Songs of Praise gay wedding ‘might encourage other churches to think’ says URC

On Sunday, BBC’s Songs of Praise broadcast a same-sex wedding for the first time at a United Reformed Church (URC) in Glasgow.

Jamie and Ian McDowell-Wallace are both members of the United Reformed Church, where gay marriage was legalised three years ago. Their wedding ceremony took place at Rutherglen URC.

Some criticised the decision of the Christian programme, with Graham Nicholls from the evangelical network of churches Affinity, saying “I’m sad that that is being represented as potentially biblical Christianity, because I think it’s not” (full interview in link). 

However, Rev David Pickering, moderator in the United Reformed Church Synod in Scotland and also member of Rutherglen URC and a personal friend of the couple, told Premier: “The church was thrilled and excited, especially for Jamie, who’s one of the grooms and he’s a faithful and much loved church member there.

“This might seem an old story for us in the URC Synod of Scotland, for I’m aware that at least 20 or more services of equal or same sex marriages have been conducted by our ministers over the last three years since this was permitted.

“But to have it broadcast on BBC Songs of Praise was really special because it’s a programme which has such a good public awareness and for us it was a witness of a celebration of marriage, that’s the most important, but in this instance of a marriage between…