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Despite years of debate, same-sex couples in England will still not be able to get married in a church, according to a report.
This was reported by the BBC and the Guardian, citing inside sources, after a meeting of Church of England bishops.
They had previously discussed the Church's position on this for five years.
Several bishops have told the BBC that there will be no vote on opening up church marriage to same-sex couples at a church meeting next month.
Same-sex marriages legal since 2013
Same-sex marriage has been legal in England and Wales since 2013.
Four years later, the church started a consultation process.
The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, and some other church officials spoke out publicly in favor of church marriages for same-sex couples.
In Scotland, however, church marriages are possible for same-sex couples.
In Wales they cannot marry, but they can get a kind of blessing.
According to the report, similar forms could also be debated in England.
London clergyman Charlie Bell, who would like to marry his partner in church, expressed disappointment.
"As a same-sex couple you're stuck and you're left as a second-rate citizen," he told the BBC.
lmd/dpa