The Church of England has moved closer to offering standalone services for the blessing of same-sex couples.
Members of the Church’s legislative body have backed proposals to trial the specific services from 2025 as part of the Living in Love and Faith process.
Same-sex prayers of blessings have been included in regular services such as evensong since February 2023, but the move to allow stand-alone services of blessing has been met with fierce opposition with some arguing the decision is a change to the Church’s doctrine on marriage and a move away from biblical teaching.
The services are set to begin in 2025 as part of a three-year trial, pending the provision of “pastoral reassurance” which would allow clergy and congregations opposed to the new arrangements to be overseen by like-minded bishops.
“The theory is that there would be an opt-in process, so parishes who want to do the blessings will have to actively put their hands up and sign up and say ‘yes I want to do this’,” religion journalist Tim Wyatt told Premier.
The package of proposals put forth by bishops also includes work to provide a timetable towards a decision on clergy in same-sex civil marriages.
The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), which has disputed the proposals, said the decision was "deeply disappointing" and warned it will "trigger the launch of a de facto parallel province" as suggested by Church coalition group Alliance.
Speaking at Monday’s General Synod debate, Barrister and lay member Daniel Matovu said the proposals contradicted Canon law that stipulates marriage is a life-long commitment between one man and one woman.
“The bishops cannot see, apparently that the draft prayers are out of sync with, inconsistent with and undermine the doctrine of marriage as in Canon B30," he said.
Speaking on Monday, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, acknowledged the division within the Church on questions of sexuality, stating that the proposals “aren’t what everyone wants” but represent an “Anglican way forward”.
Cottrell described the proposals as a “compromise".
He added: “No parish, no priest has to offer these prayers but once the detail has been worked out … standalone service can take place and [for] those who for reasons of conscience and theological conviction cannot support this, delegated and extended episcopal ministry for pastoral care, sacramental care and teaching ministry will be put in place.”
