Which churches marry gays

The Rev Sam McBratney, chair of the Dignity and Worth campaign group, said it was a "momentous step on the road to justice" after many years of "painful conversations". However in an emotional debate, Carolyn Lawrence, a former vice-president of the Methodist Conference, warned there was a "significant minority" of Methodists who were "planning on leaving or resigning their membership" as a result of the vote. Ben Riley and Jason McMahon have been together for 12 years but have waited to marry until they could have a church wedding.

Ben said today's decision "means so much" and they now hope to marry in their local Methodist church in Preston. Jason, who is training to be a Methodist minister, described it as a "very emotional day". He said waiting for same-sex weddings to be permitted had been "painful" but added that he hoped the Methodist Church could now "begin to look outwards".

The proposals were initially passed by the Methodist Conference in before being sent to local synods for consultation. At the same time, in the past two decades, several other religious groups also have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions. Another mainline Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church U. Among the four largest mainline Protestant churches , the same-sex marriage debate has not been simple.

And the debate within the Presbyterian Church has already led some congregations to break away and join other, more conservative Presbyterian denominations. Both denominations allow clergy to opt out of performing same-sex marriages, while the ELCA allows ministers and their congregations to determine their own policies. The United Methodist Church does not allow same-sex blessings or marriages. But the United Methodists also have been intensely debating the issue, particularly in the past year or so, after a church court tried, defrocked and eventually reinstated the Rev.

Frank Schaefer , a Methodist pastor who had performed a same-sex marriage ceremony for his gay son. This is an update of a post originally published June 18, and previously updated on July 2, Made at its annual general meeting that year, it said: "We acknowledge God's creation of humankind as male and female and the unchangeable standard of Christian marriage between one man and one woman as the proper place for sexual intimacy and the basis of the family.

The Reverend Enid Morgan, one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in Wales, said the move would be a significant step for gay Christians. People 20 years before that had terrible concerns about divorce.

Same-sex blessings considered by Church in Wales. Provision explored for same sex couples. The Church in Wales. Image source, Ruth Eleri James. Ruth James hopes one day to be able to marry Hannah Burch in church. She is also a trainee priest with the Church in Wales. Image source, Getty Images. The church will now bless same-sex couples, but will not grant them the right to marry.

The Church in Wales has voted to allow blessings for gay couples. However her feelings are not shared by all. Provision explored for same sex couples Same-sex blessings considered by Church in Wales 'When I joined the army it was illegal to be gay'.

This article is more than 2 years old. Andrew Wale right and Neil Allard laugh as they pose after marrying in Brighton in one of the first same-sex weddings in March Reuse this content.