A message from Priest in Charge at St Michael’s Framlingham following Synod last week

11th February 2023

Dear Friends 

It has been quite a week in the C of E as the bishops’ recommendations following on from the six year “Living in Love and Faith” process were accepted by synod after many hours of debate. The recommendations include the offering of payers for same sex couples in church following a civil marriage or partnership as allowed by law. The debates were long and not always the most wholesome to watch or listen to as the language of passionately held beliefs sometimes strayed into the realms of the deeply unchristian. The issues of sexuality are foundational for many in the place and use of scripture in the church and the doctrine that ensues from it, and we have to recognise that opinions on these subjects vary and are held differently and with integrity and intelligence across the traditions and theological spectrum of the Church of England.

The bishops’ response passed in each synodical house though with much smaller margins in the House of Clergy and House of Laity of General Synod. There were people on all sides of the debate who felt unable to support the recommendations. What then does this actually mean for us in our parishes and has anything really changed? 

First it’s important to recognise that the doctrine of marriage as a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman has not changed. The bishops have been very clear on that point. What the bishops do recognise in their work together however is the value and merit in lifelong same sex partnerships. The bishops recognise the need to have a way in which these partnerships can be valued and celebrated in the presence of God and surrounded by the prayer and blessing embodied by the church’s words and actions.

To that end a collection of prayers have been produced by the bishops to include in services which do just that - welcome, affirm, celebrate and bless those who choose lifelong, committed, same sex relationships. There are also prayers for those who find that stability in friendship, in singleness and in celibacy. 

For some, the bishops recommendations don’t go far enough, for some they go way too far and there are those in between. However, to be able to offer something to those who fall outside of the doctrine of Holy Matrimony and yet who live In faithful stable relationships and for whom faith is also central this is a step forward. The bishops and, I think, Synod more generally, recognised that in the past prejudice in and around issues in human sexuality have damaged and excluded many and there is real commitment to changing that. More work will be ongoing particularly around pastoral guidelines on clergy behaviour and discipline and the selection of people for recognised ministry in the Church of England. These principles will be important and the bishops have promised to work quickly to produce new guidance. 

The use of the prayers produced by the bishops will be used by those clergy who welcome the opportunity to offer them but no one will be forced to do so. Our bishops, Martin and Mike, have been very clear about their support for this development and I too welcome the opportunity to use such resources in the radical inclusion the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of in 2017 and which has always been at the heart of my own experience of Jesus and my ministry which springs from such encounter. 

One thing that the experience of watching General Synod has brought home for me this week is the need for kindness as a starting place. Jesus’ ministry was at variance with many in the established faith of his day, so much so that they sought to destroy him, but he never responded with demanding, damaging or derogatory language to make his point. When he was being nailed to the cross he words were those of forgiveness. If we cannot, as a broad church, learn to behave better with disagreements we not only risk losing any credibility to be a people who proclaim that God is love, but we will continue to lose those who see in such behaviour the hypocrisy that the world is keen to attach to us. 

Please continue to pray for the church and especially for our bishops who carry such a challenging level of responsibility. Let our prayer be that we may learn to walk in love and Charity with the difference that is plainly among us and let us pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to be our inspiration and guide as we walk into the future, exploring what it means to be a people of radical inclusion.

With love

Chris