UK Methodist Church votes to allow same-sex marriages

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Methodist Church announced Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises.

Photo by Sandy Millar/Unsplash/Creative Commons

Associated Press

July 1, 2021 at 9:44 a.m. ET

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Methodist Church announced Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises.

After debates on the topic at the Methodist Conference, the proposals to allow same-sex marriages were passed with 254 votes in favor and 46 against.

The Methodist Church said ministers who oppose the changes will not be forced to carry out same-sex marriages.

The church has a membership of 164,000, making it the fourth-largest denomination of Christian churches in the U.K.

Dignity & Worth, a campaign group in the Methodist Church, said the vote was a “momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion” after many years of sometimes painful conversations.

Rev. Sam McBratney, who chairs the group, praised the “courageous step” taken by the church.

Same-sex marriage is not allowed in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, though smaller religious groups like the Quakers in Britain back the practice.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

No paywalls here. Thanks to you.

As an independent nonprofit, RNS believes everyone should have access to coverage of religion that is fair, thoughtful and inclusive. That's why you will never hit a paywall on our site; you can read all the stories and columns you want, free of charge (and we hope you read a lot of them!)

But, of course, producing this journalism carries a high cost, to support the reporters, editors, columnists, and the behind-the-scenes staff that keep this site up and running. That's why we ask that if you can, you consider becoming one of our donors. Any amount helps, and because we're a nonprofit, all of it goes to support our mission: To produce thoughtful, factual coverage of religion that helps you better understand the world. Thank you for reading and supporting RNS.

Deborah Caldwell, CEO and Publisher

Donate today

1	news Willy Rice, Florida pastor and abuse crisis skeptic, elected SBC president
2	news Defense Department rejiggers list of recognized religions after backlash, narrows it to 30
3	news Southern Baptists pass a ban on women pastors again. This time, they hope it sticks.
4	news The country’s largest Protestant adoption agency is dropping LGBTQ couples — again
5	opinion I was a pagan in the military before we were recognized. We're going back.

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	The State of Belief What Democracy and Religion Look Like Across America Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Find out how local Interfaith Alliance affiliates are on the front lines in the work of defending religious freedom and democracy with leaders from Iowa, Tennessee, and the national office in Washington, DC
	Complexified Philip Reed-Butler, Black AI and the future of healing Rev. Amanda Henderson (RNS) — A theologian and technologist is building Black AI for the inner life, where healing begins with imagination.