I’m a pretty terrible Episcopalian. It’s the church I was baptized and confirmed in, but that whole atheism thing kind of intervened since then. I tend to consider myself “culturally Episcopalian,” in that it’s the culture of my upbringing, and that stuff is pretty ingrained. In that sense, I’m always happy to hear of the goings-on in the church when they make its members look good.

Sixteen years after first allowing gays and lesbians to become priests and nine years after electing its first gay bishop, the Episcopal Church on Tuesday became the largest Christian denomination in the U.S. to offer religious blessings to same-sex couples.

The monumental decision, approved by a thick margin at the church’s triennial General Convention in Indianapolis, means that priests in the 1.9 million-member church can officiate blessings to same-sex couples who are in long-term relationships beginning in December.

The church’s House of Deputies voted 171 to 41, with nine people saying they were divided, to support a same-sex blessings liturgy that will be used during a three-year trial before the church meets again and decides if it should be permanent. The deputies’ vote was done in two parts, with lay members approving the blessings by 78 percent and clergy members approving by 76 percent.

The vote followed Monday’s decision by the church’s House of Bishops supporting the measure by a 111 to 41, with three abstentions. Both groups have to approve new legislation.

There’s a bunch of stuff about approving new liturgical rites for same-sex marriages performed in the church. To that specific issue I say meh, but overall this is thrilling.

Photo credit: ‘Hymnal 1982’ by Sarum blue [CC0 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.