Thank you for visiting the website of the Equal Campaign. Here you will find informative articles, arguments, testimonies, resources, and signposts to a way forward for our Church.
Equal, the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England, is campaigning for a change in the teaching and practice of the Church of England to allow all couples to marry in church, regardless of their gender, sex or sexuality. This principle of equality already applies in English law and in some other churches.
The Church of England’s current official position is that only opposite-sex couples can marry in its churches. Same-sex couples cannot marry in church. They cannot even officially receive a blessing after a civil marriage, although this is in the process of changing. Christians who have married their same-sex partner are discriminated against in the ministry of the Church, both lay and ordained. Couples where one or both partners are trans are also liable to discrimination if they wish to be married in church.
Our aims
- We believe that same-sex couples should be able to be married in Church of England parishes.
- We believe that people in such marriages should have the same opportunities for lay and ordained ministry in the Church of England as anyone else.
- We believe that the consciences of everyone should be protected – no member of the clergy should be forced to conduct a marriage they disagree with. No member of the clergy should be prevented from celebrating a marriage involving a same-sex couple.
- Together we will see a change in the official position of the Church of England to be more representative of the views of its members and more consistent with the good news of God’s Kingdom.
- Together we can create a church that welcomes and supports everyone, regardless of sexuality and gender identity, and that benefits from the spiritual gifts of those who have been previously excluded.
- Together we can ensure that all people, regardless of their sexuality and gender identity, can be married in their local parish church and be treated with respect and dignity.
- Together we can help to bring about ‘radical Christian inclusion’ in response to the loving generosity and grace of God.
What we are
Equal is not a membership organization. There are no membership fees, no complicated structure, no committee to join and no local groups to support.
Equal is simply a campaign to ensure that the official policy of the Church properly respects and protects the conscience of all its members on these matters of deep human importance.
For more information about Equal please see https://cofe-equal-marriage.org.uk/about/.
Making a start
- Sign up as a Supporter of the Campaign and find other ways to support us.
- Consider making a donation towards our work.
- Please help us if you can – for example, if you have IT, publicity, media or campaigning skills, or are willing to join a demonstration or to write letters/emails/posts/tweets. You can offer help when you fill out the form to sign up as a Supporter (this is simplest for you and for us), or you can contact us if you prefer.
- Free resources are available to download and print. Ask for the Equal logo to be displayed in your parish church, magazine and website.
- Badges are available at a small cost to cover production and postage, so why not order lots and give them out to members of your church.
- Click here to find out about other ways to support us.
