A working group is to be appointed to consider the Methodist Church's position on marriage.
The group will be tasked with considering whether the position of the Church should be revised to reflect changes in society.
Its reflections will be made with reference to "scripture, tradition,
reason and experience", and take into consideration the implications of
the Marriages (Same Sex Couples) Bill to legalise gay marriage.
The membership of the working group will reflect the breadth of theology, age, ethnicity, gender and experience in the Church.
In a response to the Government's plans to legalise gay marriage last
December, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Reverend
Dr Martyn Atkins said the Methodist Church "explicitly recognised,
affirmed and celebrated the participation and ministry of lesbians and
gay men".
"The Government has indicated that Churches which do not wish to
marry same-sex couples will have the protection of law. This is
important. However, in our response to the consultation we also stated
that, while in the future we may or may not choose to affirm same-sex
marriage, it would be unwarranted interference for the State to make
that decision for us," he said.
Evidence submitted by the Methodist Church to the House of Commons
Bill Committee in February affirmed the Church's belief that marriage is
a lifelong union in body, mind and spirit of one man and one woman.