Church of England bishops have refused to endorse same sex marriage, but have agreed to “apologise” to LGBTQI+ people and offer them blessings.
Following six years of consultation and deliberation, bishops have rejected calls for gay marriages in churches, and have instead proposed, for the first time, that same sex couples can receive blessings after being married in a civil ceremony. This will form part of a new set of “prayers of thanksgiving, dedication” and “God’s blessing for same-sex couples”.
Bishops have also said that they plan to issue an apology later this week to LGBTQI+ people for the “rejection, exclusion and hostility” they have faced in churches and the impact this has had on their lives.
The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, said that what the Church is offering “is a pastoral, not a legislative way forward”.
However, the decision has prompted fury and disappointment from both equality campaigners who claim that “we’ve had a tonne of apologies, and no action” as well as traditionalists who said that the institution is paving the way for same sex marriage “in all but name”.
'Significant steps forward'
There had been speculation that the majority of bishops could endorse plans for same sex marriage after the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev Steven Croft, became the most senior Church of England cleric to back the proposals, breaking ranks with the Church’s official view.
After he spoke out in November, a number of other serving bishops came out in support of gay marriage. However, on Wednesday while the Bishop said that he was “sorry” that the plans were not endorsed by the majority of bishops he welcomed the Church’s “significant steps forward”.
The Telegraph understands that around a third of the the bishops were in favour of same sex marriage, a third were against and a third were undecided.
Bishops met on Tuesday to finalise their recommendations, following years of consultation and debate on the Church’s position on sexuality and decades of deep divisions within the institution.
Their proposals will be debated next month at General Synod, the Church’s legislative body. Once the proposals have been debated by Synod, the House of Bishops will refine the prayers and then commend them for use.
According to current canon law, no Church of England minister can bless or marry gay couples and the Church said it will not change its existing doctrine, that Holy Matrimony “is between one man and one woman for life”.
However, under the bishops’ “historic” new proposals, same-sex couples could have a church service in which there would be prayers of dedication, thanksgiving or for God’s blessing on the couple in church following a civil marriage or partnership.
Meanwhile, civil marriage blessings will be voluntary for clergy, allowing those theologically opposed to opt out.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said that the bishops’ response “reflects the diversity of views” within the Church, adding: “I rejoice in that diversity and I welcome this way of reflecting it in the life of our church.”
However, he said: “I am under no illusions that what we are proposing today will appear to go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others, but it is my hope that what we have agreed will be received in a spirit of generosity, seeking the common good.
“Most of all 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 valued and precious part of the body of Christ.”
Andrea Williams, the chief executive of Christian Concern, the conservative lobby group, described the proposals as “capitulation by the Church of England” and said it “is making way for the celebration of ‘same-sex marriage’ in all but name”.
'Breadcrumbs'
However, responding to the announcement, Jayne Ozanne, an LGBT+ campaigner and member of General Synod, described the blessings as “breadcrumbs” and “the minimum they can do”.
She added: “This is an utterly despicable outcome. I cannot believe that years of pain and trauma has got us to here! We have had countless apologies over the years but no action to stop the harmful discrimination. It’s insulting to all who trusted the process.”
Rev Andrew Foreshew-Cain, who was excluded from serving as a priest after marrying his husband and co-founder of Equal, the campaign for equal marriage in the Church of England, said: “No one is going to be happy. Progressives will see this as crumbs from the table. Conservatives will see it as offering a blessing for what the bishops themselves are saying is unacceptable. Both sides will see the lack of theological integrity.
“My hope is that Synod sees this for the dog’s dinner that it is and rejects anything put before them- again.”
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England and Wales since 2013. However, the Church of England did not change its teaching on the subject. Since then, both the The Scottish Episcopal Church, and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland agreed to offer same-sex marriage ceremonies.
The Anglican Church in Wales also voted in 2021 to allow same-sex couples to have their civil partnership or marriage formally blessed.
In 2017, the Church of England began an extended consultation period called "Living in Love and Faith" and the bishops’ recommendations form the culmination of this.
