'gay marriages' - minor tremors or major Quakers?

The Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers, are all geared up to "allow gay marriages" if the vote goes accordingly at their annual gathering in York on Friday. They will also formally ask the government to change the law to allow gay people to marry.

They may ask, but I doubt it will get very far. Not because of the government. They are quite keen to advance secular society's norms within the church establishment. No, it will be because they just won't have the parliamentary time to do it (unless they tack it on to some convenient bill, of course). The Church of England need not be too concerned.

I don't wish to be difficult, but I would have thought the Quakers would be better off leaving things as they are. They may take a view on same-sex relationships. That is perfectly OK. But they do not represent the traditional Church teaching as upheld by the main denominations. It would appear that some Friends are of the view that their minor tremor could turn into a major quake. I think it would not.