Bishop of London joins Church of England apology for the "shameful" treatment of LGBTQI+ people
In a letter, Bishops admit LGBTQI+ people have been "failed" at times but they should be - and are - "welcome and valued"
The Church of England has issued a formal apology for the "shameful" times LGBTQI+ people have been "rejected or excluded".
The Bishops of the Church of England - including Dame Sarah Mullally - have written a letter admitting LGBTQI+ people have been "failed" at times but they should be and are "welcome and valued".
The church said earlier this week that it will bless same-sex civil marriages for the first time - though its position on gay marriage will not change and same-sex couples will still be unable to marry at church.
Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally described the blessings move as a "significant change" but acknowledged it will be voluntary for clergy to decide whether they want to perform them, likening it to the situation with the marriage of people who have been divorced.
Asked if she will give blessings, she said: "For me, I take very few marriages because I'm a bishop, therefore the sense in which I will be in a situation where I will be asked for that? I don't know."
She said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had made "a sacrificial step" in his decision not to use the new blessings which was "clearly the right one for him".
She said she hoped that couples who approached a church that were not offering the prayers "would be generously welcomed and actually helped along the way to find the church nearest and that could offer it."
She also said she understands that some same-sex relationships which are blessed under the proposed new prayers, will be sexual, when asked if gay Christians who are in a civil marriage are still expected by the church to remain celibate.
She acknowledged there "will be a range of views that are held on that", but added: "I think one thing I have learned through listening is that there are a whole range of ways in which people will express that relationship and some will be sexual, some will not, some will be friendship."
Letter from the Bishops of the Church of England
The pastoral letter, published on Friday, says: "We want to apologise for the ways in which the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people - both those who worship in our churches and those who do not.
"For the times we have rejected or excluded you, and those you love, we are deeply sorry. The occasions on which you have received a hostile and homophobic response in our churches are shameful and for this we repent.
"As we have listened, we have been told time and time again how we have failed LGBTQI+ people. We have not loved you as God loves you, and that is profoundly wrong.
"We affirm, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQI+ people are welcome and valued: we are all children of God."
Still no same-sex weddings in churches
Of the decision on same-sex marriage, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said it is a bid to "seek the common good" but admitted it will "go too far for some and not nearly far enough for others".
The plans, to be outlined in a report to the General Synod, will allow same-sex couples to attend church for services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and God's blessing following a legal marriage ceremony.
The synod will be asked to discuss the proposals in detail during its meeting from February 6 to 9, with the main debate on the proposals set for February 8.