Church of England will not solemnize same-sex marriages

February 17, 2014

The House of Bishops of the Church of England has issued a statement on same-sex marriage.

“It will continue not to be legally possible for two persons of the same sex to marry according to the rites of the Church of England,” the Anglican prelates said in their statement. “Any rights and duties which currently exist in relation to being married in church of England churches do not extend to same sex couples.”

“The House is not, therefore, willing for those who are in a same sex marriage to be ordained to any of the three orders of ministry,” the statement added. “In addition it considers that it would not be appropriate conduct for someone in holy orders to enter into a same sex marriage, given the need for clergy to model the Church's teaching in their lives.”

At the same time, the prelates stated that parties to a same-sex marriage “ought not to be asked to give assurances about the nature of their relationship before being admitted to baptism, confirmation and holy communion.” After a same-sex marriage, clergy are permitted to offer a “more informal kind of prayer, at the request of the couple.”

 

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Further information:

• House of Bishops Pastoral Guidance on Same Sex Marriage (Church of England)
• Church of England rules out blessings for gay marriages (Reuters)