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Coalisland cleric Rev Andrew Rawding has resigned from his role as rector claiming the Church of Ireland is homophobic.
Rev Rawding who was one of the founding members of the Mid Ulster Pride group, which held its first march in Cookstown last year, told parishioners at Brackaville, Donaghendry and Ballyclog of his resignation on Sunday.
He also told the BBC there was “an aggressive and proactive opposition to full inclusion and equality for LGBT+ people, with some people still weaponising Bible verses and using the language of condemnation and rejection”.
He said, “I have made a public stance in the past as a Church of Ireland rector to send a message to the LGBT+ community that it’s OK to be LGBT+ and to be a Christian and to show my full support for same-sex marriages within the Church of Ireland,” he said.
“Currently the stance is homophobic and discriminatory.”
Mr Rawding said he has plans to start a degree in social work.
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