Among other items on its agenda, the Church of England’s General Synod is currently considering whether to allow clergy to voluntarily perform prayers of blessings for same-sex couples in church, Christian Today reports.
Following the recent Church of England decision to allow blessing ceremonies for same-sex civil marriages, Archbishops representing 10 of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion have signed a statement that the CofE is now “disqualified” as their founding “Mother Church,” BBC News reports.
After agreeing to make God, “gender neutral,” the Church of England confirmed Thursday it wants to “bless” same-sex marriage and civil partnerships.
The Church of England has published draft prayers for God’s blessing for same-sex couples, the denomination said in a press release last week. The move follows the Church of England’s recently announced plans to continue the prohibition of marriage ceremonies in church but to allow clergy to bless homosexual civil partnerships in church on a voluntary basis.
The Church of England has announced it cannot change its doctrine to allow same-sex couples to be married in the church but proposes that clergy may voluntarily choose to hold blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples in civil marriages, the Guardian UK reports. The “historic plans” announced on Wednesday represent a form of compromise after decades of anguished debate within the Church of England over the acceptance of homosexuality.
Church of England Evangelicals have rejected a theological essay published by the Bishop of Oxford which argues Anglican clergy should be able to bless and marry same-sex couples if they choose, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The Church of England does not allow the blessing of civil partnerships or the marrying of same-sex couples.