‘You did brilliantly.’ So said Britain Yearly Meeting’s recording clerk Gillian Ashmore as she updated Friends on the same-sex civil partnership and Equality Bill developments at Meeting for Sufferings last month. At the previous Sufferings in January representatives were exhorted to be in contact with any peers that they knew and could contact about the proposed amendment that same-sex civil partnerships should be allowed to take place in religious venues. The bill was sent for royal assent this week after the lords’ amendments were agreed in the commons without a vote. Speaking on the same-sex civil partnership amendment solicitor general Vera Baird said that no religious denomination would be liable for discrimination if they did not open their premises for a ceremony. She added that the law would not force religious groups to do anything that was not compatible with their faith.

The amendment had been put forward by Waheed Alli and he worked hard to meet the concerns of bishops and others, reported Gillian. As part of the procedure, after the election, there would be a consultation, which is necessary to bring in the regulations. Those regulations would not be in place before 2011. The law will only apply to England and Wales, not Scotland or Northern Ireland.

At Sufferings in March Gillian explained that the process had reinforced the understanding that Quakers could work with other churches on sensitive issues as well as working effectively together within Friends House. She added that they could be satisfied with the steps forward, but she appreciated that although it was virtually identical, this was not same-sex marriage. Speaking in response to the equality bill passing the commons this week Gillian said: ‘This provision in the Equality Bill represents a small but emblematic step towards the goal of full gay equality, supported by Britain Yearly Meeting in summer 2009. This will make many people happy. We look forward to working with a government of whatever political complexion in giving effect to the intention of parliament.’

While the work by Britain Yearly Meeting on this issue has been widely welcomed, some Friends have left the Society over this issue.