Church of England Blesses Same-Sex Partnerships in Historic Move

Church of England priests have conducted same-sex partnerships blessings for the first time, marking a significant step forward in the church's acceptance of LGBTQ rights. The Rev. Catherine Bond and the Rev. Jane Pearce had their union blessed at St John the Baptist church in Felixstowe, England, in one of the first such ceremonies. The prayers of love and faith used for the blessings were approved by the church's House of Bishops and were used for the first time on Sunday. The compromise was the result of five years of discussions about the church's stance on sexuality, acknowledging that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, while also offering an apology for the church's previous failure to welcome LGBTQ people.

While the Church of England will still not allow church weddings for gay couples, clergy are now permitted to bless the unions of same-sex couples who have had civil weddings or partnerships. The church's governing body has also developed a plan for separate services of prayer and dedication for same-sex couples that would resemble weddings, pending formal approval. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stated that he will not personally bless any same-sex couples due to his responsibility to unify the global Anglican Communion, of which the Church of England is a part.

However, public opinion surveys across England consistently show support for same-sex marriage, regardless of the church's teachings. Despite some pushback from Anglican bishops in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, the Church of England's decision represents a significant step forward in its efforts to be more inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQ community.