Same-Sex Marriage and the <i>Book of Common Prayer</i>

Abstract As same-sex marriage has become legal in many places, churches have struggled with their response. Authorized rites for all couples for both lifelong covenants and marriage are available in a few Anglican Provinces, but many others still limit the church’s pastoral response to same-sex couples. This chapter argues that, while broad changes in cultural understanding regarding marriage are the primary factor in acceptance and authorization of same-sex marriage in many Anglican Provinces, there is a developmental pattern in the Book of Common Prayer in Provinces such as the Episcopal Church (U.S.) that has aided in adopting a more inclusive theology of marriage as well as new and adapted rites in places where marriage equality is available.