Road map for the future of ceremonies for same-sex couples in the Church in Wales
Today, the Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales has released a pastoral letter regarding the future of ceremonies for same-sex couples in the Church in Wales.
You can read the full letter below.
Pastoral Letter from the Bench of Bishops to all the Faithful in the Church in Wales
Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. (Romans 12.10)
It is an inescapable truth at present that Christian attitudes towards sexual relationships are a matter for deep debate in the contemporary Church, and even threaten to divide the Christian family worldwide. In the listening exercise we have conducted over the last six months, we have heard passionate but gracious discussion. Seeking to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching of Scripture, Christians differ in approach: advocates for equal marriage argue from the inclusive love of Jesus, while others highlight faithfulness to the traditional reading of Biblical texts and cannot embrace such new understandings. Yet others discern a middle ground: content to offer blessings, they are not yet ready to abandon traditional teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Whatever people’s convictions on this matter, as your bishops we believe first that this should not be a ‘Church-dividing issue’. We also believe that, as a Church in Wales, we need to take seriously the Word of Scripture on all things, but especially with reference to those scriptural injunctions to bear with one another in love in a time of debate and disagreement.
The Governing Body of the Church in Wales is now approaching the point where it must take major decisions on these matters. Just over four years ago, GB authorised a five-year experimental Rite of Blessing so that same sex couples who had celebrated a civil marriage or partnership could come to Church with their families and friends to seek God’s blessing on their commitment to one another.
As this period comes to a close, the listening exercise conducted by the bishops enabled all who wished to speak to them from across their dioceses, and in Governing Body. In the course of this listening exercise, most of those who spoke did so in favour of the view that the time is right to offer equal marriage to traditional and same sex couples. Nonetheless, there is a strong part of our Church family that finds such a step difficult to hold within their understanding of fidelity to Scripture, and therefore within our common life.
In seeking to discern God’s will, the bishops believe that the right way forward is to offer Governing Body the opportunity to make decisions on behalf of the Church.
We intend therefore to bring proposals to the Governing Body in April 2026 to make the authorisation of Blessings for Same Sex Couples permanent in the life of the Church, and to bring further proposals in April 2027 to allow the law of the state and of the Church to be changed to permit same sex marriage in our Churches. This course of action will allow the Governing Body the chance to decide whether to affirm the provision that has already been made, and to proceed, twelve months later, to consider and decide upon the provision of equal marriage. We hope by this to give to the Governing Body a chance to decide whether as a Church we feel able to meet the aspirations of those couples who have articulated the hope to celebrate their love before God in Church through either or both of these expressions.
In each case, we recognise that deep convictions will still vary on this matter, and that, in seeking to hold the family of God together, those deep convictions of conscience will have to be respected. Any proposals will have to be drafted in a such a way to ensure that no-one is forced to act against their consciences by participating in such provision. At the same time, the longing of many who are in same sex committed relationships to make the commitment of marriage to one another will be given full consideration.
Our motivations in offering this course of action are first, to seek to be faithful to Christ, and to where God may be calling us, but also to seek to meet the aspirations of those seeking marriage; and thirdly, to unite, as far as possible, people of all convictions in a process of discernment and accommodation.
The saying “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty, and in all things charity”, which is properly attributed to the sixteenth century reformer, Peter Meiderlin, reminds us of a rule of discernment. As we unite in 2025 as a Church which proclaims the Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith, we as bishops offer to the Church in Wales our discernment: that we can disagree in charity and yet offer liberty on this matter, and commit ourselves to finding a consensus in discernment on the way in which the Church in Wales can affirm same-sex couples in their commitment to each other before God while respecting diversity of understanding.
+Cherry Cambrensis
+Gregory Llanelwy
+John Abertawe ac Aberhonddu
+Mary Llandaf
+Dorrien Tyddewi