Meta tags:
description= Reflecting on sexuality and gender identity in the Church of England;
Headings (most frequently used words):
share, this, synod, at, home, and, the, monday, to, love, questions, archives, blog, sharedconversations, rest, from, our, labours, long, sunday, into, learning, be, loved, bishops, bodies, my, private, member, motion, going, quiet, working, towards, new, bishop, five, guiding, principles, two, key, issues, for, church, recognising, wiggle, room, consider, lilies, on, changing, one, mind, february, 2026, raised, by, concluding, without, ending, what, happens, next, with, living, in, faith, recent, posts, categories, stats, subscribe, via, email,
Text of the page (most frequently used words):
the (1027), and (413), that (285), for (196), this (168), was (155), synod (126), are (120), which (109), not (103), but (97), about (92), with (89), from (87), #church (76), what (75), there (75), new (69), have (67), one (66), some (64), has (61), motion (59), people (59), can (57), all (57), who (57), #bishops (56), more (50), they (49), those (49), how (48), you (48), our (47), been (47), bishop (47), had (47), like (43), share (43), faoc (43), will (41), their (41), opens (40), window (40), were (40), women (39), july (38), them (37), when (37), february (36), debate (36), work (36), being (34), other (33), 2026 (33), just (33), faith (32), house (32), very (32), because (32), also (32), here (31), general (30), time (30), may (29), love (29), now (28), january (28), 2018 (28), would (28), first (28), sex (27), another (27), ministry (27), out (27), email (26), group (26), after (26), same (26), clergy (26), these (25), 2022 (24), llf (24), many (24), 2023 (23), going (23), 2025 (22), posted (22), even (22), part (22), facebook (21), process (21), flowers (21), back (21), archbishop (21), 2016 (20), england (20), reddit (20), than (20), meeting (20), see (20), 2024 (19), commission (19), member (19), its (19), before (19), where (19), any (19), then (19), living (18), against (18), don (18), could (18), question (18), make (18), members (18), statement (18), theological (18), think (18), york (18), already (17), november (17), june (17), 2021 (17), document (17), home (17), into (17), two (17), working (17), sexuality (17), well (17), doing (17), five (17), years (17), august (16), vote (16), questions (16), only (16), good (16), made (16), paper (16), such (16), favour (16), blog (15), october (15), long (15), gay (15), way (15), point (15), much (15), although (15), heard (15), rather (15), she (15), put (15), others (15), intimate (15), 2017 (14), 2020 (14), far (14), why (14), should (14), diocesan (14), while (14), diocese (14), does (14), course (14), ordination (14), gps (14), use (13), person (13), needs (13), life (13), day (13), asked (13), support (13), speak (13), her (13), over (13), abstentions (13), rest (12), whether (12), churches (12), still (12), doesn (12), since (12), get (12), thing (12), used (12), need (12), nothing (12), always (12), room (12), relationship (12), comment (11), loading (11), april (11), september (11), friend (11), service (11), relationships (11), yet (11), end (11), through (11), agenda (11), around (11), did (11), voted (11), committee (11), chair (11), said (11), guidelines (11), ordained (11), cnc (11), report (10), december (10), marriage (10), tagged (10), link (10), space (10), set (10), sexual (10), civil (10), within (10), archbishops (10), something (10), misc (10), various (10), zoom (10), full (10), coming (10), last (10), week (10), fluff35 (10), clear (10), during (10), supporting (10), excellent (10), each (10), present (10), three (10), together (10), online (10), march (9), 2019 (9), episcopal (9), bodies (9), monday (9), happen (9), too (9), pastoral (9), answer (9), next (9), marriages (9), seem (9), towards (9), again (9), came (9), thinking (9), meetings (9), pain (9), without (9), issues (9), come (9), yes (9), his (9), things (9), meant (9), priests (9), canterbury (9), committed (9), means (9), local (9), morning (9), intimacy (9), comments (8), safeguarding (8), crown (8), nominations (8), gender (8), private (8), leave (8), move (8), reference (8), dioceses (8), asking (8), say (8), interesting (8), usual (8), needed (8), really (8), post (8), mean (8), ended (8), given (8), nor (8), changed (8), happened (8), passed (8), groups (8), including (8), membership (8), know (8), 1431 (8), lgbtqia (8), business (8), parts (8), called (8), discernment (8), best (8), parish (8), environment (8), debates (8), amendment (8), voting (8), experience (8), both (8), principles (8), felt (8), elected (8), national (8), fundamental (8), faithful (8), laity (8), prayers (7), own (7), believe (7), different (7), lesbian (7), comes (7), using (7), sustainable (7), important (7), having (7), told (7), trust (7), focus (7), date (7), wider (7), sense (7), list (7), theology (7), read (7), word (7), order (7), documents (7), scheduled (7), however (7), between (7), resource (7), reading (7), range (7), whole (7), book (7), particular (7), inclusion (7), taking (7), wondering (7), conduct (7), parishes (7), guiding (7), common (7), objections (7), visc (7), found (7), entirely (7), children (7), christian (7), sharedconversations (6), 2015 (6), posts (6), programme (6), sunday (6), certain (6), isn (6), amended (6), change (6), includes (6), plf (6), ask (6), ever (6), short (6), talking (6), advice (6), identity (6), moved (6), talk (6), canon (6), reasons (6), large (6), wrote (6), days (6), response (6), pages (6), papers (6), until (6), find (6), indeed (6), anglican (6), wasn (6), didn (6), help (6), knowledge (6), item (6), houses (6), care (6), chamber (6), sarah (6), trying (6), conservatives (6), case (6), piece (6), involved (6), published (6), relevant (6), vacancy (6), odd (6), outside (6), considered (6), least (6), body (6), god (6), pmm (6), christ (6), acting (6), publication (6), views (6), website (5), subscribe (5), month (5), address (5), enter (5), your (5), shared (5), older (5), place (5), presentation (5), couple (5), described (5), 2426 (5), analysis (5), maybe (5), services (5), consider (5), board (5), meet (5), year (5), partnerships (5), apparently (5), feel (5), look (5), minutes (5), most (5), across (5), despite (5), delayed (5), standing (5), better (5), done (5), close (5), saying (5), context (5), synodical (5), human (5), quinquennium (5), looking (5), further (5), appointment (5), several (5), processes (5), men (5), raised (5), few (5), training (5), professional (5), themselves (5), discipline (5), development (5), money (5), hours (5), particularly (5), once (5), power (5), display (5), silence (5), discussion (5), speech (5), problem (5), anti (5), majority (5), little (5), eucharist (5), every (5), fringe (5), final (5), difference (5), useful (5), current (5), cannot (5), opposed (5), consecration (5), speeches (5), world (5), offer (5), key (5), down (5), result (5), event (5), oxford (5), took (5), went (5), lots (5), example (5), abuse (5), objection (5), christians (5), saw (5), stage (5), minster (5), meaning (5), manage (4), reader (4), content (4), teaching (4), learning (4), loved (4), ending (4), established (4), ongoing (4), under (4), anything (4), finding (4), longer (4), immediately (4), seeing (4), wonder (4), someone (4), possible (4), simply (4), seems (4), picture (4), times (4), areas (4), received (4), less (4), message (4), fine (4), learned (4), alongside (4), challenged (4), regular (4), mentioned (4), sent (4), ahead (4), probably (4), practice (4), originally (4), independent (4), allowed (4), add (4), easy (4), months (4), unless (4), feeling (4), able (4), europe (4), episcopacy (4), decided (4), 100 (4), law (4), continue (4), attention (4), difficult (4), level (4), representation (4), discussed (4), opposite (4), readers (4), happening (4), decision (4), primary (4), measure (4), candidate (4), candidates (4), asks (4), offered (4), flower (4), straight (4), thought (4), deanery (4), jesus (4), conversion (4), arrangements (4), words (4), light (4), information (4), based (4), water (4), enough (4), amendments (4), call (4), overall (4), funding (4), seemed (4), watching (4), recognise (4), included (4), great (4), hot (4), mission (4), choice (4), spaces (4), never (4), woman (4), earlier (4), conservative (4), let (4), regardless (4), recognition (4), believing (4), small (4), celibacy (4), accepting (4), mutual (4), flourishing (4), communion (4), noted (4), reject (4), held (4), issued (4), official (4), written (4), 2014 (4), theme (4), votes (4), everything (4), reps (4), attend (4), amount (4), antibiotics (4), bit (4), weeks (4), started (4), learn (4), shall (4), compatible (4), tried (4), 1975 (4), lunch (4), hip (4), friday (4), spoke (4), whatsapp (4), miss (4), breakfast (4), land (4), palestinian (4), required (3), view (3), site (3), sign (3), wordpress (3), com (3), archives (3), follow (3), via (3), conversations (3), movement (3), labours (3), recent (3), concluding (3), resources (3), want (3), expression (3), guidance (3), following (3), anyone (3), married (3), consultations (3), helpful (3), shows (3), weren (3), available (3), note (3), clause (3), explore (3), unlikely (3), temporary (3), title (3), decisions (3), teams (3), 2028 (3), details (3), consultation (3), four (3), making (3), progress (3), society (3), sure (3), says (3), changes (3), perhaps (3), take (3), steps (3), legislation (3), remember (3), addressed (3), neil (3), seen (3), delegated (3), suggests (3), lessons (3), period (3), continued (3), include (3), painful (3), defined (3), summary (3), contains (3), motions (3), somehow (3), holy (3), points (3), shortly (3), media (3), orientation (3), suppose (3), later (3), extra (3), london (3), structures (3), review (3), tiny (3), existing (3), attempts (3), homilies (3), lead (3), dem (3), ready (3), specifically (3), sacramental (3), won (3), 2027 (3), rejected (3), beyond (3), along (3), diversity (3), voices (3), cited (3), informed (3), scholarship (3), area (3), recognises (3), certainly (3), partner (3), revd (3), favourite (3), supposed (3), whose (3), supplementary (3), aspect (3), though (3), unlawful (3), reflect (3), norwich (3), personal (3), costs (3), staff (3), answers (3), normal (3), reflecting (3), priesthood (3), ago (3), notes (3), pointed (3), reduce (3), funeral (3), armed (3), forces (3), family (3), friends (3), run (3), lilies (3), tradition (3), experiences (3), age (3), damaging (3), treated (3), session (3), hoping (3), followed (3), previous (3), system (3), seats (3), quiet (3), failed (3), attending (3), tea (3), due (3), authority (3), false (3), debating (3), mind (3), mullally (3), misogyny (3), martyn (3), judith (3), maltby (3), homosexuality (3), posed (3), early (3), honest (3), become (3), worse (3), apart (3), major (3), concern (3), tempting (3), open (3), describes (3), writing (3), chosen (3), stated (3), sad (3), agree (3), supported (3), reduced (3), number (3), lack (3), getting (3), position (3), fall (3), access (3), respect (3), gp4 (3), either (3), conviction (3), tension (3), similar (3), language (3), remains (3), giving (3), seeking (3), creation (3), challenge (3), topic (3), matter (3), social (3), recognising (3), public (3), cncs (3), confidentiality (3), sort (3), calendar (3), subgroup (3), brought (3), commented (3), prayer (3), rcpe (3), pneumonia (3), cold (3), college (3), williams (3), wording (3), engage (3), apply (3), submitted (3), bringing (3), soon (3), hope (3), affirm (3), discipleship (3), missing (3), met (3), among (3), unity (3), practices (3), speakers (3), ordinary (3), contact (3), nation (3), rules (3), neurodivergent (3), pray (3), complete (3), food (3), palestine (3), lives (3), eco (3), left (3), usage (3), name (2), write (2), log (2), subscribed (2), join (2), subscribers (2), select (2), receive (2), equal (2), ecumenical (2), watch (2), currently (2), respond (2), heavily (2), falls (2), material (2), latter (2), importance (2), wedding (2), version (2), decide (2), cathedral (2), pretty (2), dodgy (2), activity (2), reality (2), results (2), surprise (2), participation (2), annex (2), standalone (2), couples (2), interestingly (2), stuff (2), begins (2), tells (2), term (2), resourcing (2), issue (2), gives (2), designed (2), recipe (2), culture (2), main (2), proposal (2), makes (2), legal (2), necessary (2), aren (2), fun (2), patterson (2), referring (2), necessarily (2), states (2), second (2), letter (2), indescribably (2), conclude (2), hint (2), spirit (2), offers (2), framework (2), section (2), critiques (2), instead (2), tomorrow (2), signed (2), turn (2), panel (2), monitoring (2), data (2), save (2), willing (2), near (2), involves (2), nearly (2), upon (2), starting (2), happens (2), inevitably (2), terms (2), expect (2), feature (2), agreed (2), reflections (2), ecclesiological (2), italics (2), addition (2), 254 (2), waiting (2), haven (2), careful (2), impressed (2), seek (2), engagement (2), incorporates (2), sources (2), quoted (2), considerable (2), moreover (2), backgrounds (2), scholars (2), related (2), accepts (2), specific (2), connected (2), carried (2), theologians (2), greater (2), responsibility (2), ensure (2), perspectives (2), sometimes (2), grateful (2), gibraltar (2), north (2), attracted (2), affirming (2), please (2), anglicans (2), calls (2), produced (2), lot (2), avoiding (2), article (2), knows (2), adultery (2), acts (2), 228 (2), emphasised (2), understanding (2), provide (2), reflects (2), standard (2), grounds (2), proposed (2), qualities (2), ordinands (2), definition (2), regarding (2), warning (2), generation (2), taken (2), understand (2), scope (2), euphemisms (2), replacing (2), ones (2), cost (2), million (2), spent (2), appropriate (2), mary (2), tanner (2), partly (2), wrong (2), dahlia (2), widely (2), enthusiasm (2), secretary (2), priest (2), altar (2), request (2), vicar (2), mostly (2), baptist (2), signs (2), bartholomew (2), harpley (2), huge (2), precisely (2), celebrated (2), largely (2), buildings (2), floral (2), foam (2), angered (2), gaza (2), defeated (2), convert (2), seas (2), beauty (2), itself (2), off (2), hour (2), speaking (2), urgency (2), significant (2), smaller (2), discussions (2), mental (2), health (2), recommended (2), rejecting (2), communities (2), plans (2), class (2), unaware (2), empty (2), commenting (2), exception (2), middle (2), table (2), respecting (2), teachers (2), faces (2), snow (2), homophobia (2), charlie (2), bell (2), marks (2), principle (2), live (2), urgently (2), minority (2), energy (2), secure (2), separation (2), doctrine (2), assume (2), participate (2), non (2), traditionalist (2), apparent (2), start (2), microaggressions (2), male (2), apostasy (2), cry (2), serious (2), feelings (2), describing (2), none (2), accept (2), catholic (2), sounds (2), alone (2), impression (2), applied (2), nowhere (2), modern (2), situation (2), chief (2), role (2), hands (2), pandemic (2), attempt (2), extended (2), entitled (2), choosing (2), today (2), realise (2), choose (2), strongly (2), marry (2), options (2), insist (2), telling (2), counts (2), central (2), convictions (2), caving (2), fashions (2), supporters (2), discrimination (2), injustice (2), accuse (2), calling (2), spectrum (2), simple (2), relevance (2), suggested (2), kind (2), forward (2), remove (2), bad (2), observe (2), orders (2), hooray (2), unable (2), flourish (2), holding (2), study (2), enable (2), potential (2), hereafter (2), sheffield (2), reviewer (2), noting (2), variety (2), bible (2), act (2), hatred (2), office (2), wiggle (2), confidential (2), domain (2), election (2), proceedings (2), source (2), afterwards (2), copies (2), appointments (2), bring (2), academic (2), discerning (2), diagnosis (2), attended (2), remotely (2), commissioning (2), screen (2), appearing (2), option (2), challenging (2), fixed (2), starts (2), cancelled (2), began (2), draft (2), sections (2), education (2), figures (2), third (2), focused (2), medical (2), increasingly (2), uneasy (2), meanwhile (2), away (2), sore (2), throat (2), stop (2), alive (2), exhibition (2), sorts (2), terry (2), louden (2), southwark (2), rowan (2), higton (2), happy (2), badly (2), amazing (2), quote (2), lifelong (2), journey (2), formal (2), officially (2), idea (2), whatever (2), addresses (2), names (2), actions (2), right (2), spell (2), opportunity (2), disciples (2), running (2), briefings (2), 1987 (2), air (2), mri (2), show (2), precious (2), sitting (2), 111 (2), doctor (2), technical (2), hear (2), side (2), remain (2), assured (2), silent (2), dyslexia (2), communication (2), music (2), welfare (2), hearing (2), stories (2), loss (2), institutions (2), clubs (2), halls (2), gave (2), sharing (2), kingdom (2), saturday (2), acny (2), misconduct (2), transparent (2), everyone (2), summing (2), neurodiversity (2), led (2), items (2), lived (2), successfully (2), revisions (2), publishing (2), lord (2), teach (2), stand (2), fringes (2), pre (2), bearing (2), saving (2), ice (2), managed (2), replicate (2), round (2), give (2), mum (2), holiday (2), eiffel (2), tower (2), french (2), goodie (2), whom (2), eventually (2), territory (2), investment (2), justice (2), net (2), 2030 (2), liturgy (2), positive (2), suddenly (2), opened (2), reminder (2), baptised (2), persons (2), reliance (2), spiritual (2), direction (2), professor (2), assuming (2), pass (2), original (2), chris (2), dalliston (2), jamie (2), harrison (2), security (2), got (2), anna (2), pointing (2), graham (2), lay (2), ministries (2), aimed (2), else (2), devoted (2), mine (2), usually (2), belong (2), val (2), commissioners (2), 30by30 (2), target (2), nature (2), looks (2), gift (2), reason (2), dearly (2), looked (2), collapse, bar, subscriptions, privacy, account, notifications, 135, 473, hits, stats, uncategorized, renewal, reform, preaching, categories, search, expensive, dedicated, weight, patch, grass, deposit, trans, instalments, worship, welcome, irony, traditions, 