Church is a place where the biggest moments of life are honoured — beginnings, promises, celebrations, and farewells. At Light’s Hope, we walk with people through each of these, offering services shaped by care, openness, and the welcome of Jesus.
Marriage
We are fully committed to celebrating same-sex marriages alongside opposite-sex marriages. Love is love, and we believe Jesus’ blessing belongs equally to every couple who seek it. Every wedding is a holy moment: a couple standing together, making promises, surrounded by family, friends, and prayer.
As an independent Anglican denomination we don’t hold registrar status ourselves, but this does not prevent us from celebrating your marriage in full. Couples can arrange for a registrar to be present at the same ceremony we conduct, which means both the legal and the spiritual commitments can happen together on the day. Your marriage service with us will be personal, inclusive, and tailored to you — we will work with you to create a ceremony that honours your love, your story, and your future.
“You can’t bless or allow same-sex marriages. It’s against God’s design for marriage.”
We believe marriage is about love, covenant, and faithfulness — not exclusion. When two people choose to commit their lives to one another in love and fidelity, we see that as holy. To deny that because of gender is not faithfulness, it is discrimination.
At Light’s Hope we affirm and celebrate same-sex marriages because Jesus’ welcome has no fine print. His ministry honoured the dignity of those others rejected. To follow him means doing the same — opening the table, not closing the door.
But the Bible says…
Genesis 2:24 — “A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
This verse describes one cultural form of marriage, not the only possible form. The heart of the text is about love, covenant, and unity — principles that apply equally to same-sex couples.
Leviticus 18:22 — “You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.”
This verse refers to ritual purity codes in ancient Israel. The same section also forbids eating shellfish, wearing mixed fabrics, and other laws Christians no longer follow. To single this one verse out against LGBTQIA+ people is selective and unjust.
Romans 1:26–27 — “Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”
Paul here is addressing idolatry and exploitative sexual practices common in Roman culture — not loving, mutual relationships. He had no concept of marriage equality as we understand it today.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 — “Neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men… will inherit the kingdom of God.”
The Greek words here are disputed and don’t clearly refer to consensual same-sex relationships. They more likely reference exploitation and abuse. Using this verse against loving couples is a mistranslation and misuse.
The Greater Law
The Bible does not condemn faithful, loving same-sex relationships. What scripture blesses again and again is love, fidelity, justice, and compassion. When we see two people embodying those things, we believe we are seeing the presence of Christ. That is why we celebrate and bless same-sex marriages.
Baptism
Baptism marks the beginning of the journey of faith. It is the sign of God’s love, open to all, and a welcome into the family of the church. We baptise children, young people, and adults — anyone who wants to begin or affirm a journey with Jesus.
Our baptism services are simple and joyful. They don’t demand that families have everything worked out or that individuals present a polished belief. They are about grace and belonging: water poured out as a reminder that God’s love is for everyone, always.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the step people take when they are ready to make their baptism promises their own. For some, this happens in teenage years; for others, it comes much later in life. It is never rushed and never forced.
Our confirmation services are spaces of encouragement and affirmation. With prayer and laying on of hands, we bless and strengthen people for the next stage of their journey. It is not about reaching a finish line, but about choosing to keep walking with Jesus in the company of others.
Funerals
When life ends, the church’s role is to stand alongside families and communities in grief. Funerals are a space to lament, to give thanks, and to commend our loved ones into God’s eternal care.
Unlike marriages, funerals do not require a registrar. Once a death is registered by the family and the necessary documents are given, we are able to lead the service in full. While we do not own cemeteries or burial grounds ourselves, we can conduct funeral services in crematoriums, cemeteries, or other chosen venues. We can also offer blessings and prayers at gravesides or memorial gatherings.
Our funeral services are compassionate and personal. They hold space for sorrow and honesty, while also pointing to hope — the hope of Jesus who has walked through death and overcome it. Each service is shaped with the family to reflect the life of the person being remembered, their story, and their faith (or doubts) as they were.
Whatever the occasion — a wedding, a baptism, a confirmation, or a funeral — our commitment is the same: to walk with you, to honour your story, and to share the love of Jesus that holds us through every season of life.
Get In touch
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, a prayer request, or simply want to know more about Light’s Hope, just fill in our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as we can.
We also welcome enquiries about church planting and leadership training. If you feel called to start a new community or explore ministry with us, let us know and we’ll be glad to walk with you.