Norway to allow gay church weddings.

[Keep Fighting]

Church leadership on Monday debated whether a new liturgy for marriage should apply to all couples. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / SCANPIX

Published: 11 Apr 2016 12:52 GMT+02:00

Updated: 11 Apr 2016 13:47 GMT+02:00

   

The leadership of the Church of Norway (Den Norske Kirke) on Monday approved new marriage ceremony rules that will allow homosexuals to be married within the church. 

• Oslo bishop - ‘I will not marry same-sex couples’ (27 Jul 15)
• Church of Norway votes down gay marriage (08 Apr 14)

The Bishops’ Conference (Kirkemøtet) approved gay church marriage by a final vote of 88 to 32, putting an end to two decades of debate.

 

"This is a big day for me, for Åpen folkekirke (Open people's church, ed.)  and for the Church of Norway. Finally we will celebrate love regardless of whom one loves," Gard Sandaker-Nilsen said at the conference in Trondheim, according to broadcaster NRK. 

 

Over the weekend, 15 of 23 committee members said the conference should approve church weddings for same-sex couples, paving the way for Monday's final vote. 

 

As part of the church officials' historic decision, bishops and other church officials were granted the right to refuse to officiate homosexual marriages. However, gay couples are ensured the right of being married in their local church even if the officials decline to carry out the service. 

 

Åpen folkekirke (Open people's church) has been advocating for gay church marriage since September’s church elections.

 

“Åpen folkekirke believes that marriage is a commitment and a celebration between two people, regardless of whether it is two men, two women or a woman and a man,” Sandaker-Nilsen told NRK. 

 

The Church of Norway last discussed gay marriage in 2014, when the idea was shot down. Monday's debate in Trondheim showed that there was still plenty of resistance among church  members.

 

 

Hopefully a lot of people will see: What does the Bible really teach.

[Tortuga]

35 minutes ago, KEEP FIGHTING said:

The Bishops’ Conference (Kirkemøtet) approved gay church marriage by a final vote of 88 to 32, putting an end to two decades of debate.

They went from No-Way to Your-Way and ended up at Norway...

[tekmantwo]

13 hours ago, Tortuga said:

They went from No-Way to Your-Way and ended up at Norway...

Because they are on the Broadway. .