Source: Guardian, Reuters, Times (London)
A gay priest who angered conservative Christians by exchanging rings and vows with his partner in a church ceremony for his civil partnership in London last month has resigned, London's The Guardian reports.

The Rev Dr David Lord, a New Zealander who tied the knot with English clergyman Peter Cowell on May 31, "felt it appropriate to lay down his clergy license", according to a statement released through the Anglican church in New Zealand.

His decision will debar him from officiating as a priest. It comes amid a furore over the ceremony at St Bartholomew the Great church in the City of London.

About 300 guests joined Lord and Cowell at the formal service, led by the Reverend Martin Dudley. The ceremony includedreadings, hymns, a Eucharist, and a version of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer's Solemnization of Marriage.

Lord's may not be the only be the only resignation this week, however, as a series of controversies continue to roil the Anglican church. Up to 500 conservative priests are threatening to resign because women might be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England.

The Times of London reports that the conservative  priests are angry that church officials have rejected proposals they had backed to set up special extra-territorial dioceses for conservatives and because plans to consecrate women bishops will be put to a vote at the General Synod in York next month.

But it's the partnership ceremony for two gay clergy members held last month that has sparked a flurry of coverage from the London press.

The Church of England has launched an investigation of the ceremony, Reuters reports. The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, has asked his archdeacon to look into last month's service.

Much of the anger toward the couple came after details of the service were revealed by the Sunday Telegraph. Church conservatives were angry that the men were able to enjoy a ceremony almost identical to a traditional church wedding, with readings, hymns, a Eucharist and a version of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer's Solemnization of Marriage.

But Dudley, who led the service, downplayed the event's political significance.

"I am surprised and disappointed by the fuss. It was a joyful, godly occasion. Why turn it into a controversy? It was not a rally or a demonstration," he told The Guardian.

"Peter and David contracted a civil partnership, not in church because we are not authorized to do that...then came to church to celebrate that," Dudley told Reuters.

He told Reuters that he had agreed to lead the service because Cowell, a London hospital chaplain and priest, was a colleague and a friend. They had worked at length on the text, which he believed did not flout any rules.

Nigel Seed, a church lawyer, told The Guardian that there was no prohibition on having a service after a civil partnership, provided it was not contrary to church doctrine.

"If you do not purport it to be a service of blessing there is nothing to stop couples from having prayers, hymns or a service of prayer and dedication," he said.

Liturgies, such as the one Lord and Cowell participated in, have been taking place in New Zealand, Scotland and Canada, The Guardian reports.

The presiding bishop of the US Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, said: "Those services are happening in various places, including the Church of England, where my understanding is that there are far more of them happening than there are
in the Episcopal Church."

The provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, the Very Rev Kevin Holdsworth, described the experience of performing a same sex blessing as a "new addition to the range of things that human beings have wanted to mark" according to The Guardian. 

Full article: Gay priest resigns after furore over church blessing | The Guardian
Church investigates gay clergy blessing | Reuters
Anglican church in meltdown over gays and women | Times (London)