DLNews Staff:

The Church of England (or Episcopal Church to the U.S.) recently made news when it apologized for treating L.G.B.T. (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) members. The Church of England is the first church in the global Anglican Communion, a body of tens of millions of members in 165 countries. Since 2003, the Anglican Church has engaged in a heated debate over the inclusion of L.G.B.T.Q. Members into its fold. One of the most considerable disagreements has revolved around the idea that marriage is between a man and a woman. While most Anglican Communion continues to press the traditional teaching on marriage, some provinces have moved to include more diverse viewpoints in their congregations.

The Church of England recently announced that it would change its policy on the marriage of two same-gender couples. Previously, the church had said it would only recognize civil marriages, although a handful of bishops have broken ranks to support the inclusion of same-gender couples in their congregations. As part of the change, the governing body known as the General Synod will have to consider other proposals when it meets next month in London.

In short, the Church of England has devised a list of what they've termed the "Prayers of Love and Faith." It's an exciting move that will hopefully curb decades of ill-conceived debate over the inclusion of same-sex couples in its ranks. However, there will be no change in how the Church of England conducts services or its liturgy. According to a statement released by the Church of England, the main point of this change is to "reflect the wider society and the growing inclusivity of the church."

On the flip side, several Church of England supporters has argued that the move was a step backward, especially in the more conservative regions. While the Church of England has a long history of embracing diversity and inclusivity, it has failed to do so at times. That is why its decision on same-sex marriages is a particularly divisive topic. This latest proposal has stirred up controversy among many agnostic and Christian Christians in the U.K.

Some notable names have voiced their opinions on the matter, including Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who has indicated that he wouldn't bless a same-gender civil marriage. However, he stated that the same-gender church service had "the highest interest rate for the Anglicans of all denominations." Meanwhile, a small group of the Church of England's senior clergy has suggested that the Church of England may be on the right track. They have offered some ideas, ranging from allowing same-gender couples into church services to a more openly inclusive polity.

"The most impressive and edifying part of this move is that the Church of England has actually put a public effort into figuring out how to serve the LGBTQ+ community best. In a letter to the LGBTQ+ community, the Bishops of England explained that it was only "the best of the best that we would be able to deliver." Their aforementioned best of the best was a well-thought-out and thoughtful proposal, which outlines in great detail how the Church of England can make it a more welcoming and inclusive place for everyone."