Have the Church in Wales kicked same-sex marriage into the long grass?
In April 2026, the Church in Wales' Governing Body voted to incorporate an order of service for the blessing of same-sex relationships into the Book of Common Prayer. The Bench of Bishops also announced their intention to bring a Bill to allow same-sex marriage in April 2027.
It was, therefore, surprising when the Bench of Bishops tabled a report at last month's meeting of the Governing Body stating that, "following a period of positive but yet frank interaction," it had been decided not to introduce the Bill in April 2027. Instead, the bishops suggested that Governing Body might use that time to engage in,"facilitated conversations". These they said, "...would involve two experts from outside the province – one from a traditional viewpoint, one from a more progressive viewpoint – who would explore marriage theologically by way of a conversation."
Many hoped that this was a sign that the bishops were rethinking or that they feared they did not have the numbers to pass the Bill. Some even dared to believe that this, along with the failure of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa's attempts to introduce same-sex blessings, was a sign that the tide is turning towards orthodoxy.
However, comments made by the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, Bishop of St Asaph, at the meeting itself, suggest a tactical break, rather than a change of heart. He said:
"We need to design a process that will sustain the mutual respect and tolerance that we've already experienced and allow all opinions to be heard without racing to a particular finish line. At the same time as these considerations, we have to honor our commitment as a bench to sustain the direction of travel and to take the next step forward."
Bishop Gregory is very clear that neither the direction of travel nor the goal have changed. The purpose of the facilitated talks is not one of discernment but an attempt to encourage tolerance of opposing views. It is yet another example of the Travelator in motion.
In his address, the bishop gave three further reasons for this hiatus in the process:
1) Once passed by Governing Body the Bill will have to be approved by the Lord Chancellor, so care is required with the drafting.
"The Lord Chancellor is likely to grant permission to the governing body to satisfy its decision, but it will want well thought out and clear provision about what the Church in Wales is doing and why. We have to be absolutely certain therefore that we get this right before it's presented to the Lord Chancellor's Department."
2) A Bill that allows for same-sex marriage would neeed to be accompanied by new liturgy, the shape of which was as yet unresolved:
"It's become clear that any such liturgical work will have to follow an in principle decision by Governing Body and this will slow the process as Governing Body needs to be consulted on its wishes on these questions."
3) The Bench of Bishops do not agree:
"And indeed, there's not yet a consensus on the Bench as to the best way forward."
It is not difficult to identify which of these is the real reason for the delay. As Hannah Rowan, a lay member of Governing Body, noticed, "... most of what was explained there is not new. That's information that was knowable at the point at which the original undertaking was made."
This is certainly true with regard to the first two points. It is hard to believe that the time it would take to prepare, "thought out and clear provision" had not been factored in to the April 2027 plan. The need for the the Lord Chancellor to approve the Bill would mean it could not automatically be promulgated, or put into effect. This would then provide the time for the liturgical work to be done to allow the first same-sex marriages to take place later in 2027.
This leaves the final reason - the lack of agreement on the Bench of Bishops - which appears to be the sticking point.
It is well known that of the six bishops who sit on the bench of the Church in Wales, the Rt Revd John Lomas, is the most conservative. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he was the focus of much of the "frank interaction," that took place amongst the bishops. He must retire in the summer of 2028, following his 70th birthday, though he could retire earlier.
It seems though the Bench of Bishops have determined to pause things long enough to allow them to vote unanimously. What's more they will use the time to double down on those in the Houses of Laity and Clergy who dare to say this is a first order issue. Despite Bishop Gregory's belief that the process so far, "... has been conducted with a spirit of charity, respect, accommodation for different views, and careful listening," many would disagree.
As long ago as 2022, evangelicals in Wales, reported, "In asking how the Bishops would help those in the Church in Wales to thrive who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage between a Man and a Woman, we received little assurance or guarantee."
It is hard to see how facilitated conversations, based on the premise that the issue of same-sex marriage is a second-order issue, will do anything other than put more pressure on orthodox members of the Church in Wales to change their minds.
Delaying passing the Bill until September 2028 would allow the Bench of Bishops to vote unanimously in favour of the new Bill. More than that, the icing of the cake would be that it would also make this the final act of the Most Revd Cherry Vann's archepiscopacy, given that she turns 70 in October 2028.
It was ironic that in his introduction to the Annual Report and Accounts, Professor Medwin Hughes told Governing Body:
"The inheritance held by us today, be that financial, spiritual, institutional, that wasn't generated by our generation alone. And it is not ours to exhaust alone."
Despite many individuals' attempts to serve God faithfully within the Church in Wales, all the signs are that the Church in Wales is already well on the way to financial, spiritual and institutional bankruptcy.
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