Church of England votes for "blessings" on same-sex relationships

The Church of England's General Synod, have voted to allow church "blessings" on same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.

A proposal was backed by Bishops by a margin of 36 to 4, clergy by 111 votes to 85 and laity by 103 votes to 92, with 5 abstentions.

In more than eight hours of debate there were 18 votes on attempted amendments, both from conservatives and liberals in the CofE.

The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, said priests would have the option to bless gay couples, but could choose not to.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said there was "painful" disagreement within the church but he supported the proposals.

On Wednesday, evangelicals spoke against the plans, including Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe's church in Oxford.

Mr Roberts warned against "naming as holy what we, along with the universal Church down the ages... have always before now called sin".

Another evangelical, Benjamin John, said it was "not too late" for the Church to turn back to the "beautiful, wonderful, glorious Gospel".

"These proposals are wrong. They say that Jesus doesn't wash and sanctify you, that you do not need to take up your cross and follow him, that there is no call to holiness".

"But love rejoices in the truth, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing. Love calls people out of sin and to Christ, snatching them out of the fire with discipline so that their spirits might be saved."