A new marriage form for the National Church is being finalised in accordance with the new marriage law defining marriage as the union of two persons rather than a man and a woman, Morgunblaðið reports.
The law passed on June 11 goes into effect as of next Sunday. The Theology Committee of Iceland held three meetings in May and June in response to the new law and held a weekend ethics committee meeting, which concluded in the proposal of a new marriage form last Monday, their press release states. The proposal was discussed on the same day by the Office of the Bishop and agreed that the form be used immediately as the new marriage act goes into effect.
While the new law grants equal marriage to homosexual couples as well as heterosexual couples, religious institutions are not under obligation to marry homosexual couples. However, religious institutions already reserve the right to deny marriage to anyone at their own discretion, regardless of orientation.
Church officials remain split on the issue, some opposing it and others celebrating it. Kristján Valur Ingólfsson, a spokesperson for the Office of the Bishop said that the church will obey the law.
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