In a five-day meeting scheduled to commence on Friday in the city of York, the governing body of the Church of England, known as the General Synod, will engage in discussions regarding the possibility of priests conducting blessings for same-sex couples.
During the assembly, which includes bishops, clergy, and laity, an additional topic on the agenda for Saturday revolves around safeguarding vicars who may choose not to participate in prayers for the union of same-sex couples.
While the Church of England currently does not permit same-sex marriages in its 16,000 churches, it put forth proposals in January that would allow gay couples to have a prayer service following a civil marriage. The institution also issued an apology to LGBTQI+ individuals for the rejection and hostility they have encountered. In February, the synod voted in favor of these plans.
Nevertheless, this decision resulted in a group of conservative Anglican church leaders from various countries declaring their loss of confidence in Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, accusing him of betraying his ordination.
Meanwhile, within the church itself, there is mounting pressure to take further steps, with certain bishops openly expressing support for same-sex marriages within the church.
The issue of homosexuality and same-sex unions has generated deep divisions within the Church of England for decades. As the mother church for approximately 85 million Anglicans across 165 countries, the institution has grappled with diverse perspectives on how to address this matter. Notably, homosexuality remains a taboo subject in Africa and is illegal in over 30 countries on the continent.
