January 2016 - The Anglican Communion suspended the United States Episcopal Church from any decision-making roles, for allowing same-sex marriage.
May 2022 - In General Synod the clergy (70/39) and laity (63/47) voted for a statement saying that the solemnisation of a same-sex marriage was contrary to the teachings of Christ and the Christian faith and the discipline of the church. The Bishops voted against (12/10) thus defeating the motion.
The following day the delegates rejected a resolution that would have approved same-sex marriage.
Rift over same-sex marriage in Anglican Church of Australia deepens after synod vote, threatening schism - Egan Millar (Episcopal News Service)
Whither The Australian Anglican Church? - Mark Durie
General Assembly decisions
1985
That Assembly:
Affirm to homosexuals God’s love and acceptance of them as people; and affirm the power of Jesus Christ to forgive, and of the Holy Spirit to transform, the lives of all those involved in a homosexual lifestyle;
Affirm that homosexual acts are sinful.
Call the church to initiate compassionate ministry in the power of Jesus to those involved in a homosexual lifestyle;
Recommend that homosexual acts in private between consenting males over 20 no longer be a criminal offence, and
Call on the Government, in the event of legislation to decriminalise male homosexual acts, to enact appropriate measures to protect public health and public morality in schools, public places, and places of work.
1991
The Assembly
affirm that God’s intention for sexual relationship, as affirmed by Jesus Christ, is loving, mutual and faithful marriage between a man and a woman, and that intimate sexual expression outside of that context fall short of God’s standard;
affirm that the church must offer compassionate ministry to those who in their sexual behaviour have fallen short of God’s standard, and must offer them the Gospel of grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
affirm that those who continue in sexual acts in any context outside of heterosexual marriage are not appropriate persons to be in the leadership of this Church and that this expression of opinion be referred to the Special Committee without prejudice to any subsequent Assembly in this matter, and without prejudice to the status of any member of this Church until further resolution of the Assembly.
The Assembly also decided to establish a Special Committee to consider aspects of the ordination of homosexual men and women to the ministry of Word and Sacrament, which reported to the 1995 Assembly.
1996
That the Assembly authorise the Council of Assembly to conduct an appropriate referendum of all communicant and adherent members as at 30 June 1996 on the ruling of this Assembly on the licensing, ordination and induction of practising homosexuals, the results of this referendum be reported to the Church and the next Assembly.
The Referendum was conducted in 1997 where 78% of the 36,000 members who responded, voted in favour of a ban on practising homosexuals in church leadership.
2006
Assembly adopted the following rule:
The General Assembly now rules, in accordance with the Supreme and Subordinate Standards of the Church, and with previous Assembly decisions, that this Church may not accept for training, license, ordain, or induct anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of faithful marriage between a man and a woman. In relation to homosexuality, in the interests of natural justice, this ruling shall not prejudice anyone who, as at the date of this meeting (29 September 2006), has been accepted for training, licensed, ordained or inducted.
This rule was first passed at the 2006 Assembly and adopted ad interim while it moved through the Special Legislative Procedure where a majority of congregations and presbyteries voted in support, before it came back to the 2008 Assembly for a final vote and confirmation.
2008
The above ruling was confirmed.
2012
Three proposals to overturn the 2006/08 decisions regarding sexuality and leadership were rejected by the Assembly by approximately 65% to 35%.
That General Assembly declares that it upholds the historic Christian understanding of marriage as the loving, faithful union of a man and a woman (reflecting the complementarity of male and female created in God’s image), which is grounded in nature and in Scripture, is supremely revealed in Jesus’ teaching about marriage, and is given by God for the well-being of human society, and this be communicated to our government.” Carried with 75% majority.
Moved en bloc and carried with a 77% majority:
That, in faithfulness to the historic Christian understanding of marriage as grounded in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and in consistency with previous resolutions of the General Assembly relating to marriage (1991 and 2004), General Assembly resolves that the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand does not support same-sex 'marriage' and urges Parliament not to proceed with the proposed amendment to the Marriage Act and [that this be communicated to Parliament] through the select committee process as the majority view of the General Assembly".
That General Assembly urges Parliament not to alter or confuse the meaning of marriage, which has always been about the union of male and female, and is of deep spiritual significance for New Zealanders of many faiths and cultures; and the General Assembly also asserts that - with regard to equality - the Civil Union Act (2004) already provides for clear societal recognition and legal protection of same-sex relationships.
NOT carried (59.8%, one vote short of the 60% required.)
That, for the sake of the unity and good order of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and since the General Assembly upholds the historic Christian understanding of marriage as the union of a man and a woman and has not endorsed same-sex ‘marriage’, General Assembly declares that it authorizes ministers of this Church to conduct a marriage service only for the union of a man and a woman.
