Church of England Blesses Same-Sex Couples for the First Time

Despite a ban on church weddings for gay couples, the Church has begun offering blessings for same-sex partnerships, marking a significant shift in its stance on LGBTQ issues.

Church of England has officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time, with one of the first ceremonies taking place at St John the Baptist church in Felixstowe, where both members of the couple are associate priests.
The decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples who have had civil weddings or partnerships was made by the church’s national assembly in February, with the blessings, known as prayers of love and faith, approved by the House of Bishops and used for the first time on Sunday.
The move comes after five years of discussions about the church’s position on sexuality, during which church leaders apologized for the church’s failure to welcome LGBTQ people, but also endorsed the doctrine that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
Clergy are not required to perform same-sex blessings if they disagree with them, and the blessings can be used in regular church services.
Despite public opinion surveys showing that a majority of people in England support same-sex marriage, which has been legal since 2013, the church has not altered its teaching on marriage.