From the New Year, the new gender-neutral marriage law will come into force, but the church has not decided upon a special liturgy for homosexuals who enter into marriage.
“Adopting a new liturgy is now urgent. This is something that applies to many in the church, and for some of us it is starting to be a matter of conscience,” says the bishop to NRK.
At the annual Church Meeting this year, time has not been allotted to discussing how priests should relate to the gender-neutral law. As of today, it is up to each priest whether or not to perform consecration prayers.
Jørgensen says that it is important for homosexuals to feel that they are met in the same way as heterosexuals in the church, and that they therefore should have their own liturgy.
“In this way, homosexual matrimony is recognized, and homosexuals are received in a way that is honourable and shows equality,” he says. The bishop hopes that the church council will now deal with the liturgy issue, so that work can be started on forming the liturgy at next year’s Church Meeting.
”We ought to manage that. It is not necessary to make drastic changes to the wording in order to give homosexuals their own liturgy,” concludes Tor B. Jørgensen.
Bishop Tor B. Jørgensen, right, in South Hålogaland, made an appeal to FrP's Bård Hoksrud of the Parliamentary Transport and Communication Committee on Monday.
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