TV vicar Rev Kate Bottley has said she could leave the Church of England over its inclusion policies, but chooses to stay and “keep having the conversation”.
Speaking to Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Rev Bottley said she feels strongly about the C of E’s approval of gay vicars in civil partnerships, but its non-inclusion of gay married vicars.
The married mother of two shot to fame after a flash dance mob she took part in at a wedding went viral.
Now a TV presenter on Songs of Praise, Gogglebox and BBC Radio 2, she is known for her down to earth manner and engagement with social media.
When speaking about the Church of England’s stance on gay vicars, Rev Bottley described how, when she had some questions, she approached a gay friend who gave her a safe space to ask questions without condemning her for any “clumsy” words or phrases she might use.
She said: "The only way that anything changes is by keeping having the conversation and by people still sitting in the awkward space.
"I could leave the Church of England over some of its inclusion policy, I feel that strongly about it. But I don't think things will change if people leave. We need to stay with it and try and move the conversation on."
Thornton and Bottley were talking about how they felt it was important for people to be able to change their minds, and to learn and evolve as our views change.
Rev Bottley said: "I'm not the same person I was ten minutes ago, let alone the same person I was ten years ago, and there need to be safe places where we can ask the difficult questions."
