The Church of England has appointed two bishops to lead new groups examining unresolved questions around same-sex blessings and the status of married gay clergy.
The appointments come as the Church's Living in Love and Faith (LLF) programme formally drew to a close in January, nine years after it was launched to explore issues of sexuality, relationships, marriage and gender identity.
Rt Rev Tricia Hillas, Bishop of Sodor and Man, will chair the new Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group. The group will consider legal and legislative questions surrounding special services that include Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples.
Meanwhile, Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, will lead a Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group, which will provide advice to bishops and archdeacons on individual cases and seek to promote consistent pastoral practice across the church. The creation of both groups was backed by the General Synod in February.
The LLF process was launched in 2017 and led to the introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith following a synod vote in 2023. The prayers allow for blessing, thanksgiving and dedication for same-sex couples within existing Church of England services. However, significant questions remain unresolved.
The new working group will examine what would be required under canon law to authorise standalone or "bespoke" services for same-sex couples. It will also explore what legislative changes would be needed before clergy in same-sex marriages could be licensed or ordained.
The group is expected to report back to General Synod within the first two years of the next synod, which will be elected this autumn.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, Chair of the LLF Programme Board, said: “I am delighted that both Tricia and Philip have agreed to chair these groups, and am deeply grateful to them for their willingness to serve.
“I know both of them will undertake this work with integrity, sensitivity and great care.”
Membership of both groups is currently being finalised and will be announced at a later date.
