Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide, the bishops of the Episcopal Church voted overwhelmingly to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples on Wednesday, in what is seen as proof of the church's embrace of gay rights.
The historic vote happened at the Episcopal General Convention, which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The motion passed through the House of Deputies, which is the church's voting body. The House of Bishops approved the motion on Tuesday by an overwhelming 129-26 vote, with five members abstaining, reports Breitbart.
The bishops who passed the law agreed to its terms, which include motions that are quite revolutionary for a Christian church. A number of the church's canons and rules governing marriage itself were changed, such as the revision of gender-specific words like "man and woman" to more neutral terms such as "couple."
The clergy, however, are still given the right to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage without any fear of being penalized for their refusal. Bishops were also given the right to refuse same-sex ceremonies and services in their diocese, according to The Washington Post.
Rev. Brian Baker of Sacramento, Calif., said that the historic vote was the culmination of a decades-long conversion to a more open, liberal way of thinking for the church.
"We have learned to not only care for, but care about one other," he said, adding, "That mutual care was present in the conversations we had. Some people disagreed, some people disagreed deeply, but we prayed and we listened and we came up with compromises that we believe make room and leave no one behind."
The measures are set to take effect on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29.
