allows for the membership and ordination of gay and lesbian people and permits local presbyteries to ordain gay and lesbian ministers, and extends the local option to marriage; a minister may bless a same-sex marriage. In July 2018, the Uniting Church in Australia voted by national Assembly to approve the creation of official marriage rites for same-sex couples. The role of gay and lesbian people in the church, their possibility of being ordained and the blessing of same-sex unions have been issues debated throughout the Uniting Church's history. The fairly broad consensus has been that a person's sexual orientation should not be a bar to attendance, membership or participation in the church. More controversial has been the issue of sexual activity by gay and lesbian people and the sexual behaviour of ordination candidates. In 2003, the church voted to allow local presbyteries to decide whether to ordain gay and lesbian people as ministers. Ministers were permitted to bless same-sex couples entering civil unions even before same-sex marriage was legalized in Australia in late 2017. In July 2018, the national assembly approved the creation of marriage rites for same-sex couples. Since 1997, some ministers living in same-sex relationships have come out without their ordination (or ministry) being challenged. In 2011, the church approved the blessing of same-sex unions. Seven years later it allowed local congregations and ministers to decide whether to perform same-sex marriages, and ministers may now do so. United Reformed Church A detailed report was submitted to the 2007 General Assembly of the United Reformed Church exploring its position on homosexuality. In 2011, The United Reformed Church in United Kingdom allowed the blessing of same-sex unions. On 9 July 2016 the church formally voted by 240 votes to 21 in favour of allowing any local church to offer same-sex marriages, if it chooses to obtain a licence. Swiss Reformed Church In August 2019, the blessing of same-sex marriages is allowed in Swiss Reformed Church. Vineyard Churches, USA The United States branch of the Association of Vineyard Churches issued a statement on LGBT issues in 2014. The statement "affirms marriage as a covenantal union between a man and a woman" and states "that outside of the boundaries of marriage, the Bible calls for abstinence." At the same time, the statement expresses repentance for "sinful stigmatization" of homosexual persons and encourages the expression of grace and compassion towards all who are