AN ORANGE Order representative has declined a Church of Ireland invitation to take part in a service in Armagh next Sunday citing lack of consultation beforehand.It was intended the service would also include prayers by a representative of Changing Attitudes, a group which campaigns for open involvement by gay and lesbian people in Church of Ireland life
The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson said yesterday he had withdrawn from participation in the service at St Patrick’s Cathedral as he felt he was ‘‘being used’’ in the context of ongoing debate on homosexuality issues within Anglicanism.
A member of the Church of Ireland, he said: “I am miffed at the way it was handled and feel there was an attempt to use me.’’
Homosexuality itself was not the issue, he said.
“It’s not something we have discussed (in the Orange Order),’’ he said.
The Eucharist was to involve prayers by representatives of the Orange Order, the Royal Black Preceptory, the Freemasons, the GAA, and Changing Attitudes.
The service will also be addressed by the Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady.
Mr Nelson pointed out that there was disagreement within the Church of Ireland about Changing Attitudes, but which had nothing to do with the Orange Order. He had learned that Changing Attitudes’ member Rev Mervyn Kingston was to pray at the service “bless all of our relationships” and “give us patience and understanding as we seek to build bridges with those who have difficulty in accepting us and our opinions”.
Some within the Church of Ireland saw this as approval of same -sex relationships, with which they disagreed, Mr Nelson said.
He had not been informed or consulted beforehand about any of this and felt he was “being set up”.
He agreed that on July 12th 2006 the Orange Order in Fermanagh had prayed there with Anglican, gay-affirming Bishop Henry Richmond. Bishop Richmond was from the area, he said, and people had not been aware of his stance on gay issues.
The service organiser and Dean of Armagh Very Rev Patrick Rooke said representatives of groups and organisations with which the Church’s anti-sectarianism Hard Gospel Committee had conversations, including the Orange Order, were invited to participate in prayers at the service.
He continued “however, some felt unable to accept. It was therefore considered that alternative arrangements should be put in place for the intercessions and we have invited representatives of all the groups to join us as guests at the service.”
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