A statement from First Things
A statement from First Things in relation to a service on Friday, 13th June 2025.
The announcement that the Right Reverend Dr Bonnie Perry is to be the guest preacher at the forthcoming Changing Attitude Ireland annual Pride service, to be held in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, signifies a deeply concerning departure from the historic faith and established discipline of the Church of Ireland.
Although the cathedral has hosted similar services in previous years with invited speakers, this marks the first occasion where a serving bishop in a same-sex marriage has been invited to preach.
The Holy Scriptures and the Church of Ireland are unequivocal that marriage is, "according to our Lord's teachings...a union...of one man with one woman" (Canon 31). In issuing this invitation - presumably, with the agreement of the Archbishop of Dublin - the Dean and Chapter are, in effect, promoting the teaching or publishing of a doctrine that is contrary to the doctrine of the Church of Ireland, an offence under the Constitution (VIII.25). The subsequent publishing of the same by the official Church of Ireland Facebook page compounds the offence and raises deep concerns over the integrity and reputation of the Church of Ireland to many faithful members within our Church, along with brothers and sisters in other churches on this island and across the world.
The invitation follows the Dublin and Glendalough diocesan motion in November 2023 to General Synod 2024 seeking local permissions for same-sex blessings. Taken together these represent a troubling trajectory that will, if pursued, ultimately bear responsibility for the breakdown of doctrinal and ecclesiastical unity within the Church of Ireland. It is well known that this issue, especially in contemporary western Anglicanism, has caused deep division, whilst across the world-wide Anglican Communion, irreparable damage has resulted following the introduction of same-gender marriage.
We are grateful to God that, by far, the majority of Anglicans in our worldwide Anglican Communion hold firmly to the faith once delivered to the saints. We treasure our fellowship with these our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
The gospel is good news for all, irrespective of ethnicity, race, colour, age, sex or gender, declaring the love of God for all through the cross of Christ, the power of God to defeat sin, and the presence of God through His Spirit so that all who believe and trust in Him might be conformed to the pattern and life of Jesus.
We, the undersigned, representative of various lay and clerical groupings, respectfully ask, that the invitation be withdrawn and that those responsible repent, changing their mind and re-affirming their commitment to the doctrine and practice of Christ's church.
Issued on behalf of First Things, which comprises the following evangelical groups, and represents a significant number of clergy and laity across the Church of Ireland:
• Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy (EFIC)
• Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship (CIEF)
• New Wine Ireland
In addition, this statement is also supported by:
• Gafcon Ireland