The Government's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill received Royal Assent on

17th July 2013, having been passed by both Houses of Parliament.

The Bill followed a Government consultation in 2012. The Church of England made a
formal response to that consultation in June 2012 and accompanied it with a press
release. In December 2012 the Government published a summary of responses to the
consultation, alongside its own response.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act makes the marriage of same sex couples
lawful in England and Wales, while protecting and promoting religious freedom.
Scotland followed the suit in February, 2014, becoming the 17th country to allow
same-sex marriages. (The Northern Ireland Assembly is not currently considering
any legislation to allow same-sex marriage.) The Government believes that opening up
marriage to all couples demonstrates societys respect for all individuals,
regardless of their sexuality, making our society fairer and more inclusive for all
its members. This change strengthens the vital institution of marriage and ensures
that it remains an essential building block of modern society.
The Act says that a religious marriage ceremony of a same sex couples can
only be possible if:
i. The governing body of the religious organization has opted in by giving explicit
consent to marriages of same sex couples; and
ii. The individual minister is willing to conduct the marriage, and
iii. If the ceremony takes place in a place of worship, those premises have been
registered for marriages of same sex couples.
Both the Church of England and the Church in Wales have made it clear that they do
not wish to conduct same sex marriage ceremonies according to their rites.
The Government respects this position and the Act contains specific measures to
ensure that, as for other religious organizations, it is their decision whether to marry
same sex couples according to their rites, and there is no compulsion on them to
do so.
The first marriages of same sex couples took place on Saturday 29 March 2014.
Talking more about the Churchs views about same sex marriage: The Church
of England cannot support the proposal to enable all couples, regardless of their
gender, to have a civil marriage ceremony. Such a move would alter the nature of
marriage as the union of a man and a woman, as enshrined in human institutions
throughout history. Its concern is for the way the meaning of marriage will
change for everyone, gay or straight, if the proposals are enacted, because they
believe that the inherited understanding of marriage contributes a vast
amount to the common good.
Current Archbishop of Canterbury and senior bishop in the Church of England,
Justin Welby, voted against David Camerons Same-Sex Marriage Act in the House
of Lords, saying that he feared it weakened the family and society. He said that

the Church of England accepting gay marriage could be "absolutely catastrophic"

for Christians in countries where homosexuality is illegal.
VIDEO: Arch BP Welby on gay marriage

OTHER INTERESTING THEME: In recent times, there are a lot of debates over
the homosexuality within the church. The issue erupted when Jeffrey John, an
openly practicing gay priest, was elected Bishop of Reading in May 2003. Before he
could take up his post there was strong opposition from a minority of bishops and he
was persuaded to not proceed with the appointment. However, many senior bishops
have voiced disappointment at his decision to resign, so he was installed as Dean of St
Albans in 2004 (however, this fact arose numerous protests throughout other
churches).
As for right now, ordained deacons, priests and Bishops are forbidden to enter
same sex marriage and people in same sex marriage are forbidden to be
ordained. Gay people including those in same sex civil partnerships are allowed to
become clerics but expected to remain celibate. According to the Huffington Post
gay clergy who enter into same sex marriage or bless same sex marriages risk
being defrocked and losing their jobs. It appears some Church of England bishops
accept gay clergy with partners in their diocese while others remove their license
after which the cleric has difficulty getting appointed to another parish. In 2014
Jeremy Pemberton married Laurence Cunnington and became the first priest in
the Church of England to defy the Church's ban on gay clergy marrying. He later
confirmed that he had been stripped of the permission to work as a priest in the
diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.
On June, 2014, a second priest, Andrew Cain, has defied the Church of England's
official line to marry his same sex partner.
VIDEO: Reverend Andrew Forshaw-Cain on what marriage means to him