Rt Rev Martyn Snow has announced he is stepping down from his role as lead bishop for the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.

In a statement shared on social media, the Bishop of Leicester said the decision had been made “with a very heavy heart” and that he no longer believed agreement could be reached under his leadership.

“I am hugely grateful to the staff team that I have worked with over the last 18 months and, similarly, the Working Group members who have given hours of their time to seek an agreed way forward in the Church of England on matters of sexuality, relationships, and marriage,” he said.

“I hope it may yet be possible to reach such an agreement, but I don’t think that can happen under my leadership.”

He added that he would not be making any further comments.

Bishop Martyn has led the LLF process since 2023, during a period of deepening debate within the denomination over the blessing of same-sex relationships and the future of its teaching and pastoral practice on sexuality.

His departure comes at a pivotal moment, as diocesan consultations continue and the House of Bishops works towards presenting final proposals to the General Synod in 2026.

In response, the Archbishop of York, Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, and the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, issued a joint statement acknowledging Bishop Martyn's contribution and the demands of the role.

“While we are saddened by Bishop Martyn's decision to step down from this role, we fully recognise the weight of responsibility he has carried and the huge commitment in time and energy to bring the process to a new phase. We pray for him, as he moves on from this role,” they said.

They reiterated their commitment to the process, stating that the group remains “fully committed to reporting back to the House of Bishops and Synod next February”.

Bishop Martyn’s resignation comes as a surprise to many, particularly in light of the recent publication of his booklet Can We Imagine a Future Together? Intercultural lessons for living in love and faith, in which he argued that the Church of England could remain united despite theological disagreements over same-sex blessings and their implementation.

In the booklet, which was written to support diocesan discussions, he likened the denomination to a couple in therapy, asking whether its divisions can be reconciled or are terminal. He drew on concepts from other disciplines - including interculturalism and gift exchange - as tools to help navigate disagreement and preserve unity.

He was also clear about his personal stance, writing that he holds “a traditional understanding of marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman”. While that position has not changed, he acknowledged that he had “learned a huge amount” throughout the LLF process.

One of the major delays in LLF centres on the House of Bishops’ indecision over whether to lift the current ban on clergy entering same-sex marriages, but throughout Bishop Martyn has said he remained “confident” that a decision will be reached “before too long”.

Following a General Synod vote in February last year calling for more time to develop substantive proposals, Bishop Martyn pledged to engage in “shuttle diplomacy” between opposing sides. In his booklet, he suggested moving beyond simply listening to the question of whether people can “actually live with this”.

One proposal under discussion is a model of “delegated episcopal ministry”, which would allow parishes to seek oversight from a bishop whose views align with their own if their designated bishop holds a different position.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has rejected the proposal, warning it would allow for “contradictory understandings of marriage and sexual ethics” and would prevent “an orthodox understanding” from flourishing. CEEC also criticised the lack of guaranteed separate provision for ordination training and appointments.

The LLF working group is due to present the findings of their consultation at the February General Synod in 2026. 

It is unclear who will be leading the process now, but it is being overseen by the LLF Programme Board, which is chaired by the Archbishop of York.