More than half of Church of England clergy in favor of marrying same-sex couples, survey shows

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A new survey shows that 53.4% of Church of England clergy are now in favor of conducting same-sex weddings, and just 36.5% are opposed to it, Christian Today (CT) reports. The survey was conducted by The Times UK newspaper, with 1,200 serving CofE priests participating.

Following plans by the denomination’s General Synod to allow clergy to bless same-sex if they choose, 59% of the clergy polled said they had plans to do so, CT reports. Just 32.3% said they will not.

The survey also found that 63.3% of the clergy polled believe gay priests should be allowed to marry their same-sex partners, CT reports.

Moreover, 62.6% of those polled said they support a change in position on premarital sex: 21.6% support an end to the teaching of abstinence before marriage, and 41% said premarital sex should be allowed for people in “committed relationships.” Just 34.6% said the Church’s traditional teaching on premarital sex should remain.

In a statement to The Times, the Rev Canon John Dunnett, director of the Church of England Evangelical Council, said the study shows the denomination is “thoroughly divided.” Dunnet added that the survey raises the “million dollar” question “how is the [Church] going to face a situation in which the level of division is both so substantial and runs so deep?”

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