The possibility of getting church halls approved for the registering of civil partnerships is being explored after new regulations on civil partner\u00c2\u00adships in places of worship came into force on Monday. The Church of England nationally is not allowing the use of churches.<\/p>\n
A note from the General Synod\u2019s secretary-general, William Fittall, sent to Synod members last Friday, said that under the new rules \u201cno Church of England religious premises may become \u201d\u02dcapproved premises\u2019 for the registration of civil partnerships without there having been a formal decision by the General Synod to that effect.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
An accompanying Legal Office memorandum seeks to allay fears of litigation under the Equality Act if churches refuse to hold the cere\u00c2\u00admon\u00c2\u00adies. It says that the \u201cclear view\u201d\u009d of the Legal Office and government lawyers is that churches would not be guilty of illegal discrimination.<\/p>\n