Oz church introduces wedding vows inspired by 'Fifty Shades'

The Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, known as one of the world's most conservative Anglican bishops, has defended the new vow saying that it was "not an invitation to bossiness, let alone abuse."

"In the last three or four decades a certain egalitarianism has crept into society and the way people think and I understand that's the reigning philosophy," the Daily Mail quoted him as telling ABC television.

"I just happen to think it's wrong, unhelpful, and in the end we will find it's better to recognise that men and women are different, that we have at certain points different responsibilities and men will be better men if we acknowledge that," he said.

The new ceremony, expected to be approved at a synod in October, will be requiring the minister to ask the bride: "Will you honour and submit to him, as the church submits to Christ?"

The bride then pledges "to love and submit" to her husband.

Though the church will allow couples to choose a vow which does not include the controversial pledge, the new wording has already been used in some of the marriage ceremonies.