Are churches forced to marry gay couples now

Will the Church of England split over same-sex marriage?

For more than two decades, Jay Greene and Rev Marion Clutterbuck have dedicated themselves to each other and the Church of England.

Now retired, Marion still takes services in their local parish, supporting her congregation - and in turn, is supported by Jay.

But they can't honor their love by getting married in the church. A decade after homosexual marriage was legalised in England and Wales, the Church of England still refuses to allow homosexual couples to marry in a religious building.

There are signs of a change. In February, after six years of debate, the church voted to travel forward with plans to allow same-sex couples to receive a religious blessing after their civil marriage takes place elsewhere.

The church's fundamental doctrine of marriage - that it is between one man and one woman - remains unchanged. The blessing isn't the same as getting married, and the wording has yet to be decided, but some within the church see it as a step on the way to packed marriage equality.

In the equal debate, Synod members also voted to "lament and repent" the failure of the Church to welcome LGBTQIA+ people, and for the harm

Factsheet: Sexuality timeline in the Church of England

The Church of England is locked in increasingly bitter internal debate over LGBTQ+ issues and same-sex marriage. This is the culmination of decades of wrangling and discussion, which began more than half a century ago, with no dispel resolution yet in sight

Introduction

In 2021, the Church of England published a describe on sexuality, marriage and LGBTQ+ issues. Living in Love and Faith is the fruit of three years’ work by committees of bishops, clergy, scientists, historians, theologians and others, including representatives from the LGBTQ+ community.

It did not propose any alter in the church’s official doctrines, but instead offered resources summarising the latest thinking on how the Bible, church tradition, and society understands flashpoints such as gay marriage or transgender rights. Living in Love and Faith marks the latest in a decades-long struggle within the CofE to decide how to respond to the rapidly changing social climate around sexuality.

1950s and 1960s

During the prolonged public debates about homosexuality, the church and its senior bishops, including Michael Ramsay, then Archbishop of Canterbury,

Church of England says no to lgbtq+ marriage but Archbishop of Canterbury welcomes blessings for lgbtq+ couples in historic first

The Church of England has said it will consecrate same-sex couples for the first period but still won't allow gay marriages in its churches.

Same-sex couples will now be able to attend church services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and God's blessing obeying a legal marriage ceremony.

The Church's bishops met on Tuesday to make last recommendations on its position on sexuality, after five years of debate and consultation produced a report.

Their consensus was that holy matrimony exists only between a man and a woman and this would not change.

Nor would it be put to a vote at the General Synod in London next month.

But by supporting blessings, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the Church was attempting to "seek the common good". However, he admitted it would "go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others".

He said: "I hope it can offer a way for the Church of England, publicly and unequivocally, to say to all Christians and especially LGBTQI+ people that you are welcome and a cherished and precious part of the

Church of England backs services for gay couples

Gay couples will be able to have special services of blessing in Church of England parishes for the first time.

The services, while not formal weddings, will be able to include the wearing of rings, prayers, confetti and a blessing from the priest.

The amendment to endorse the services on a trial basis passed the Church's parliament by one vote.

The Church of England's official teaching is that marriage is only between one man and one woman.

Earlier this year, bishops refused to assist a change in learning which would have allowed priests to marry homosexual couples, but said they would allow prayers of blessings for people in gay relationships as part of wider services.

It had been thought approval for standalone services might not come for well over a year from now.

But Wednesday's vote, which passed narrowly in the General Synod, the Church's legislative body, means distinct services of blessing could now be allowed, rather than simply prayers within a normal church service.

While there is no set timeframe for temporary trial services to begin, it is understood these could be authorised in the comings w

Pope Francis allows blessings for same-sex couples under certain conditions

The Vatican has approved a landmark decision to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, nor given in contexts related to civil unions or weddings.

A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office approved by Pope Francis on Monday said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.

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The document backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the matching sex” but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.

It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not