Church urged to allow same sex marriage to boost falling congregation numbers

Jun 15, 2023 by Jill

by David Lynch, Yahoo News:

Dwindling congregation numbers would be boosted if the Church of England allowed same-sex weddings in its churches, Parliament has heard.

Labour former minister Ben Bradshaw urged the Church of England’s representative in Parliament to change its stance on same-sex marriage, amid falling numbers of people attending services.

Earlier this year the Church said it would bless same-sex civil marriages for the first time, but its position on gay marriage has not changed and same-sex couples are unable to marry in churches.

Exeter MP Mr Bradshaw told the Commons: “There might be more weddings in church were the Church of England to allow same-sex couples to get married in church.”

Reading from a report, the Labour MP added: “In that context, does he welcome the commission’s conclusion as I do that ‘a family does not necessitate a certain type of relationship or specific family form, but what matters is the depth of the connections and support that can be relied upon’?

“Is this not completely inconsistent with the Church’s continued rejection of families where the couple happens to be of the same sex and its refusal to solemnise their committed relationships?”

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