Catherine Bond and Jane Pearce were wed at the church of St. John the Baptist in Felixstowe
BY CAMILLE BAVERA, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES
The Church Of England’s governing body made history on 16 November of this year when they agreed to bless same-sex marriages for couples choosing to get married in a church.
And finally, this weekend saw the first couple reap the rewards of the policy amendment.
Catherine Bond and Jane Pearce were wed on Sunday 17 December at the church of St. John the Baptist in Felixstowe, Suffolk.
The couple are both local associated priests in a regional parish, and described the event as a “healing experience”.
Although the legislation narrowly passed a vote last month, it was only more recently that the House Of Bishops agreed to the change of prayers for commending Sunday Eucharist and Evensong, which officially went into effect yesterday.
While it is still in the trial period, the new regulation will be focused on religious texts and prayers alluding to love and faith. They are intended for the joining of a couple who “love one another and who wish to give thanks for and mark that love in faith before God,” said the Church after voting.
This service is not mandatory, however, and a priest or bishop can refuse to marry a same-sex couple. It’s purely voluntary.
The narrow margin in the Church Of England vote (the majority was by one vote) reflects a country headed in the right direction, but one with still a ways to go. Meanwhile, the “official” prescribed teaching will continue to reflect the traditional marriage of a man and woman.
As of Monday 18 December the Catholic Church has followed in the steps of the Church Of England to approve the blessing of same-sex marriages. The message came from Pope Francis.
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