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Members of St Mary鈥檚 Anglican Church in Armadale in regional New South Wales are rallying behind a gay couple who claim they were forced to leave their positions within the congregation for living in an “unBiblical way”.

Peter Sanders, 57, worked as the church organist and Director of Music聽at St Mary鈥檚, while his husband Peter Grace, 61, was on the organising committee of the church’s 125 year celebrations. The couple got married last year. In May this year they were told that to retain their positions within the church they would need to be celibate, separate, and receive religious counselling.

In response to these requests, the couple have ceased going to the church鈥檚 services. An by the couple’s friends asking the church to let them return to their roles has garnered over 11,500 signatures.

‘Ultimatum Was Given To Us’

鈥淲e felt that we didn鈥檛 have any other choice by the ultimatum that was given to us 鈥� other than to step back,鈥� Sanders聽聽Sanders added that an 鈥渙verwhelming majority鈥� of the congregation had supported them.

The move has rightly shocked and angered many within the tight-knit Armadale community. Thelma McCarthy, a regular church-goer her entire life has also stopped attending church services. McCarthy in discussing her decision told ABC News that the Bible spoke about love and forgiveness and she had always “associated with my church with love.鈥�

Senior members of the Anglican Church have refuted the couple’s claims that they were asked to leave St Mary鈥檚. A spokesperson for the church said that 鈥淭o the extent that any such comments were made to Mr Sanders (which I cannot confirm), they were certainly not made with the authority or consent of the Dean (or the church).鈥�

Reverend Rod Chiswell, Bishop of the Armidale Diocese, added his voice to the conversation saying via a statement that the church were seeking a 鈥減astoral conversation鈥� with the couple.

鈥淭he Anglican Church in the Armidale Diocese, like the Lord Jesus, welcomes all who choose to come to church, regardless of sexual orientation.聽Involvement in positions of ministry or other leadership, like in many other Dioceses, is conditional upon church governance and agreeing to and complying with the Faithfulness In Service code.鈥�

Religious Discrimination Bill On The Horizon

Of course, all this comes just months before Michaela Cash as Australia鈥檚 new Attorney General is set to bring the religious discrimination bill before Australian Parliament later this year. If passed, it would make such termination of employment and engagement legal.

Sanders in a separate 聽said the issue was important to every Australian who was gay or had gay children. He pointed out that if the law was enacted, they would not have been in a position to speak out against discrimination by the church.

Since the 2017 plebicite on same sex marraige, the Anglican Church of聽Australia has continued to double down on its opposition to 17c起草社区I+ 聽rights and acceptance. In a joint resolution, they declared that it is聽not “appropriate” for same-sex weddings to be held anywhere on聽Anglican property. In 2019, the Archbishop of Sydney suggested those聽who wish to change church laws to enable same-sex marriage should聽leave the church.

Yet last year the Appellate Tribunal 鈥� the legal advisory body of the聽Anglican church, voted in favour of Dr John Davis and Father Rob聽Whalley, the first same-sex couple to receive a blessing from Australia鈥檚聽Anglican church.

A recent report from the Anglican 17c起草社区I lobby group Equal聽Voices paints a disturbing picture. 鈥淎mong our number in recent times聽we have had Anglican LGBTIQA+ communicants end their life by suicide,聽suffer from extreme mental health issues, feel isolated and uncared聽for. Some have been denied clerical licences, some are in fear they聽will have their licence revoked, others have left the Church, more聽still others have even abandoned their relationship with God,鈥� the report said.

If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.

For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14

For Australia-wide 17c起草社区I peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .