The Very Reverend Dr. Mark Oakley, Dean of Southwark Cathedral in London, delivered a powerful sermon that left his congregation in tears and earned a standing ovation. In his 15-minute address, Oakley, who is gay, reacted to the Church of England’s recent decision to halt blessings for same-sex couples and continue banning priests in same-sex marriages. Oakley said, his voice trembling as he described years of exclusion and silence, “The church of England is still homophobic and does not believe in the equality of love….I knew people beat up people like me.
The government was telling people not to teach children about people like me. The newspapers were naming people like me. The church was excluding people like me if they were honest.” He spoke of his coming-out moment at 18, recalling his grandmother’s tender words. Oakley declared that her love mirrored God’s love, overflowing and never diminishing, and vowed that Southwark Cathedral would continue to rejoice in offering prayers to same-sex couples. Online, viewers are praising Oakley’s honesty and courage.
