The bright side is that conservative clergy can still refuse to perform same-sex marriages. But to be honest, how can any of them still be a part of a church who not only hires openly gay bishops, but will now marry gay couples in the church?
USA TODAY – Days after the Supreme Court granted constitutional protection to gay marriage, Episcopalians gave their blessing Wednesday to church weddings for same-sex couples.
The denomination’s landmark vote, at the Episcopal General Convention in Salt Lake City, came 12 years after the church made history by electing its first openly gay bishop.
Same-sex weddings will be allowed after Nov. 1. But in a compromise with conservatives, clergy can refuse to perform same-sex services and bishops can prohibit the ceremonies in their diocese, The Washington Post reports.
Among the changes to church laws on marriage, gender-specific language will be dropped. “Husband” and “wife” will be replaced with “the couple.”
“But don’t expect sweeping changes across the entire denomination anytime soon,” George Conger, an Episcopal priest who has written about church issues for two decades, wrote in the Post. He said the changes “likely won’t take place in more conservative parts of the church, like Dallas, Albany and Orlando.”