The possibility of getting church halls approved for the registering of civil partnerships is being explored after new regulations on civil partnerÂships in places of worship came into force on Monday. The Church of England nationally is not allowing the use of churches.
A note from the General Synod’s secretary-general, William Fittall, sent to Synod members last Friday, said that under the new rules “no Church of England religious premises may become ”˜approved premises’ for the registration of civil partnerships without there having been a formal decision by the General Synod to that effect.”
An accompanying Legal Office memorandum seeks to allay fears of litigation under the Equality Act if churches refuse to hold the cereÂmonÂies. It says that the “clear view” of the Legal Office and government lawyers is that churches would not be guilty of illegal discrimination.
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(Church Times) Civil-partnership ban seen as challenge
The possibility of getting church halls approved for the registering of civil partnerships is being explored after new regulations on civil partnerÂships in places of worship came into force on Monday. The Church of England nationally is not allowing the use of churches.
A note from the General Synod’s secretary-general, William Fittall, sent to Synod members last Friday, said that under the new rules “no Church of England religious premises may become ”˜approved premises’ for the registration of civil partnerships without there having been a formal decision by the General Synod to that effect.”
An accompanying Legal Office memorandum seeks to allay fears of litigation under the Equality Act if churches refuse to hold the cereÂmonÂies. It says that the “clear view” of the Legal Office and government lawyers is that churches would not be guilty of illegal discrimination.
Read it all.