Marriage and same-sex unions were "equal forms of living together," the Church of Sweden, a Lutheran church, said Wednesday.The central board of the church said it would accept pending changes of marriage laws that would offer same-sex unions the same legal status as traditional marriage.
However the term "marriage" should be reserved for the union between man and woman, the board - elected by the Church Assembly, the highest decision-making body in the church - said.
The church was one of many bodies asked to comment on proposals to change current legislation presented earlier this year.
Archbishop Anders Wejryd said the answer reflected "the different theological interpretations within the Church of Sweden."
The board said it was important that society supports "safe and faithful partner relationships, with legislation as one measure."
Draft legislation has yet to be presented by the centre-right government where only the Christian Democrats have expressed opposition to the changes.
Same-sex couples have since 1995 been able to form a union in Sweden via registered partnership which later was amended to allow them to adopt children.
Government-appointed investigator Hans Regner, former Chancellor of Justice, said the 1995 law would be scrapped while allowing priests to bow out of marrying same-sex couples.
Some 80 per cent of Sweden's 9 million people belong to the Church of Sweden, that was separated from the state in January 2000 making it a "faith-community" along with other denominations like the Pentecostal, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Currently, 39 faith communities have the right to conduct legally- recognized marriage ceremonies and would likely have to reapply for that right should new marriage laws be adopted.
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