ABOVE: Photo via the Methodist Church in Britain’s Facebook page.
At a conference of church leadership June 30, the Methodist Church, Britain’s fourth largest Christian denomination, held a vote to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex marriage which overwhelmingly passed by 254 in favor with 46 against.
The BBC reported that ‘Freedom of conscience’ clauses are included to mean ministers will not be forced to conduct such weddings if they oppose the move. Same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church.
However it is welcomed in the Scottish Episcopal Church, the United Reformed Church and the Quakers in Britain. According to the BBC, Church officials hope the first same-sex weddings in Methodist chapels will take place in the autumn.
The Rev. Sam McBratney, chair of the Dignity and Worth campaign group, which states its mission as “a new group of Methodists committed to the full dignity and worth of every person, whatever their sexuality or gender identity. We are committed to creating a Church and society where no-one is made to feel ashamed or second-class because of who they are or who they love.” told the BBC it was a “momentous step on the road to justice” after many years of “painful conversations”.
“Some of us have been praying for this day to come for decades, and can hardly believe it is now here,” he said. “We are so grateful to our fellow Methodists for taking this courageous step to recognise and affirm the value and worth of LGBTQ+ relationships.
“We reassure those who do not support this move that we want to continue to work and worship with you in the Church we all love.”
There were detractors to the decision by the conference to allow same-sex marriage in the UK. Carolyn Lawrence, a former vice-president of the Methodist Conference, warned there was a “significant minority” of Methodists who were “planning on leaving or resigning their membership” as a result of the vote. “Today is a line in the sand for many people and seen as a significant departure from our doctrine,” she said.
Jason McMahon, who is training to be a Methodist minister, described it to the BBC as a “very emotional day.”
“To be told by the Church that you are worthy, that we accept you, and that you can be married in the eyes of God in the church you call home with friends and family – it means a great deal,” he said. “It has really helped me feel truly at home within a Church that is able to embrace anybody.”
He said waiting for same-sex weddings to be permitted had been “painful” but added that he hoped the Methodist Church could now “begin to look outwards.”
He is hopeful that he and his partner Ben Riley will be able to marry soon. They’ve have been together for 12 years but have waited to marry until they could have a church wedding, he told the BBC.
