Government launches consultation on civil partnerships registrations in churches

Under current law, civil partnerships can only be registered at secular venues and the ceremonies do not contain any religious elements.

The Government wants to implement a section of the Equality Act 2010 that would allow civil partnerships to be registered in religious venues.

The consultation document states: “We propose to operate an ‘opt-in’ system for those faith groups that wish to host civil partnership registrations on their premises.”

Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “The government is committed to advancing equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people and to ensuring freedom of religion or belief for all people.

“To further both of these aims, the government is committed to removing the legal barrier to civil partnerships being registered on the religious premises of those faith groups who choose to allow this to happen.

“This will be done by implementing section 202 of the Equality Act 2010 [which] makes clear that there will be no obligation on faith groups to host civil partnerships.

“The proposals set out in the consultation document are designed to respect the wishes of faith groups whether they wish to host civil partnership registrations or not.”

Faith groups will have to agree on whether or not to permit the registrations on their premises and individual religious premises will be required to obtain approval from the local authority for their area.

While the Quakers and Unitarian Church support a change, most Christians are strongly opposed to the move.

The Evangelical Alliance, Christian Concern and Reform are among the groups raising concern over whether a change to regulations will lead to discrimination against Christians.

Although Featherstone has promised that churches will not be obliged to perform the ceremonies if they do not want to, evangelical groups fear vicars will be brought before the courts if they refuse.

In a joint statement, Affinity, the Christian Institute, Christian Concern, Reform and the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches said: “When it comes to equality legislation, permission often turns rapidly into coercion,” the groups said.

“Christians will need a great deal of reassurance that the Government is not about to do something that will make their situation even worse.”

The consultation is due to close on 23 June.