Church of England Drops Same-Sex Blessing Plan

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ News International

LONDON, ENGLAND — (February 15, 2026) — The Church of England has formally abandoned proposals to introduce stand-alone blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples, marking a significant moment in the denomination’s ongoing internal debate over marriage, theology, and LGBTQ inclusion.

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The decision came during meetings of the Church’s national assembly, known as the General Synod, where members voted to discontinue the structured process exploring how such ceremonies might be implemented.

While Synod agreed that discussion on sexuality and marriage will continue through a future working group, bishops indicated that substantial theological and legal barriers prevent immediate authorization of same-sex blessing services.

Emotional Debate at Synod

The debate featured emotional testimony from LGBTQ clergy and lay members who expressed deep frustration over the collapse of the proposed framework.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, acknowledged widespread disappointment across ideological lines.

“This is not where I want us to be, nor where I hoped we would be three years ago,” he told Synod members, recognizing the anger and sadness felt throughout the Church.

Church leaders also issued apologies for the hurt experienced by both supporters and opponents of the proposals, noting that conservatives had expressed concern over perceived ambiguity in Church teaching on marriage and sexuality.

A Process Years in the Making

The current outcome concludes a lengthy period of discernment that began more than a decade ago.

In early 2023, following intense internal debate, the Church of England decided it would not recognize same-sex marriage — diverging from some Anglican bodies elsewhere in the world. Instead, it proposed developing blessing services for same-sex couples without altering its doctrine on marriage.

That process — estimated to have cost approximately £1.6 million — has now been formally discontinued.

However, prayers of blessing for same-sex couples within regular Sunday services remain permitted under guidelines introduced in 2023.

Global Anglican Implications

Although decisions by the Church of England do not directly govern other Anglican provinces, the issue continues to strain relationships within the global Anglican Communion.

The Scottish Episcopal Church voted for marriage equality in 2017. Meanwhile, the Church in Wales authorizes blessing services for same-sex couples, though it does not conduct same-sex marriages.

By contrast, the Church of England Evangelical Council has maintained that same-sex blessings are inconsistent with biblical teaching.

Some Anglican churches internationally have previously warned they could distance themselves from the Anglican Communion over progressive moves related to same-sex unions.

Continued Dialogue, Growing Frustration

Despite Synod’s vote to establish a new working group, several clergy members warned that ongoing delays may further alienate LGBTQ Anglicans and liberal members.

The newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, addressed Synod at the close of debate, acknowledging the difficulty of navigating one of the most divisive theological issues facing the Church in recent decades.

For now, both same-sex marriage and stand-alone blessing ceremonies remain off the table within the Church of England — though the broader conversation continues.

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