are also super helpful in feeding en mass. Throw in some vegan cheese options, salt and pepper, rye and gluten-free cracker options and voila! A feast is born.
2. Fruit that isn’t fermented
Wine is a guarantee on the day but the only grapes on the grazing table should not be fermented. Red grapes pair with literally anything, especially cheese, to add a bit of sweetness. If you want to add more pzaz than the old faithful grapes, consider some aesthetically pleasing fruits that won’t grow warm and overripe. Most berries such as blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries and strawberries look beautiful on a massive table. Seasonal availability will need to be considered. If you’re having a Summer wedding, think mangoes, litchis, watermelon, sliced white nectarines and other stone fruit. The options are endless. It gives the vegans a variety of yummy foods to choose from too.
3. Cold meat’s a treat!
Cold meat cuts are generally a crowd pleaser for those who still consume them. Anything Italian or German is sure to go down well. The meat section of your grazing table will pair nicely with the cheese section, so long as it is nowhere near the vegan cheese options. The protein will help to subdue the hunger pangs enough for the long wait that is the post-wedding ceremony photoshoot.
4. The side pieces
The only side piece one wants at their wedding are those awkward foods that make up a grazing table. Thing gherkins, capers, carrot and cucumber sticks, saucers of olives, baby tomatoes, lemon slices: Those sorts of fruit and veg that aren’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing but can act as a glorified cracker or filling nonetheless.
4. It’s all about the SAUCE!
Sauces are essential on a grazing table. While they don’t necessarily need to be their own separate amenity, honey drizzles over some figs, some sweet chili over the chevin, and a patê or 5 will go down very well. They also force guests to pair it with a carb, or glorified cracker, which will help line the stomachs BB (Before Booze).
5. Extra additions
If you want to spoil your guests, throw in a few freshly baked breads sliced to perfection. Bread will load them up with carbs and essentially get your guests to consume more of the toppings, so nothing goes to waste on the day!
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A proposal is a special moment, one to remember forever. For this exact reason, you want it to go perfectly according to plan. Unfortunately, things don’t always work…
Planning a wedding is expensive, not to mention the honeymoon and the new life you’ll build together afterward. It’s easily understandable why many couples would prefer a cash gift instead of a physical gift on their wedding day.
It can sometimes feel a bit classless to ask for money, but it doesn’t need to be. However, it’s important to do it the right way to avoid offending some older family members or putting pressure on anyone to contribute more than they were originally willing to spend on a gift.
Here are some tips to get that big tip at the end of your big day:
Don’t ask for money on your wedding invitation
The wedding invitation is to introduce your upcoming union and is all about the good vibes. Adding a clause that you’re expecting cash from your guests can be construed a bit tasteless. Instead, set up a wedding website where you can include a link to a cash registry or banking details of an account set up specifically for the cash gifts.
Let your guests know how you plan to spend the money
While you don’t owe anyone an explanation, giving your guests a general idea of how you plan to spend the money might make them more willing to contribute. For example, if it’s a honeymoon fund for a dream vacation or house renovations fund, your guests will know that their money is going toward something important.
It could also be a good idea to set up a specific target amount, with a live tracker displaying how close you are to your goal. Some might feel even more willing to contribute if they know you are closer to reaching your dream.
Use a cash registry
If you feel awkward asking for money outright, you can easily direct your guests to your cash registry on your wedding website. There are sites that run it all for you, so all you need to do is fill in the details and add the link, and voilà. Try out South African sites like Wrapistry or Gift Tree.
Set up cash boxes at your reception
Some people don’t trust online banking or are simply not technologically-savvy. Give your older guests an in-person option by setting up a cash donation box at your reception. You’ll need your wedding planner or a minder to keep an eye over the box throughout the evening to make sure the money stays safe.
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