The Methodist Church is allowing same-sex marriages in a move that has been hailed as a ‘momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion’.

The topic was debated at the Methodist Conference on Wednesday, when a vote to change the definition of marriage overwhelmingly passed by 254 to 46.

During proceedings, Reverend Dr Jonathan Hustler said there was a general view that the church ‘cannot close its eyes to what is happening in society’.

Campaign group Dignity & Worth, which champions the LGBTQ+ community in the Methodist Church, said: ‘Today the Methodist Conference has taken a momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion.

‘After many years of, sometimes, painful conversations, the church has now agreed to allow local congregations to open their buildings to host the marriages of same-sex couples.

‘The members of Dignity & Worth have been working and praying hard to see this day, recognising that the hard work of implementing this decision still lies ahead of us.’

The current membership of the Methodist Church of Britain is 164,000, making it the fourth largest denomination of Christian Churches in the UK.

Same-sex marriage is still not allowed in the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church, but it is welcomed in the Scottish Episcopal Church, the United Reformed Church and the Quakers in Britain.

The latter three are smaller in membership, making the Methodist Church the largest Christian Church to support gay weddings. 

The conference yesterday saw 29 out of the 30 Methodist Synods in Britain confirm they were in support of the move.

Reverend Sam McBratney, chairman of Dignity & Worth, praised the ‘courageous step’ taken by the church.

‘Some of us have been praying for this day to come for decades, and can hardly believe it is now here,’ he said.

‘We are so grateful to our fellow Methodists for taking this courageous step to recognise and affirm the value and worth of same-sex relationships.

‘And we reassure those who do not support this move, that we want to continue to work and worship with you in the church we all love.’

Freedom of conscience clauses mean ministers will not be forced to conduct such weddings if they oppose the move.

Church officials hope the first same-sex weddings in Methodist chapels will take place in the autumn.

Following the vote the Rev Sonia Hicks said: ‘The debate today and our wider conversation has been conducted with grace and mutual respect.

‘As we move forward together after this historic day for our church, we must remember to continue to hold each other in prayer, and to support each other respecting our differences.’

Last year, the Church of England started a formal ‘decision making’ process on whether to re-think their stance on same- sex marriage, but an outcome of the debate is not expected until 2022.

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