Church of England OKs blessings for same-sex couples, but it still won't marry them
Same-sex couples still can't marry in the church, but clergy can now choose to confer blessings on a civil marriage or partnership. The decision came after a vigorous debate.
After two days of divisive debate, the Church of England voted on Thursday to offer blessings to same-sex couples — but clergy members can opt not to use the prayers, and the church will maintain its ban on same-sex marriage.
The vote came at a meeting of the General Synod, the church's governing body, where the compromise approach was described in
