The proposals come after the mother
church for the world's 80 million Anglicans earlier this year dropped its ban on
gay clergy in civil partnerships becoming bishops.
One of 18
recommendations put forward by a two-year working group suggested clergy should
"be able to offer appropriate services to mark a faithful same-sex
relationship".
The group, which had its dissenters, also said the church
should warmly welcome and affirm "the presence within the church of gay and
lesbian people both lay and ordained".
"The church's teaching on
sexuality is in tension with contemporary social attitudes, not only for gay and
lesbian Christians but for straight Christians too," noted the report that will
now be discussed by key groups in the church.
The spiritual head of the
Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, has acknowledged there
has been a "revolution" in attitudes towards homosexuality and that the church's
stance against gay marriage could be seen as out-of-step with public
opinion.
Parliament approved same-sex marriage earlier this year, despite
opposition from several religious groups and Conservative legislators, allowing
gay couples to marry in England from 2014
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