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Church of England is lagging behind on gay marriage, says PM’s LGBT envoy

Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby same-sex marriage Church of England - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby same-sex marriage Church of England - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The Church of England is “lagging behind” by refusing to marry gay couples, Rishi Sunak’s special envoy on LGBT rights has said.

Lord Herbert of South Downs expressed hopes that it would follow other Anglican churches which now provide Christian ceremonies for same-sex partners.

However, he warned that any legislation to force the Church of England to change its mind would be “appalling” and urged MPs to show respect for religious freedom.

His remarks came with a fierce debate expected on the issue when Church leaders gather in London for the General Synod next week.

At the governing council, bishops will consider a proposal to allow clergy to offer blessings to gay couples while keeping the ban on marrying them.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, is reportedly worried that going any further would risk a global fracture within the Church.

However, a group of MPs who are frustrated by the decision are threatening to call for the repeal of legislation that allows the Church to govern itself.

Lord Herbert of South Downs Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby same-sex marriage Church of England - Heathcliff O’Malley for The Telegraph
Lord Herbert of South Downs Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby same-sex marriage Church of England - Heathcliff O’Malley for The Telegraph

Lord Herbert, who entered into a civil partnership with his partner in Jan 2009, warned them against any such move.

“I think it would be appalling if the state dictated to churches that they had to do something that contravened their beliefs,” he told Times Radio.

“It was a fundamental aspect of the legislation that churches are allowed to take that decision, by which I mean faith organisations.”

He pointed out that other Anglican churches, including the Church of Scotland, the United Reformed Church and the Methodists, now allow gay weddings.

He said: “There is this steadily moving tide, and the Church of England is lagging behind that. I hope that one day the Church of England will decide to do it.

“I think that’s a decision that the Church itself has to take. I don’t think that can be a decision that’s dictated by members of parliament.”

Lord Herbert said that the proposal to allow blessings of same-sex couples was “a step forward”, but acknowledged it “clearly isn’t enough for many”.

He was appointed by Boris Johnson as the special envoy on LGBT rights in May 2021, and still serves in the post under Mr Sunak.

Half of Britons back gay marriage in church

His intervention came after a YouGov poll, published last Friday, showed that the public thinks the Church has taken the wrong stance.

It found that 54 per cent of Britons believed the Church should marry gay couples compared to 27 per cent who felt that it should not.

Voters also disagreed with the stance taken by the Archbishop, who said he will not personally provide blessings to same-sex partners.

He said he was “extremely joyful” they will be allowed, but he will impose a “self-denying ordinance” to maintain church unity.

According to the poll, 44 per cent of people opposed his decision and 26 per cent supported it.

The findings came as some MPs asked whether the Church’s refusal to allow same-sex marriages is compatible with its position as the state church.

About a dozen Labour and Tory MPs met last week to discuss options, including stripping it of its exemption from the Equalities Act.

Labour’s Sir Chris Bryant, a former Anglican priest, told The Observer: “If the Church won’t act, then parliament should give it a push.”

Sam Margrave same-sex marriage Archbishop of Canterbury Church of England - Andrew Fox for The Telegraph
Sam Margrave same-sex marriage Archbishop of Canterbury Church of England - Andrew Fox for The Telegraph

On Sunday, on the eve of the General Synod, the Archbishop wrote to a member ordering him to apologise over his biblical beliefs on marriage.

Sam Margrave, a layman from the Diocese of Coventry, said on Twitter that he was “disgusted” by the Archbishop’s press conference apologising to LGBT people.

In a letter with the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, Mr Welby said the posts had “caused other members of the Church to feel intimidated, bullied and distressed”.

“We are writing as Archbishops to rebuke such behaviour and to ask that you apologise publicly for your language and the offence it has caused,” they said.