The Church of England’s governing body has voted to back special services to bless same-sex couples on a trial basis.
The
CoE — central to the entire Anglican Communion of 85 million believers
across 165 countries — does not allow same-sex marriage, standing by its
teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.
But the
church has been wrestling with ways to make people in the LGBTQ
community feel more welcome, and it apologized in January for the
“hostile and homophobic response” some had faced.
On Wednesday evening, Nov. 15, the Church's governing body narrowly voted in favour of blessing same sex couples.
Following
years of debate, Wednesday's vote agreed that the trial services should
“be introduced soon” the Church of England said, without specifying a
date.
Bishops still have to give final clearance to the prayers
in the services, which are trials and not final, settled church policy.
Welby, also leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said he recognized that divisions remained.
“I
abstained … because my pastoral responsibility extends to everyone in
the Church of England and global Anglican Communion,” he said in a
statement published on Thursday, Nov. 16.
A conservative group
of Anglican church leaders in Uganda, Rwanda, Brazil and other countries
declared in April that it no longer had confidence in Welby over his
stance on same-sex unions.
The vote, which came after nine hours
of debate among bishops, clergy and laity that make up the General
Synod, agreed the trial standalone services would be based around texts
known as “Prayers of Love and Faith”.
Those were a collection of
prayers, readings and other resources for a same-sex couple “who love
one another and who wish to give thanks for and mark that love in faith
before God,” the church said.
