The Methodist Church has become the largest religious
denomination in the UK to permit same-sex marriages.
The Church announced on Wednesday that same-sex couples
will be allowed to get married on its premises. After debates on the topic at
the Methodist Conference, the proposals to allow same-sex marriages were passed
with 254 votes in favor and 46 against.
The Methodist
Church said ministers who oppose the changes will not be forced to carry out
same-sex marriages.
Dignity &
Worth, a campaign group in the Methodist Church, said the vote was a “momentous
step on the road to justice and inclusion” after many years of sometimes
painful conversations.
Rev. Sam McBratney, who chairs the group, praised the
“courageous step” taken by the church.
The Rev Sonia Hicks, elected as the Methodists’ first
black female president at the weekend, said it was a “historic day for our
church”. She urged people “to support each other respecting our differences”.
Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner for LGBT+ equality and a
member of the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, said the vote reflected
“the significant shift that there has been among Christian attitudes in
England, and shows how so many people would echo the recent call of Bishop Paul
Bayes to allow same-sex marriage in the C of E”.
The church has a
membership of 164,000, making it the fourth-largest denomination of Christian
churches in the U.K.
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