The annual meeting of representatives of Finland's dominant church approved a committee proposal that allows pastors to pray on behalf of same-sex couples, but not offer a blessing as is done in traditional weddings. The prayers will not be classed as a formal church service. This means that pastors will not be required to offer prayers for same-sex couples.
All 108 delegates voted, with 78 approving the plan and 30 opposing.
The committee backed the view that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.
Although a vote had been planned for Thursday, so many representatives asked to address the Synod that the debate was scheduled to continue late into the evening and the vote delayed until Friday.
Roughly eight out of 10 people in Finland are registered as Lutheran. The church suffered an upswing in resignations this autumn linked to gay rights issues.
A step forward
Seta, the Finnish national organization for sexual equality, called the Synod's decision a step towards requality for sexual minorities in Finnish society.
The group's chair, Outi Hannula, noted Friday that there is still a long way to go towards all people being treated as equally as possible.
"This decision is, however, a step forward. In some way it is a stand on how the Church relates to same-sex couples and what kind of treatment that they can expect," said Hannula.