2014
Two proposals to overturn the ban on ordained church leaders living in relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman, were strongly rejected.
A motion was lost (40% to 60%) that asked Assembly to establish a Special Commission on Diversity to facilitate a programme of informed study and discussion throughout the Church on matters relating to sexuality in leadership and the conduct of marriage, including liberty of conscience.
In consistency with its Christian doctrine of marriage, General Assembly declared that the ministers of this Church may conduct a marriage service only for the union of a man and woman.
This decision was adopted ad interim and sent down to presbyteries and church councils under the Special Legislative Procedure.
2016
The decision of the 2014 General Assembly was confirmed (by 60.15% of the vote) and Regulation 6.8, "A minister may solemnise a marriage only between a man and a woman", added to the Book of Order. In the previous 2 years, it had gained the support of 73% of parishes and all but one presbytery voted for it. Te Aka Puaho stood aside from the voting process, not wanting to participate in a decision that might marginalise any group.
January 2020 - Church of England bishops issued a statement saying that sex belongs only within heterosexual marriage. It included not allowing churches to provide services of blessing for those registering a civil union.
May 23, 2022 - the Church of Scotland voted, 274/136 to allow ministers and deacons to conduct same-sex weddings. Ministers opposed to same-sex marriage are not required to conduct these marriages.
Press Statement from Covenant Fellowship Scotland, a think-tank of Evangelicals within the Church of Scotland.
A report on the decline of the Church of Scotland from the same General Assembly.
June 2017 - voted to allow gay couples to marry in Episcopal churches.
GAFCON has announced it will appoint a missionary bishop "to serve the needs of those who oppose gay marriage"
Most Pastors Still Oppose Same-Sex Marriage - Aaron Earls (LifeWay Research) (Christianity Today) 2024
2016 Annual Synod voted to form a study committee to bring a report on the “biblical theology” of sexuality.
2021 December one-third of Calvin (the CRC's flagship university) faculty signed a letter expressing concerns about the Human Sexuality Report, and, following the 2022 decision, some are expected to leave
2022 Annual Synod codified its opposition to homosexual sex (along with adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography)
For a fuller record of RCA statements see this page under "Sexuality"
1990 General Synod agreed: "To adopt as the position of the Reformed Church in America that the practicing homosexual lifestyle is contrary to scripture, while at the same encouraging love and sensitivity towards such persons as fellow human beings."
1994 General Synod passed a resolution repenting of lack of love within the church towards LGBTQI+ people.
1998 General Synod called for a temporary moratorium on LGBTQ matters.
2004 General Synod affirmed “that marriage is properly defined as the union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others” and asked a commission to include that affirmation in the Book of Church Order. (In 2005 the commission said it felt it was not appropriate.)
2012 General Synod reaffirmed the church's official position. It also set up a committee to find a way forward.
2016 General Synod
Declared that it did not support reorientation/reparative therapies.
Adopted a statement describing marriage as “a joyful covenanting between a man and a woman.” This did not receive the required 2/3 support from the churches "classes".
Said that marriages in churches or congregations should be between a man and a woman. This failed to gained the required 2/3 support from the churches "classes".
rejected any mockery, abuse etc. directed against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
2017 General Synod
Voted “to affirm that the Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 108 and 109 categorically states that God condemns ‘all unchastity,’ which includes same-sex sexual activity, and that faithful adherence to the RCA’s Standards, therefore, entails the affirmation that marriage is between one man and one woman.”
Voted “to urge all RCA assemblies and other bodies and all RCA members to maintain our covenant bonds with each other, especially with regard to the conflict over human sexuality; and further, to urge classes to refrain from approving the requests of churches to transfer to another denomination prior to the conclusion of General Synod 2018, instead focusing on our God-given mission.”
2018 General Synod recognised the RCA was at an impasse.
October 2021 - The RCA appointed a committee to develop a restructuring plan as it divides over LGBTQI+ issues. Churches will be grouped by affinity, not geography. It also adopted regulations that allow churches who have left the denomination to retain their assets and buildings. Some churches had already broken with the denomination, forming independent networks.
Religious Groups Official Position On Same-Sex Marriage - (Pew Research Centre, 2012)
National Congregations Study finds more church acceptance of gays and lesbians - David Masci (Pew Research Centre, 2014)
Ranking Religions On Acceptance Of Homosexuality And Reactions To SCOTUS Ruling - Tobin Grant (Religion News, 2015)
From Franklin Graham to Tony Campolo Some Evangelical Leaders Are Splitting Over Gay Marriage - Sarah Pulliam Bailey (Washington Post, 2015)