From Here:
The Niagara Rite is intended for the voluntary use of priests who wish to offer a sacrament of blessing regardless of the gender of the civilly married persons who wish to receive the blessing of the church and wish to affirm their life commitment to each other before God in the community of the church
Effective September 1, 2009, permission will be granted by Bishop Michael Bird for the use of the Niagara Rite as outlined in the protocols that are included.
In spite of protestations that this is a blessing not a marriage, the rite itself looks a lot like a “marriage” to me:
N, I take you to be my spouse (or partner, or some equivalent term).
All that I have I offer you;
what you have to give I gladly receive;
wherever you go I will go.
You are my love.
God keep me true to you always
and you to me.
And:
N., this ring I give to you,
with my body I honor you.
God make me your true spouse (or partner, or some equivalent term)
in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
As for being truly inclusive:
Will you each love one another with integrity and gentleness?
I will
Clearly, the S&M brethren have been forgotten. The question is, will they enjoy the hurt of being excluded?
Whether the Niagara rite is a marriage or a blessing is immaterial. The issue is whether the nature of the relationship is acceptable to God, not man.
Bird has set up Niagara in opposition to God. May the Lord have mercy upon them.
Peace,
Jim