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| United Reformed Church fails to agree on gay weddings | United Reformed Church fails to agree on gay weddings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The United Reformed Church has failed to reach agreement on becoming the largest Church in the UK to hold same-sex weddings. | The United Reformed Church has failed to reach agreement on becoming the largest Church in the UK to hold same-sex weddings. |
| Its General Assembly, which met in Cardiff, failed to persuade some delegates to drop their opposition to proposals on same-sex marriage. | Its General Assembly, which met in Cardiff, failed to persuade some delegates to drop their opposition to proposals on same-sex marriage. |
| General secretary the Rev John Proctor said a "clear majority" was in favour, but the Church needed "full consensus". | General secretary the Rev John Proctor said a "clear majority" was in favour, but the Church needed "full consensus". |
| The Church allows civil partnership ceremonies within its buildings. | The Church allows civil partnership ceremonies within its buildings. |
| But religious organisations have to "opt in" to offer weddings after gay marriage became legal in England and Wales earlier this year. | But religious organisations have to "opt in" to offer weddings after gay marriage became legal in England and Wales earlier this year. |
| If agreed upon, individual congregations within the church would have been able to provide marriage to gay couples. | |
| "A clear majority of members of Assembly expressed the view that local congregations should be permitted to offer same-sex marriage to those who seek that opportunity," Mr Proctor said of the debate. | "A clear majority of members of Assembly expressed the view that local congregations should be permitted to offer same-sex marriage to those who seek that opportunity," Mr Proctor said of the debate. |
| "However, because our decision-making process is based on the seeking of full consensus, Assembly was unable to reach agreement." | "However, because our decision-making process is based on the seeking of full consensus, Assembly was unable to reach agreement." |
| The meeting passed a resolution inviting synods and local congregations to discuss the issue further and to report back by the end of March next year. | The meeting passed a resolution inviting synods and local congregations to discuss the issue further and to report back by the end of March next year. |
| 'Traditional understanding' | 'Traditional understanding' |
| The first same-sex weddings took place on March 29 following the change in law. | The first same-sex weddings took place on March 29 following the change in law. |
| The Church of England and Church in Wales, which did not support the change, are banned in law from offering gay weddings. | The Church of England and Church in Wales, which did not support the change, are banned in law from offering gay weddings. |
| Scotland passed a similar law in February with the first same-sex marriages expected there in October. | Scotland passed a similar law in February with the first same-sex marriages expected there in October. |
| But the Scottish Catholic Church and Church of Scotland opposed the move and said they had no plans to conduct such marriages. | But the Scottish Catholic Church and Church of Scotland opposed the move and said they had no plans to conduct such marriages. |
| Northern Ireland has no plans to change its laws to allow same-sex marriage. | Northern Ireland has no plans to change its laws to allow same-sex marriage. |
| The Quakers and the Unitarian Church have already agreed to hold gay weddings within their premises. | The Quakers and the Unitarian Church have already agreed to hold gay weddings within their premises. |
| However, with around 90,000 members across 1,500 congregations, the United Reformed Church is considerably larger than they are. | However, with around 90,000 members across 1,500 congregations, the United Reformed Church is considerably larger than they are. |
| It was first formed in 1972 by a union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the majority of churches in the Congregational Church in England and Wales. It was joined later by the Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ in 1981 and the Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000. | It was first formed in 1972 by a union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the majority of churches in the Congregational Church in England and Wales. It was joined later by the Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ in 1981 and the Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000. |
| BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the Church had hoped to achieve consensus on proposals to allow same-sex weddings without a formal vote. | BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the Church had hoped to achieve consensus on proposals to allow same-sex weddings without a formal vote. |
| But a small minority of the 300 delegates at the Assembly insisted that the services would constitute a redefinition of the traditional understanding of marriage. | But a small minority of the 300 delegates at the Assembly insisted that the services would constitute a redefinition of the traditional understanding of marriage. |
| One member said it was "hurtful" for same-sex couples to be asked to wait to marry within their church. | One member said it was "hurtful" for same-sex couples to be asked to wait to marry within their church. |
| The Rev Fiona Bennett, of the Augustine United Church in Edinburgh, told the assembly: "I am asking for grace. By allowing churches to opt in, we create space for diversity to hold our unity." | |
| Another speaker urged the church to welcome gay people "to the feast of marriage". | Another speaker urged the church to welcome gay people "to the feast of marriage". |