Church of England General Synod backs trial of standalone services for same-sex blessings.
The vote was close.(Photo: Church of England)Today the General Synod of the Church of England voted for a motion which encourages the House of Bishops to commend Prayers of Love and Faith and introduce liturgy for standalone services of blessing for same-sex couples.
It will now be down to the House of Bishops to implement the will of Synod, probably after their meeting in the middle of December.
The vote was very close, and reflected the deep concern felt by a very large minority of Synod. In the House of Bishops, 23 voted for, 10 against and 4 abstained. Among clergy, there were 100 votes for and 93 against, with one abstention. Within the laity, 104 voted in favour and 100 against, with no abstentions.
Mrs Alianore Smith, who was attending her first Synod, said she would vote against the motion because, "It did not seem wise or prudent to vote on something as important as this when there is incomplete pastoral guidance and a lack of transparency around legal advice."
This was also the view of Rev Kate Wharton, one of two leaders of the House of Clergy, who described passing the motion as "pastorally irresponsible, practically irresponsible, theologically irresponsible and collegially irresponsible".
In February, those voting in favour of the motion were warned by Archbishop Shamy Shehata, Archbishop of Alexandria, of the global consequences of their action. This time, members of Synod spoke of the consequences for the Church of England.
