Bishops must stay in the Lords; Quakers raise marriage equality issue in address to the QueenBishops must stay in the Lords, MPs and peers say
BBC News – But the committee decided that the Church of England should keep its 700-year-old place in Parliament. This is in line with what ministers are thinking and will almost certainly form part of the Lords Reform bill, which will be set out in the Queen’s …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17532150
Bishops in the Lords survive, but their privileges could be on the line
Politics.co.uk (blog) – The government was already minded to retain the Church of England’s representation in the reformed second chamber. Constitutional reform minister Mark Harper told me in January: “Our starting position is we felt it was appropriate for the established …
http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2012/03/28/bishop-in-the-lords-survive-but-their-privileges-could-be-on
Quakers divided over ‘loyal address’ to British monarch
Ekklesia – A decision by British Quakers to give a “loyal address” to Elizabeth II has triggered heated debate and controversy amongst the denomination’s own members. Quakers have a strong anti-royal tradition. Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, were one of several groups invited to give an address in celebration of this year’s diamond jubilee. But many Quakers believe that the denomination’s commitment to equality is inconsistent with addressing someone as a superior. Some go further and argue that faith in the Kingdom of God rules out loyalty to a human ruler. A number of Quakers took to social media to express their disappointment as twelve representatives of the Society delivered the address at Buckingham Palace today (27 March). The decision to give the address was made at Meeting for Sufferings, the national committee of British Friends (which retains its seventeenth century name).
There was particular anger that the address described the monarch as “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”. Quakers generally avoid titles and refer to people by their names only.
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16464
Quakers call for equal marriage in address to the Queen
Pink News – The Religious Society of Friends in Britain, generally known as the Quakers, have called on Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, to support the inclusion of same-sex couples in the definition of marriage in their address to the monarch on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee. The Quakers were among the Privileged Bodies who were invited to address Her Majesty, and the ceremony took place at the Buckingham Palace earlier today. Twelve representatives from the community attended, and the text of the Loyal Address was read to the Queen by Joycelin Dawes, clerk and chair of trustees at Quaker Social Action and associate tutor at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/03/27/quakers-call-for-equal-marriage-in-address-to-the-queen/