Members of the Church of England’s General Synod are being urged to “rethink” the proposals to allow stand-alone services for same-sex prayers, which are known as the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF).
Plans to have designated services for the PLF and “delegated episcopal ministry” for those who oppose the proposals are set to be discussed at the upcoming General Synod in York. This is the next step in the church's Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
The use of the PLF within existing services was approved in November last year, and several blessings for same-sex couples have already taken place.
In a letter exclusively provided to Premier Christian News, eleven bishops stated that while they welcomed “the emphasis on the importance of unity”, they are “unable to support the direction of travel”.
“We are persuaded that a commitment to unity will instead be demonstrated by the resolve we show to take the time we need to achieve sufficient consensus in relation to doctrinal matters,” the letter stated. “This is why we continue to call upon our fellow bishops and General Synod not to set aside the proper canonical procedures for considering theological and liturgical developments, which are intended to guard our unity. We regret the plan to reverse the House’s October decision, supported by Synod in November, to introduce stand-alone services by Canon B2.”
The dissenting bishops also pointed out that the current proposals on alternative episcopal oversight do not recognise “the significance and extent” of the changes. “Many bishops are already concerned about the impact on the coherence of the Church’s life of moving ahead in a way that will create fundamental fragmentations at parish, diocesan, and national levels,” the letter continued.
The current proposals acknowledge that “delegated episcopal ministry is in outline form at this stage, and their development will require ongoing constructive and wide engagement as we continue to discern how to best navigate a way forward as one Church. At this stage, the mind of the General Synod is being sought on the outline of this proposal and, importantly, on whether this approach is one that might enable us to move forward as one Church.”
The bishops' letter continued: "We therefore urge Synod to rethink the process at this time, and request the bishops to enable further doctrinal work, bringing back proposals that will properly be considered under the governance of the necessary canons. We pray that, through prayer, wise counsel and good process, we may yet reach a consensus that is recognised as having legitimacy by all parts of the church and enables all to flourish in our shared mission to the nation and beyond."
Following the publication of this letter, The Society, a group that promotes and maintains Catholic teaching and practice within the Church of England, also issued a statement urging prayer for the upcoming Synod. They said they “register and share significant and growing disquiet among our evangelical brothers and sisters, whose vitality enriches our partnership in the gospel.”
The statement continued: “The Church of England made bold claims for the LLF journey. General Synod has discovered that the LLF timetable and its possible outcomes are more complex than expected. This is a journey of discernment that is taking longer than anyone could have anticipated. Its outcome cannot be predetermined.
“As bishops of The Society, we continue to reflect and take counsel with our clergy who share with us in our ministry as guardians of the sacraments, teachers of the faith, and those called to exercise oversight of the people of God committed to our care.”
The General Synod meets in York from 4th to 9th July.