The Church of England will not change its rules to allow priests to marry same-sex couples after five years of internal debate over the issue, it was announced on Wednesday.
“Under these proposals, same-sex couples will still not be able to marry in the Church of England,” the church said in a statement.
They can even “come to the church to give thanks for their civil marriage or civil partnership and receive God’s blessing,” he added.
Marriage is for one man and one woman
The bishops met on Tuesday to finalize the recommendation, which would reaffirm the church’s teaching that Holy Matrimony is between a man and a woman for life.
The issue will not be put to a vote in the General Synod, the church’s legislative body, when it meets in London early next month.
But the church said it would apologize to LGBTQ people for the “rejection, exclusion and hostility” they faced in the church.
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The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said that “personally and on behalf of my fellow bishops, I want to express my sadness and grief at the way LGBTQI+ people and their loved ones have been treated by the Church”.
“We are sorry and ashamed and want to take this opportunity to start again with the spirit of repentance that our faith teaches us,” he said.
Live in love and Faith consultation
The Church launched a “Live in Love and Faith” consultation in 2017, and the findings will be published before the next synod, which takes place every February.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the consultation reflected “the diversity of views in the Church of England on issues of sexuality, relationships and marriage.
“I have no illusions that what we propose now will seem too far for some and not far enough for others, but my hope is that what we have agreed will be received with a spirit of generosity, seeking the common good.”
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The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, last year became the most senior bishop to publicly call for changes in church teaching, suggesting the issue will still be a source of controversy.
The Church of Scotland allows same-sex weddings and the Anglican Church in Wales has provided official services of blessing for gay couples.