2433b, finally, updated, chaplaincy, presuppose, minister, regards, distasteful, covenanted, friendship, introduction, feedback, synods, conclusions, anyway, analysed, emails, couldn, consists, closing, setting, rsgwg, agrees, proportionate, reassurance, measures, accompany, dragging, snazzy, driving, marshalling, workstreams, heavy, picked, spotlight, falling, singleness, transgender, technology, sexualisation, purity, alternative, universe, takes, reports, delaying, tactic, dead, lesson, passes, imperfect, untidy, leaves, unresolved, repeats, late, negative, moments, load, discovering, dissected, sinful, plan, conclusion, pause, afraid, convenient, excuse, fact, intro, permanent, structural, appeared, blogs, promised, webinar, prior, sessions, flagged, actual, notice, briefing, code, planned, nugget, exploring, blessing, tag, latest, comprises, moment, restricting, thoughts, obvious, envisage, summarises, implement, traces, otherwise, referenced, quotations, exploration, clauses, lament, repent, repeated, bruised, unsafe, wish, terminology, thoroughly, debased, repetition, failures, abandoned, timetable, slip, tasks, batch, leicester, undergirding, asserting, contrary, agreeing, impairment, answering, autumn, casting, doubt, added, publish, timely, 140, scoping, 119, himself, welcomes, representativeness, broad, balanced, diverse, paid, trusts, advisers, refers, occasions, amongst, background, reflection, explicitly, reflected, cites, derives, focussed, closely, canons, disciplinary, limited, achieve, desirable, direct, argument, arguing, engages, connection, indicates, detailed, questioner, provides, reply, behalf, white, american, identifying, evangelicals, commit, ensuring, broader, base, receives, seriously, simon, talbott, ely, absolute, 144, legible, eyebrows, goodness, cite, recall, underpin, wisely, sixteenth, century, observes, quotation, homily, whoredom, commends, godly, societies, punished, mutilation, death, confirm, supports, punishments, replace, requested, ethical, matters, relating, refer, vocational, establish, extend, behaviour, highest, aspire, statutory, formation, replacement, references, create, obligations, chester, serve, consideration, intercourse, therein, understood, narrow, biological, coitus, recently, argued, https, viamedia, news, sexanyway, assessment, authoritative, committing, notoriously, coy, fond, collective, clutching, pearls, binning, patrick, richmond, contenders, award, 258, attracting, project, spire, opportunities, supplementaries, financial, excludes, 42¼, feb, 238, fell, send, answered, circulated, meets, yesterday, 106, churchwardens, wonderful, arrangers, enhanced, converted, initial, gut, reactions, versus, pictures, bluesky, hashtag, bloomscrolling, photos, galantophile, seasons, hadn, implications, knew, represents, humanity, maleness, instant, stood, wanted, mantra, reuse, recycle, husband, benefice, reused, florist, train, rapidly, rethought, wove, mortality, celebration, delighted, parishioners, field, interested, showing, forced, season, origin, easter, memo, seasonal, methods, demonstrated, amplify, concerns, invisible, decorate, arranged, recovers, lost, honours, afresh, damage, mutually, exclusive, procedural, originated, worcestershire, dimensions, pesticides, unnecessary, plastic, release, microplastics, planet, drought, affected, countries, grow, export, conditions, grows, fragility, enemy, chicken, wire, environmentally, friendly, ways, keeping, worcester, substantial, schedule, merit, anticipated, criticising, joined, applause, priorities, top, arrived, amend, pro, split, stagnation, injecting, ownership, oppose, unamended, brand, conversation, action, covered, affect, poverty, fees, burials, raise, significantly, lowest, incomes, update, encourage, city, relates, entails, irritated, feed, expressing, crossness, commonly, pee, breaks, break, thursday, stations, drink, cup, keep, hydrated, wednesday, celebrant, lily, bear, enjoy, familiar, stuffy, comfortable, sound, vision, distraction, often, hosting, lunchtimes, accounted, changing, churchy, numerals, punchline, demands, sixth, stone, rolled, legacy, hangs, discussing, decade, reigned, pressing, identify, disappear, existence, resolved, unfortunately, liberated, productive, endeavours, separate, insulate, influence, survival, solution, absolutely, undecided, confused, preferred, practical, lines, advocacy, single, hold, distinct, collegial, institutionalised, sacrament, accepted, sacraments, extends, experienced, leadership, podium, visibly, upset, recalled, author, talks, rule, accuses, ideological, delusion, evidence, weakness, emotional, manipulation, shocking, maturity, express, tears, count, sentimentality, offensive, unexpected, bonus, devotes, page, herself, crediton, mentions, invited, preach, colleagues, anglo, evangelical, polite, elsewhere, recommending, abolition, encouraging, consequences, strengthened, justin, welby, announced, norm, shift, consecrator, laying, covid, presented, arrangement, awareness, upholding, providing, rationale, returned, roles, consecrators, consecrating, minimum, similarly, stark, contrast, mass, laid, traditional, begun, consecrated, stepped, aside, preside, appears, establishing, pure, line, succession, credentials, effects, winter, edition, creep, curious, incident, vanishing, consecrations, segregation, increasing, surely, frankly, equivalences, concession, organisation, shouldn, free, unevenly, distributed, stable, decades, recognised, honour, cause, nobody, abandon, beloved, unequal, distribution, thinks, causing, harm, argues, fair, restricted, loyal, funds, integrity, characterize, stigmatise, orthodox, inclusive, former, binaries, reasserted, orthodoxy, binary, spot, contradiction, rochester, introduced, preference, custom, prejudice, prove, reconciled, eames, resolution, 1988, lambeth, conference, combine, provinces, behind, examples, australian, man, deacon, conditionally
Text of the page (random words):
which also commends the godly acts of societies where adultery was punished by mutilation or death it is rather unlikely that we will make it to q 228 in the time available but he suggests that a good supplementary would be can the bishop confirm that the church of england no longer supports such punishments doing the theology even more of it but my absolute favourite question this time around has to be q 144 with the legible raised eyebrows in the answer goodness someone is reading these documents and wondering about why they cite certain scholars readers will recall that the last few years of synodical business have heard many calls for more theology and that s why the faith and order commission faoc has produced a lot of pages of it which are supposed to underpin what is happening or not happening now on llf one is gs misc 1431 here s the question the revd canon simon talbott ely to ask the chair of the house of bishops of the theologians cited in gs misc 1431 100 are white 96 are men 83 are in opposite sex marriages 46 are north american 12 are ex gay same sex attracted identifying evangelicals and only one 4 of the whole is an affirming gay anglican with a partner will the house of bishops please commit to ensuring a broader theological base in the advice it receives including taking seriously the scholarship of women and lgbtqia anglicans the bishop of gibraltar in europe to reply on behalf of the chair of the house of bishops the question indicates a careful reading of gs misc 1431 the house is grateful for this engagement with faoc s work on gs misc 1431 and the detailed analysis of sources that the questioner provides faoc recognises it has a responsibility to ensure representation across a range of backgrounds and perspectives in the scholarship with which it engages certainly including gender and sexuality indeed faoc has discussed this responsibility at various times during this quinquennium sometimes in connection with its work on llf gs misc 1431 derives from a particular context faoc was asked to address a specific set of process focussed questions closely connected to the canons and disciplinary processes of the church of england existing scholarship in this area is very limited and it was difficult to achieve the desirable level of direct representation at some points the argument is carried by theologians arguing for greater inclusion of lgbtqia people gs misc 1431 refers the reader on several occasions to the living in love and faith book 2020 which contains a wider range of backgrounds amongst the scholars cited this wider background has informed faoc s theological reflection on all its llf related work although faoc accepts this is not explicitly reflected in the work that gs misc 1431 cites advice given to the house of bishops incorporates more than the sources quoted always including the wider theological reflections of faoc s members where considerable attention has been paid to issues of diversity moreover the house trusts its advisers to support the whole church in their work faoc welcomes analysis of the diversity and representativeness of its work the commission will continue to seek broad balanced engagement with a diverse range of theological voices we know from another question q 119 that the house of bishops only had a week to read gs misc 1431 along with the legal advice and another faoc paper so it seems unlikely that they could come up with such a careful reading as this after all they d just had 100 pages of