The Church of England has voted in favour of plans to bless gay unions, but has stopped short of allowing same-sex marriages to take place in the church.
The church has also set up a commission to examine whether gender-neutral pronouns should be used to describe God.
Evangelicals have reacted with dismay, with one non-conformist leader calling for an end to gospel partnerships with those who remain in the Church of England.
The Church of England Evangelical Council, established in 1960 by John Stott, issued a statement saying, ‘We are deeply saddened and profoundly grieved that General Synod has given a green light to the proposals put forward by the House of Bishops.
The Church of England now appears set on a course of action that rejects our historic and biblical understanding of sex and marriage, by departing from the apostolic faith we are called to uphold.
