95 Church of England churches want to explore holding Civil Partnership ceremonies if it is allowed by General Synod, according to Inclusive Church:
The news that so many Anglican Churches would want to explore registration shows the disparity between the official stance of the Church of England and that of ordinary parishes.
Canon Giles Goddard, a member of the Coalition and Chair of Inclusive Church said, “The 95 churches we have identified are the tip of the iceberg. Patience with the Church of England is wearing thin among lesbian and gay Anglicans and their friends and families. The church needs to learn to become inclusive and welcoming to all. We hope that measures will soon be taken so that individual parishes can opt into offering blessings and legal ceremonies.”
At present any such application would be rejected by Registrars because applications require the consent of the Church’s governing body, the General Synod, and there are no plans to ask General Synod whether it would give consent or not.
h/t to Simon Sarmiento of Thinking Anglicans.