*Archbishop Welby says he was once held hostage in Nigeria for his beliefs.
Archbishop Justin Welby.
The Church of England on Thursday voted in support of a motion to give blessings to same-sex couples in marriages and civil partnerships.
This means that same-sex couples may now receive services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving, and God’s blessing in Anglican churches after a legal marriage ceremony.
Same-sex couples are still unable to be married in the Church of England.
The decision came after an emotional close-to-eight-hour marathon debate across two days by members of the synod.
Immediately before the vote, the Synod observed a minute of silence after which a prayer was said by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Earlier, the Archbishop of Canterbury rebuked "outsiders" who were trying to force the Church of England to change its teaching and accept gay marriage, Newsfinale reports.
Appearing close to tears while speaking at the Synod of the Church of England on Wednesday night, Mr. Welby said although he supported proposals to bless same-sex marriages, he would not do the dictates of politicians, the NYTimes post reported.
Mr. Welby also said he will not personally carry out the changes due to his “pastoral responsibility for the whole communion”.
He added: “I am supporting these resources, not I think because I’m controlled by culture, but because of scripture, tradition, and reason evidenced in the vast work done over the last six years.
“I ask each member of the Synod to vote with their spirit-inspired conscience, scripturally or spiritually guided, and not because groups or lobbies or outsiders have told you to.
“I have heard them over the last two weeks in Parliament and being told exactly what to do. I’m not doing any of it.
This isn’t something I take lightly."
"There is nothing in my life or heart or prayers that comes as high as the safety and flourishing of the people I love in the Anglican communion."
Justin Welby also referred to being held hostage for his beliefs in Nigeria
where he would be "killed in the morning."
Dame Sarah Mullally.
The motion for the Church to bless same-sex marriage was brought by the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, who chaired the group that oversaw the development of the proposals and also led the debate.
Dame Sarah said: ‘I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many but too far for others."
"As Archbishops, we are committed to respecting the conscience of those for whom this goes too far and to ensure that they have all the reassurances they need to maintain the unity of the church as this conversation continues.
"We hope that today’s thoughtful, prayerful debate marks a new beginning for the Church as we seek a way forward, listening to each other and most of all to God.
"Above all, we continue to pray, as Jesus himself prayed, for the unity of his church and that we would love one another," Dame Sarah said.
She described the vote in favor of the motion as a "moment of hope for the Church".
Anglican prayer text to be refined.
After the vote in favor of the motion, an emotional Most Rev Justin Welby said, "It is my prayer that what has been agreed today will represent a step forward for all of us within the Church, including LGBTQI+ people, as we remain committed to walking together.
‘We have always said we will listen carefully to Synod, so over the next few months we will reflect on everything which has been said and prepare new pastoral guidance for the Church on matters of sexuality and marriage.
‘We will also refine the texts of prayers of love and faith.’
In a joint statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said it had been a "long road to get us to this point".
They said: "For the first time, the Church of England will publicly, unreservedly, and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church.
‘"The Church continues to have deep differences on these questions which go to the heart of our human identity."
History of LGBTQ splits in the Church of England.
The 1980s: During this period, the Church conceded there were "unresolved" questions about the issue of homosexuality following the growing debate on the topic within the Church.
This came after the General Synod passed a motion in 1987 saying that "homosexual genital acts fall short of [God’s] ideal and are to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion."
1988: Justin Welby made a declaration affirming that gay sex was a sin, but that he would not discipline Church of England churches that would conduct or bless same-sex marriages.
That same year, the Lambeth Conference which meets once a decade was held in Kent and voted in favor of a resolution that opposed same-sex unions or any kind of blessing of them.
1991: The Church decided that while it cannot endorse gay Christians who choose to be in sexually active relationships, it would continue to offer friendship and understanding to them.
2005: Following the 2004 Civil Partnership Act which became effective in 2005, bishops in the Church of England released a statement declaring that the Church continued to believe that sex and marriage were permitted only between a man and a woman.
2013: The Pilling Report recommended that clergy should be allowed to offer public services to "mark" same-sex relationships and that the Church of England’s current teaching was "deeply off-putting" to non-believers.
2016: The Bishop of Grantham, Nicholas Chamberlain, openly declared that he was gay and became the first English bishop to make such a public confession. He said he was living with his partner in a celibate relationship, in line with the teachings of the church.
2017: After Bishop Nicholas Chamberlain's public confession, the Church had to release a new teaching document giving guidance on same-sex relationships, to allow "maximum freedom" without changing doctrine.
2020: The Church published a resource called "Living in Love and Faith" which required churches to undertake a short course of study using its materials.
2022: Last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, while addressing the Lambeth Conference of global Anglican bishops, stated that the Communion was deeply divided over same-sex issues and that he was accepting the validity of both sides within the Communion.
This speech is believed to have laid the foundation for the vote on Thursday approving the blessing for same-sex couples in the Church of England.
During the debate on Wednesday night, the Synod rejected 16 attempts to change the proposal.
The approval of the motion was received with excitement as congregants wept and hugged each other.
In recent times, Labour and the Conservative Party MPs have proposed using legislation to force the Church to allow gay marriage.
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