The General Synod will face further controversy over the Church of England’s opposition to same-sex marriage following a surprise vote in Hereford Danny Lawson/PA WireIn a landmark step towards the acceptance of gay relationships in the Church of England, one diocese has voted to support services and prayers to bless same-sex unions. The diocese of Hereford has the highest proportion of worshippers among the local population. Its governing synod voted this week to call on national church leaders to create a set of formal services and prayers to bless those who have had a same-sex marriage or civil partnership. It stops short of calling for same-sex weddings to be conducted in church, but calls for priests to be allowed to offer a formal blessing in church to same-sex couples who have had a civil wedding. It would not be mandatory, allowing priests to opt in to providing such blessings.

Source: The Times October 20, 2017 15:56 UTC