Same-sex marriage has long divided Anglicans and now the Western Australian church is preparing to vote on a more inclusive approach, led by a priest who is also a stand-up comedian.
Transcript
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Not all priests have a reputation for seeing the funny side of the Christian faith and life in general. But Anglican Father Chris Bedding combines preaching the Gospel with standup comedy, sourcing most of his material from within the Church.
But, as Claire Moodie reports, there is one subject about which he’s deadly serious: the escalating debate about gay marriage.
CHRIS BEDDING, ST CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, DARLINGTON: (Doing standup comedy) I am a priest. Yeah, that’s usually the reaction I get at parties. Um, yeah, I am; I’m a real-life priest. I’ve got a little parish up in the hills. I live in a place called Darlington, which means I’m better than you. And, um, I just priest about the place, priesting it up with my little flock.
CLAIRE MOODIE, REPORTER: He’s not joking. When Chris Bedding isn’t doing standup, he’s performing on a very different stage.
You’re not really the average Anglican minister, are you?
CHRIS BEDDING: Ah, no. I think I’m a little bit different to the norm. …
(Doing standup comedy) I give them my business card. I’m like, “If you want to stop living in sin and get married at any point, just come talk to me and I’ll consider it for a reasonable fee.”
CLAIRE MOODIE: It’s not just Chris Bedding’s other life on the comedy circuit which makes him unusual. He’s also prepared to say publicly that he supports gay marriage.
CHRIS BEDDING: The loudest Christian voices are the ones who would generally say that gay and lesbian people are unnatural. And that’s why I think it’s important that the Church has something to contribute to public discourse other than language which is negative and hurtful.
CLAIRE MOODIE: He’s taking this motion to recognise same-sex relationships to the Perth Synod of the Anglican Church this weekend.
CHRIS BEDDING: What we want to say as a church, what I want us to say as a church in Perth, is that if there are civil unions or same-sex marriage in this country, we’re OK with that.
CLAIRE MOODIE: The motion doesn’t go as far as this couple would like because the wording doesn’t specifically endorse same-sex marriage. But as Christians themselves, they believe it’s a step in the right direction.
GRAHAM DOUGLAS-MYER: Timely. I think it’s about time. The Anglican Church seems to be taking steps forward in Christianity that some of the other churches are afraid to take.
CLAIRE MOODIE: Damien and Graham Douglas-Meyer were one of the first Australian couples to tie the knot in Toronto in 2004 after same-sex marriage was legalised there. The overseas nuptials have proved a mixed blessing.
DAMIAN DOUGLAS-MYER: Because Australia doesn’t recognise our marriage, we actually can’t legally get divorced here. So we’re kind of stuck with each other, which is a good thing. (Laughs)
GRAHAM DOUGLAS-MYER: Yes, definitely. (Laughs)
CLAIRE MOODIE: Other gay Christians are waiting for the law to change here.
WOMAN: We had a proper engagement party a year ago now and it was fantastic, but for us, the chance to be married in the sight of God is so sacred and holy and it’s something we desperately want for ourselves.
CLAIRE MOODIE: But while Chris Bedding believes gay couples should get that chance, in Sydney Anglican Church leaders are taking a public stand against gay marriage. They are backing a push for a legal challenge to the ACT’s Marriage Equality Bill.
ROBERT FORSYTH, BISHOP OF SOUTH SYDNEY: I would like it to be taken to the High Court because I don’t think it’s a good precedent for fundamental social change for a small group like this who don’t represent the Australian view make what I think is a radical shift in the definition of marriage.
CLAIRE MOODIE: The ACT looks set to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to allow gay marriage, although it may be overturned.
LYLE SHELTON, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY: It is incumbent on the Federal Parliament to take action and to overturn this law so that there can be consistency and so that the Commonwealth’s power over marriage is protected.
CLAIRE MOODIE: While the religious right says gay marriage contradicts the scriptures, Chris Bedding’s one Christian who’s reading between the lines.
CHRIS BEDDING: The concept of a same-sex committed, loving, monogamous couple is completely foreign to the world of the scriptures and we’re really in uncharted territory as far as the Bible is concerned.
(Doing standup comedy, adopting a female voice) “So, are you like allowed to have … sex?”
(Adopting male voice) “Oh, look, I personally prefer platonic friendships with farm animals.”
(Laughter from audience)
CLAIRE MOODIE: I guess people watching this program are going to wonder, though, what is your own sexuality? Can you describe it?
CHRIS BEDDING: I would describe my own sexuality as being like any person’s sexuality. It’s diverse, it’s deeply personal and quite private.
CLAIRE MOODIE: Even if Chris Bedding’s motion isn’t successful this weekend, he hopes it’ll prompt positive debate on a difficult subject.
CHRIS BEDDING: One day, we will see marriage equality enshrined in Australian law and I think that it’s quite possible that we’ll see in churches, liturgies for the blessing of same-sex couples. Whether we call that marriage or something else, I’m not so sure about that.
CLAIRE MOODIE: For Chris Bedding, it’s a difficult balancing act, trying to achieve change without crossing the line.
CHRIS BEDDING: (Doing standup comedy) “Men!” The women were in the kitchen preparing the breakfast …
(Laughter from audience)
CHRIS BEDDING: I said to them, “Men! Um, no hot breakfast. We don’t like them to have control over their own eggs.” …
… The difference with standup is you have one goal and that is to make people laugh. But as a priest you have one goal and that’s to change the world. But the priest is the greater vocation, in my view.
(Doing standup comedy) Folks, I have been Chris Bedding. You have been a wonderful audience. Have a great night.
(Applause from audience)
LEIGH SALES: Claire Moodie reporting.
Reporter: Claire Moodie
Publication: ABC
Broadcast date: 3/10/13