An Anglican bishop in north-east Victoria is pushing for same-sex marriages to be blessed by the church.

Bishop John Parkes of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta will ask his diocesan synod this month to endorse the move, and said he would be prepared to carry out the blessings himself.

The proposal comes despite the Anglican Church maintaining that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and a woman.

Australia legalised same-sex marriage in 2017.

If passed by the synod, the move would see same-sex couples blessed, rather than be married, in a bid to stay within the church's framework.

Bishop Parkes said he had sought theological and legal advice, and was confident carrying out the blessing would not bring him into conflict with the oath he had made to the church.

"Blessing people who are married according to the law of the state seems not an unreasonable thing to do," he said.

"Asking God to bless, sustain, and encourage them in their lives of faithfulness, of love, and of self-service, seems to me to be a good thing to do.

"Marriage will take place elsewhere, marriage will be according to the law of the state. What we will do is ask God to sustain people who are married according to the law of the state."

Push to be more inclusive

Bishop Parkes says the Anglican Church has been "frozen" on the issue of same-sex couples. ( Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta )

Bishop Parkes will retire this year but is eager to achieve the blessing of a same-sex marriage in the church before he hangs up his pastoral staff in December.

"This has been a live issue in our church for a long time, not only in the Anglican Church of Australia but also in the Anglican community worldwide," he said.

"We've been frozen on the issue of same-sex couples now for many years — 25 years or more.

"If somebody doesn't do something we'll continue to be frozen, and the people who really suffer of course are LGBTQIA people, and particularly young people."

Bishop Parkes said he was very concerned with the findings from a Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists report outlining high suicidal ideations in young people in the LGBTQIA community.

He said was prepared to face disciplinary action to break the stalemate on the issue.

"So I think somebody has to break the deadlock and it might as well be me."

Bishop Parkes indicated his intention to the synod last year, and said he had received overwhelming support for the move.

Church responds

The Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Melbourne Archbishop Philip Freier, responded with an online statement about the proposal to approve a service of blessing for same-sex marriages.

"This is a significant matter for the national church and, on my present advice, would likely give rise to a question under the constitution on which minds will differ," he said.

He indicated that if the synod approved the motion, it would be referred to the Appellate Tribunal for a decision.

"This would assist the Anglican Church of Australia in the clarification of this issue and put in place an orderly process by which the issue can be addressed."

A vote will be held when the synod of the Diocese of Wangaratta meets on August 30 and 31.