The Church of England moved further towards a more positive approach to homosexuality last night after a debate at its general synod that may ultimately open the way to formal adoption of blessings for same sex couples.
With the government considering civil partnerships for gays in legislation this parliament - and Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, saying the Tories would not oppose it - the church threatened new splits among Anglicans worldwide, defying conservative evangelicals by affirming the position of gays within the church.
One of its most senior bishops, Richard Harries of Oxford, who is chair of the church's working party on human sexuality and who last summer precipitated a crisis in the church by selecting the celibate gay cleric Jeffrey John as suffragan bishop of Reading, indicated the softer attitude.
From a speech which he delivered to the synod, he dropped a section referring to introduction of services of blessing for gay and lesbian couples, but the same section was included in a copy of the speech handed to the media - and was said to have been omitted only for lack of time.
Exploring the options facing the church, outlined in a recent report by the bishop's working party, his speech also suggested that the church could decide to take a stricter approach - "or a more inclusive one which would lead to the introduction of services for a blessing for gay and lesbian couples ... we might decide that while homosexual relationships fall short of God's ideal, committed homosexual relationships might nevertheless be the best choice for some gay and lesbian people".
Later in a subsequent debate, John Gladwin, bishop of Chelmsford, told the synod he supported the government's plans: "I sometimes worry about the way we defend marriage in our society. I worry we present too narrow an interpretation of that gift," he said.
Church liberals were jubilant last night at the change of tone apparent among the lay and clergy membership of the church.
The debate did not formally alter the church's position, which was laid down in 1991 in a document entitled Issues in human sexuality and established that while sexual relationships were "always wrong" for ordained clergy, in certain circumstances they might be acceptable for lay members. But the debate has established that opinion is changing.
Reacting to the move, the Rev Colin Coward, of the gay pressure group Changing Attitudes, said: "I think it is very encouraging, but there is still a long way to go."
But with bishops suggesting that the status quo needs to change, there is a risk of causing further uproar within the 70 million-strong worldwide communion.
Last summer. a move by the Anglican diocese of New Westminster, in the west of Canada, authorising gay blessings, provoked threats of schism from conservative factions, particularly in the developing world where the growth of the church has most strength.
The gay crisis within the church remains extremely sensitive. Although in July Canon John was forced to step down from the Reading bishopric by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, following worldwide protests about his role by evangelicals, the consecration of the church's first openly gay diocesan bishop, Gene Robinson, went ahead in New Hampshire, in the US, later in the autumn.
In yesterday's general synod debate, speakers in favour of greater tolerance towards gay people heavily outnumbered those who maintained that the Bible decreed homosexual practice to be a sin.
An openly gay London vicar, Paul Collier, from the diocese of Southwark, where Dr John is canon theologian, pleaded with the church to talk with homosexuals, not about them. "The reality is out there - the majority of our members want an inclusive church. I continue to trust God utterly to lead the church into truth," he said to loud applause, in which Archbishop Williams joined.
Among other supporters, a nun, Sister Rosemary, belonging to a religious community in Nottingham, said that most people could not be expected to remain celibate outside marriage and that it was damaging for gays to remain abstinate. "Forced celibacy is as abhorrent as forced marriage," she said.
Brian McHenry, also of Southwark, told the synod: "There is increasing evidence that we are not in tune with public opinion. It is uncomfortable to be a member of a church which is perceived to be homophobic, hypocritical and discriminatory."
The Rev Ronald Hesketh, chaplain-in-chief to the RAF, told the synod that the armed services had coped with an end to the ban on homosexuality with dignity and pragmatism. "My adult son tells me to get a life. This is a non-issue to many in his generation."
But the Rev David Banting, vicar of Harold Wood, in Essex, and chair of the conservative evangelical pressure group Reform, insisted that the church should not change its policy: "The strongest plea to be listened to comes from those who want to change the church's teaching. They do not want to take part in a serious Biblical debate."
Jonathan Redden, of Sheffield diocese, argued that greater attention should be paid to the health risks of homosexual practice.
He added: "The male homosexual lifestyle is unhealthy ... the Department of Health, gay advocates and supporters must show that there is little risk to health."