In early February, members of the Church of England Synod, met to discuss a
motion put to them. The full text reads (from the Church of England website)
‘That this Synod, recognising the commitment to learning and deep listening to God and
to each other of the Living in Love and Faith process, and desiring with God’s help to
journey together while acknowledging the different deeply held convictions within the
Church:
(a) lament and repent of the failure of the Church to be welcoming to LGBTQI+ people
and the harm that LGBTQI+ people have experienced and continue to experience in the
life of the Church;
(b) recommit to our shared witness to God’s love for and acceptance of every person by
continuing to embed the Pastoral Principles in our life together locally and nationally;
(c) commend the continued learning together enabled by the Living in Love and Faith
process and resources in relation to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage;
(d) welcome the decision of the House of Bishops to replace Issues in Human Sexuality
with new pastoral guidance;
(e) welcome the response from the College of Bishops and look forward to the House of
Bishops further refining, commending and issuing the Prayers of Love and Faith
described in GS 2289 and its Annexes;
(f) invite the House of Bishops to monitor the Church’s use of and response to the
Prayers of Love and Faith, once they have been commended and published, and to report
back to Synod in five years’ time;
(g) endorse the decision of the College and House of Bishops not to propose any change
to the doctrine of marriage, and their intention that the final version of the Prayers of
1https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/prayers-gods-blessing-same-sex-couples-take-step-forward-after-synod
Love and Faith should not be contrary to or indicative of a departure from the doctrine of
the Church of England.’
Supporters, members and activists of the National Housing Party United
Kingdom were at Westminster to voice their opposition to this motion and met
with Justin Welby, who seemed to find the image of himself (above) pleasing for
some strange reason.
Our activists were able to get to Church House, but were rudely moved on by
Security Guards.
The result of the debate
Bishops 36 for, 4 against, 2 abstained
Clergy 111 for, 85 against, 3 abstained
Laity 103 for, 92 against, 5 abstained
Another topic of discussion that is developing within the Church, is about how to
address God, is it wrong to refer to God as ‘OUR FATHER’. Maybe a snake is
whispering in Mr Welby’s ear.
