The General Synod of the Church of England voted Feb. 11 to give pensions to the same-sex widows and widowers of clergy members.

Speakers at the synod session said it was a matter of fairness and justice.

The church's Pensions Board and commissioners must assess the affordability of the policy change and approve it before it can take effect.

It's OK for Anglican priests to be openly gay and enter into legal civil partnerships, but they are not supposed to have sex.

United Kingdom civil partnerships carry the same rights and obligations as marriages.