Complex sentence: However, the denomination also stated that it will "respect and will continue to respect congregational freedom on this issue", and each local congregation is autonomous and permitted to perform same-sex marriages if they opt to do so.
Split into simpler sentences: However, the denomination also stated that it will "respect and will continue to respect congregational freedom on this issue". So, each local congregation is autonomous and permitted to perform same-sex marriages if they opt to do so.