The Episcopal Church will now allow priests to conduct services blessing same-sex relationships. The denomination’s House of Bishops approved the policy Monday, and delegates to the national convention approved the measure on Tuesday becoming the largest U.S. religious denomination to approve such a ritual.

What’s your response?

Is this an appropriate theological response? Is this a good compromise?”

Sound arguments can be made for extending civil recognition and legal protections to same-sex couples. It’s an entirely different matter for a Christian denomination to alter its centuries-old understanding of marriage. For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament, for Protestants, it’s a sacred covenant. For all Christians, marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship to His Bride, the Church. The historical-orthodox understanding of marriage is more than an flexible tradition; it’s rooted in the ancient teachings of the Church and the Scriptures– beginning with the second chapter of Genesis.

Denominations that attempt to normalize gay marriage through back-door “blessings” or other disingenuous means will hasten their own polarization and rupture.