Churches that embrace same-sex marriage have seen a surge in attendance
January 19, 2018
A new study from the University of Leeds and York has shown that churches in the UK that have performed same-sex weddings have seen an increase in their congregation. The study suggests performing such ceremonies and embracing the LGBT+ community is a positive “rebranding” of an institution in need of modernisation.
Academics in the study wrote that these same-sex ceremonies “can provide a vehicle for articulating the broader values of the place of worship to a wide audience.” With one church saying that “we have seen people join and become active in several local congregations as a direct result of our welcoming stance on same sex marriage.”
Another Baptist church has said that as a “city centre church, this has positioned us more clearly in the market – meaning those who want such a church know clearly who we are, and will travel to come to us.”
While it is still forbidden to perform a same-sex wedding in the Church of England, 44% of Unitarian churches, which have the highest denomination of any church, are providing same-sex ceremonies. Although, only 182 of more than 40,000 churches in the UK currently hold same-sex weddings.
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