British Vicar, Rev Coward To Marry Nigerian Gay

A  65-year-old vicar has stunned church bosses by announcing plans to ‘marry’ his  25-year-old Nigerian male model boyfriend, the Daily Mail of London reported today.

•Reverend Colin Coward and his Nigerian Bobby Egbele.

Gay Reverend Colin Coward, a priest at St John the Baptist church in Devizes,  Wiltshire, is entering into a civil partnership with his boyfriend Bobby Egbele. But the marriage has caused a stir among Christians because the couple plan to  receive a ‘blessing’ service in church after tying the knot.

Reverend Colin Coward fell in love with Nigerian model Bobby Egbele after they  met at a Christian conference in Togo in 2007. The pair plan to tie the knot in  October

Rev Coward has also refused to confirm that he will remain celibate following  the union, which is a requirement the Church of England asks of its ordained gay

clergy. Today, Rev Coward, who lives with Bobby in Marston, near Devizes, revealed that  he hopes his union sets a ‘visible example’ to other gay people within the  church.

He said: ‘My goal is for everyone within the church to feel comfortable with the situation because at the moment the majority of gay Christians marry secretly.

‘It is a taboo subject but the church is now under huge pressure to change its  stance and that pressure will only increase in the future.  More…Catholic    charity faces closure after losing appeal over gay adoption  ‘Clearly the blessing is going to be quite a sensitive issue. I know that many   people will see it and view it with horror.

‘But we are both deeply committed Christians so it would be unthinkable for me  not to do it in church and not to do it with the congregation and with all of  our friends.

‘I hope my wedding will inspire others and set a visible example to the church  that we are not afraid.’

Reverend Coward realised he was gay as a teenager and was ordained as a priest  in 1976 after giving up his job as an architect.

He came out openly as a gay vicar in 1991 before setting up the international  gay and lesbian campaign group Changing Attitudes in 1995.

Rev Coward plans to refuse the request that he remain celibate Rev Coward met  Bobby in 2007 at a Christian conference in Togo, West Africa, and the pair fell  in love before getting engaged earlier this year.

Fashion designer and model Bobby, whose full name is Bobby Ikekhuame Egbele,  grew up in Nigeria and runs an online clothing shop Bobafrique, where he models  the clothes.

The pair are set to marry on October 9 at the Register Office in Devizes before

having a service at St John the Baptist church.

However, the ceremony will be a Communion Eucharist service rather then a

blessing, which is forbidden for homosegxwal couples.

Rev Coward said: ‘Churches are not supposed to bless civil partnerships. It can  bless almost anything else animals, bombs, battleships, armies going to war but  gay couples? No.

‘So our church blessing has to be carefully-worded in so far as it does not use  the word blessing in the context of the two of us in relationship.’

Rev Coward’s boss, the Right Reverend Stephen David Conway, who is the Bishop of   Ramsbury, is also expected to ask him to remain celibate – a request he plans to  refuse.

Under Church of England laws sex is only permitted for married couples and  same-sex civil partnerships are not officially regarded as marriage. Rev Coward said: ‘I have big doubts whether he will ask me that because it’s a   very intrusive question. It’s a ridiculous situation and a real mess. ‘What we’re allowed to do, as a gay couple, is what this is all about and  certainly those in ordained ministry are not supposed to be segxwally active. ‘But in practice, some bishops absolutely will give their approval knowing that  a couple is in a civil partnership and that they are sharing the same bed, and  will encourage them to do that.’

A spokesman for the Diocese of Salisbury confirmed they have permitted the  service to go ahead but described it as ‘separate’ from the civil ceremony.   He said: ‘A Eucharistic service celebrating friendship is what has been  sanctioned in this case. This is entirely separate from any civil partnership  ceremony.’

Tony Green, spokesman for the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, believes the  uncertain situation is a ‘typically Anglican fudge’. He said: ‘The Bishops of the Church of England clearly did not want to be seen  denying their priests something which is a legal right.

‘Yet at the same time they had to uphold the official teaching of the Church of  England concerning gay priests needing to be celibate.

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Posted: at 20-08-2010 04:51 PM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero

GOD's judgement will soon come upon them...veeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrry SOON.

Posted: at 20-08-2010 05:03 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

NA WHICH KIND OF REVEREND BE THAT ONE?

Posted: at 20-08-2010 07:32 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

They are not priest but AGENTS of satan posing as priest.

Posted: at 20-08-2010 09:04 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

Gosh!!! am so gutted by all these stupidity.... pls those people re not part of the christian folds.  i strongly believe the Devil is seriously using these manner of people to bring the church into disrepute.   what's really happening to the world?


even see their sawad faces.... hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Posted: at 20-08-2010 11:35 PM (14 years ago) | Hero

Roman 1:26,27 That is why God gave them up to disgraceful segxwal appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature;  and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

Posted: at 21-08-2010 12:00 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

Food 4 thought: d church knew he was a gay yet, they went ahead and ordained him as a priest. Is it biblical? Well, I think the lesbians' cowardice to come out openly and boldly to claim their so- called 'civil rights' to do same thing is the major reason Christ is yet to resurface. The bible says judgment begins from the house of God and now I understand whys!

Posted: at 21-08-2010 05:46 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

why God dey even look them why, why this agent of satan so called FATHER IN EUROPE most of them a guy

Posted: at 21-08-2010 10:36 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

No worry.
Nemesis will soon catch up with both of them

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Posted: at 21-08-2010 01:27 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

stupid,azzholes that know not what they re doing...i wish the rust in hell an burn to ashes.....fooools

Posted: at 21-08-2010 02:04 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie