Church of England will try out blessing same-sex marriages

Gay couples will now be able to have their marriages blessed by the Church of England following a narrow vote by the denomination’s parliament. The decision hinged on one vote.

The couples won’t actually be able to be married in the church, which still teaches that marriage should be between a man and a woman only. And the decision to offer blessings is only a trial run.

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While the loving couples won’t be able to be wed, they will get to wear rings, have prayers said over them, get blessed by the priest, and some confetti.

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The church rejected an effort to allow priests to marry LGBTQ+ couples earlier this year, opting instead to allow blessings for people in same-sex relationships as part of a larger church service. The new change allows for the couples to be blessed during a standalone ceremony like opposite-sex couples.

There was no announcement on when the blessings will begin; it could be as early as a couple of weeks. But it will take up to two years for the church authorities to finalize the change.

The Bishop of Oxford, who spearheaded the change, said he was “delighted,” but also noted that it was a small step toward full equality for believers.

“I hope there will be a similar joy and affirmation and those that come to receive these prayers will feel fully welcomed into the life of the church,” he said.