Same sex marriage legal from today

Methodist Church looking at issue

Same sex couples can legally marry on the Isle of Man from today (Fri)

Marriages can take place in a civil ceremony, in a register office or facility with a licence and in churches subject to the agreement of the religious organisation.

The Church of England is excluded from the legislation as it is the state church.

There will also be no Methodist same sex weddings until at least 2018.

The Isle of Man District will abide by a decision from the Methodist Church in the British Isles where a working group is investigating the whole topic - it will report to the 2018 conference.

The Methodist Church has welcomed the participation and ministry of gay men and lesbians for a couple of decades now.

District Chair of the Methodist Church in the Isle of Man is the Reverend Richard Hall - he believes the Island has gone further than others in welcoming equality:-