Yesterday Sweden’s largest church made the decision to perform same-sex marriages. Sadly, Sweden’s other churches have put a dampener on things.

The move by Sweden’s Lutheran Church, or The Church of Sweden, is a huge step forward for Sweden’s gay community, considering three in four Swedes are members of the church.

Thursday’s decision is also encouraging because of the strong majority of support the move had within the church. Over 70 per cent of the 250 members of the Church of Sweden’s synod voted to perform same-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Sweden since May of this year.

According to the BBC, gay rights groups have welcomed the decision. ”[We] congratulate the Church of Sweden for its decision. [The church’s] homosexual and bisexual members will finally be able to feel a little more welcome within society,” read a statement from the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL).

While governments around the world are increasingly voicing support for same-sex marriage and civil unions, Thursday’s decision is an important symbol of religious support for same-sex couples. Sadly, Sweden’s smaller churches don’t agree with the move.

Fredrik Emanuelson, a leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and Orthodox church senior official Misha Jaksic released a joint statement on the issue according to AFP. “It is with sadness that we learn about the decision by the synod of the Church of Sweden. In our churches and communities, we will not unite homosexual couples since it is in complete contradiction with the tradition of the church and our vision of creation,” said the men.

A RFSL representative said that although church attendance is low in Sweden, the recognition of same-sex couples is symbolic. “Regardless of whether one is religious or not, this affects the entire social climate and the view of people’s equal value,” read the group’s statement.

Sweden’s gay men and women can say ‘I do’ in the Church of Sweden from November 1.