The United Church stepped up its support for gays and lesbians by putting forth a motion that condones same-sex marriage.
At a week-long meeting in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, 400 delegates from across the country have gathered to set the church's agenda for the next three years, including the motion of support.
"We have 25 congregations who have publicly made a declaration that their congregation is a safe and welcoming place for gays and lesbians in our church," said Right Reverend Marion Pardy, Moderator of the United Church of Canada.
"For us it is a justice issue, and if we are working for equality in relationship with gays and lesbians, we would obviously want politicians to support that."
The United Church has been dealing with the issue of same-sex partnerships for almost 20 years.
In 1984, it issued a statement of support and in 1988, it welcomed the ordination of gays and lesbians to the ministry. Now it's deciding whether or not to put its weight behind same-sex marriages.
Despite the church's gay positive history, some parishioners question the use of the word marriage.
"Why don't we use another word?" asked one member. "The word marriage is marriage and it's man and woman," said another.
In the end, it will be up to individual congregations within the United Church to decide if they will unite same-sex couples.
Whether that will remain a union, or become a marriage, will be up to the federal government, which is not expected to begin debate of the same-sex marriage legislation until next year.