OSLO, Norway — Starting Feb. 1, Norway’s Evangelical Lutheran Church began granting church weddings and blessings to same-sex couples, breaking with centuries of tradition.
The 83–29 vote in favor of the change came Jan. 30, overturning a long-held position upholding the traditional view of marriage, according to The Christian Post. Pastors will have the right to choose whether to perform such weddings.
The Church’s annual conference agreed to the change in April 2016 but did not determine the specifics at the time. New service rules will reportedly include gender-neutral language and remove words like “bride” and “groom,” according to the Post.
Rolf Magne Haukalid, one of the opponents of the Norwegian church sanctifying gay “marriage,” said while many are celebrating, some are grieving the change.
“For my part and the thousands who I represent here, the disappointment, sorrow and uncertainty is great,” Haukalid said.
“Disappointment and sadness because today we are introducing a doctrine that a unified diocese called ‘heresy’ in 1997. This goes against the Bible and Jesus’ word on marriage.” (TAB)
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