LONDON (RNS) Anglican bishops and other members of the House of Lords have nixed an attempt by the British government to force churches and other religious institutions to hire gays, lesbians and transgender people.

The upper chamber of Parliament, which includes 26 Anglican bishops as members, rejected the proposed law change Monday (Jan 25) after church leaders argued it would violate tenets of their faith.

Under current British law, churches, mosques and other religious establishments have the right to turn down candidates for jobs as ministers, priests, school principals or youth workers if they are actively gay or have had a sex change.

The defeated legislation would have required churches and other religious groups to hire key staff even if their lifestyles conflicted with accepted religious doctrine.

The House of Lords’ rejection, with support from the Conservative opposition party, was hailed by Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who holds the No. 2 spot in the Church of England hierarchy.

“If religion means anything,” Sentamu said, “it must mean that those are matters for the churches and other religious organizations to determine themselves in accordance with their own convictions.”