PM Theresa May says gay marriage “has to be a matter for the church.” House of Commons speaker, John Bercow, says marriage equality will only exist when same-sex couples can marry in churches.

The words “father” and “mother” are replaced by “parent who gave birth” and “parent who did not give birth”. Government and opposition voted together.

The German Evangelical Alliance describes the Protestant State Church’s support for gay marriage as “catastrophic.” The law was passed despite the opposition of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

As theological debates on sexuality and marriage become more and more central, many Christian denominations are being asked to clarify their views.

A clause will protect ministers with a traditional biblical view of marriage. Gafcon reacts by appointing a “missionary bishop” for the UK.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the only Nordic national church which doesn’t celebrate same-sex marriages. The Church Synod of the church discussed intensively about it in May.

Believers born after 1981 are less supportive of the Republican Party and partially believe homosexuality should be accepted in society, says a survey.

Pastor Sam Allberry defends biblical vision of marriage at Church of England General Synod. Read the transcript of his testimony.

“Resources are getting scarcer and no doubt the local churches and its members will have to take on a heavier financial responsibility in the future”, explains Parish pastor Haakon Kessel. 

“We commit ourselves afresh to care pastorally for those who are same-sex attracted”, says a statement issued in Cairo (Egypt).

“We have always said it was never about the customer, it was about the message”, the McArthur family said. Judges state that refusing the order “was direct discrimination”. 9 out of 10 evangelical Christians support the family, says survey.

A look at European statistics on five key biomedical issues: surrogate parenthood, gender transformation, the new eugenics, euthanasia and abortion. 

A lobby uses the new regional law against LGTBI discrimination approved this month in Madrid to report the case. The bill “only supports those who accept their own sexual orientation”, the coach believes.

The motion was passed by one vote. General Secretary admits: “We have a long road ahead to restore our common life”. The new policy cannot come into effect before 2020. 

More than 500 people participated in the convention of the National Union of Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches (UNEPREF). Church planting, environmental care were also discussed.

111 United Methodist Church leaders in the USA come out as “Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning and Intersex” and sign a letter asking for full recognition just before the General Conference in Portland (Oregon).

Ahead of their appearance at the Court of Appeal, the Baking Company’s General Manager, Daniel MacArthur, said: “The gospel says that we are all sinners, and God is the great judge.”

Left-wing party Bloco de Esquerda targets Christians to celebrate new law allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.

Sheffield University Social Work masters student Felix Ngole: “The way that I have been treated raises very serious issues about the way students in English universities are being censored in their views and beliefs.”

The company organises its own “Family Day” while thousands support a traditional heterosexual definition of marriage in Rome. Ikea has actively supported LGBT demonstrations.

New law could officialise same-sex civil unions and give right to adoption in specific cases. Evangelical pastor Stefano Bogliolo: “If we put our hands on the architrave of a society, the family, sooner or later the building will collapse.”

“The question of our reading of the Scriptures and the authority that we grant them is at stake”, says Pastor Caroline Bretones, one of the 250 members of the new movement. In May, the historic Protestant Church EPUdF voted to bless same-sex marriages.

A majority votes to change the policy in the synod of the big regional German Protestant Church, which claims 2.6 million members.

The Archbishop of Canterbury condemned all homophobic behaviour, and defended the Primates decision to suspend the Episcopal Church USA for 3 years.

“Unity is not only a vague feeling of nearness”, says Jaume Llenas (Spain). David Robertson (Scotland) believes Anglicans have other “unanswered questions”. Luc Olekhnovitch (France) sees similarities with debates in his country.