LONDON — The Church of England’s nationwide meeting on Thursday voted to let clergymen bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships, whereas persevering with to ban church weddings for a similar {couples}.

Bishops proposed the compromise measure after 5 years of discussions in regards to the church’s place on sexuality. It was authorised by the church’s Normal Synod, which is made up of bishops, clergy and lay folks from across the nation, following eight hours of debate over two days at a gathering in London.

The measure included an apology for the church’s failure welcome LGBTQ folks. However it additionally endorsed the doctrine that marriage is between one man and one girl, which means clergymen are nonetheless barred from marrying same-sex {couples}.

“I do know that what we now have proposed as a approach ahead doesn’t go almost far sufficient for a lot of however too far for others,” the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, mentioned in an announcement. “It’s my prayer that what has been agreed right now will signify a step ahead for all of us inside the Church — together with LGBTQI+ folks — as we stay dedicated to strolling collectively.”

Jayne Ozanne, a homosexual rights campaigner and member of the synod, mentioned she was “deeply disenchanted” that conservatives had stifled the church’s debate on sexuality. The synod earlier this week rejected an modification proposed by Ozanne that may have put the difficulty of marriage equality again on the agenda later this yr.

“By persevering with to inform LGB folks that they can not hope to get married any time quickly of their church or that their want for sexual intimacy is sinful, we ship a message to the nation that few will perceive,” Ozanne mentioned on Twitter. “Extra importantly, it’s a message that may proceed to trigger nice hurt to the LGBT group and put younger LGBT+ lives in danger.”

Identical-sex marriage has been authorized in England and Wales since 2013, however the church did not alter its educating on marriage when the legislation modified.

Public opinion surveys constantly present {that a} majority of individuals in England help same-sex marriage. However the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, mentioned the church continues to have “deep divisions” on the difficulty.

The measure authorised Thursday endorses a proposal from the church’s bishops to permit clergy to bless the unions of same-sex {couples} after they marry or have a partnership acknowledged by civil authorities. However clergy members gained’t be required to carry out such blessings in the event that they disagree with them.

The blessings are anticipated to start later this yr after the bishops refine their steerage and challenge prayers for the clergy to make use of.

Welby mentioned final month that he wouldn’t personally bless any same-sex {couples} as a result of it is his job to unify the 85 million members of the Anglican Communion around the globe. Welby is the non secular chief of each the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican church of which it’s a member.

Nonetheless, he celebrated Thursday’s choice.

“It has been a protracted street to get us up to now,” Welby mentioned in an announcement issued collectively with the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. “For the primary time, the Church of England will publicly, unreservedly and joyfully welcome same-sex {couples} in church.”