Professor Helen King and The Revd Canon Neil Patterson from Together for the Church of England discuss with Fr Alex recent news to halt plans for standalone same-sex blessing services. Bishops in the Church of England have decided not to move ahead with a trial of standalone services of blessing for same-sex couples. They have also decided that the current ban on priests marrying same-sex partners will remain in place for now. The House of Bishops reached its decisions at a meeting last week that reviewed theological and legal advice relating to the February 2023 vote in the General Synod to permit same-sex blessings. Since that time, same-sex blessings have been introduced as part of regular church services despite strong opposition from evangelicals. The question before the House of Bishops was whether 'bespoke' standalone services of blessing could be made available to same-sex couples, and whether clergy could legally enter into same-sex marriages. Legal advice considered by the bishops has determined that introducing standalone services would require two thirds majorities in the three houses of Synod at final approval, while legislation allowing clergy to marry same-sex partners would require simple majorities. Although final decisions will be taken by the bishops in December, they have "agreed in principle that both bespoke service and clergy same-sex marriage would need formal synodical and legislative processes to be completed before they could be permitted".source Christian Today.