theology and law sent out to them you can see why the bishop who is the chair of faoc comes across as rather impressed although of course we don t know if he wrote this answer himself this reference to faoc is timely because it is clear that the house of bishops are waiting for yet another faoc paper on episcopacy and specifically on delegated episcopal ministry yes dem which the house has already rejected see q 140 we find out from q 254 that the house of bishops standing committee decided such a paper was needed in february 2025 but faoc haven t had time to go beyond scoping it yet why did they want it we don t get the minutes of this standing committee but we can see where this is coming from by looking at the minutes of the january 2025 house of bishops these feature the bishop of leicester at that point lead bishop for llf saying that the theological undergirding for dem would be ready for may 5 2 but also have the bishop in europe remember he s the chair of faoc saying that faoc had agreed who asked them not clear to do further work on episcopacy including ecumenical reflections 4 3 and specifically asserting apparently contrary to what the lead bishop for llf said at the same meeting that the house would not have the ecclesiological thinking on dem by may my italics minutes 5 10 and see also 5 7 8 there s also a reference to the house agreeing to commission more theological work on the appointment of diocesan bishops with some sacramental impairment 4 4 1 more in addition to the other episcopacy work answering a question on the episcopacy work q 254 the bishop in europe says that it won t be ready until well into 2027 probably not until autumn casting some doubt even on that date the bishop added that faoc changes its membership on 1 april 2027 and it s the new membership who will decide if the document is ready to publish so when we are told in another paper for this synod that a new working group will be set up and that it will report back to general synod within the first two years of the new general synod quinquennium from its terms of reference how does that work with the faoc tasks the last batch of faoc papers did not come out when we d been told to expect them even after synod had voted extra resource to make that happen is this yet another timetable which will inevitably slip and if so can we trust this new working group to be able to do any work share this share on x opens in new window x share on facebook opens in new window facebook email a link to a friend opens in new window email share on reddit opens in new window reddit like loading posted in general synod living in love and faith tagged faith and order commission homilies issues in human sexuality sex synodical process theology working groups leave a comment concluding without ending what happens next with living in love and faith posted on january 25 2026 by fluff35 february 2026 s meeting of general synod is nearly upon us the papers came out last week and i am starting to make my way through them there s a very full agenda but for the moment restricting my thoughts to living in love and faith llf what do we have this time around it s been obvious for months that llf is somehow coming to a close now although what s interesting is how we envisage a close gs 2426 summarises the attempts of the bishops to explore their word how to implement the motions synod passed in and since february 2023 and it traces what happened between then and the january 2026 house of bishops letter to the church of england unless otherwise referenced all quotations in this blog post are from gs 2426 the bishops exploration involves going through the various clauses of all these motions while saying nothing we ve not heard before the lament and repent clause of the february 2023 motion is repeated with more focus on the pain it has been indescribably painful apparently while many are feeling bruised and unsafe we have learned lessons i really wish that terminology thoroughly debased by its repetition in the context of safeguarding failures could be abandoned this latest document comprises 48 pages anything i ve not seen before not really it s all about how there is not going to be any delegated episcopal ministry nor any code of practice originally planned but as nothing has changed no need for it nor an independent review panel because nothing has happened i suppose one tiny new nugget is that in response to the clause in the february 2023 motion about monitoring the use of the prayers of love and faith plf we now have a statement that there is some exploring going on to see how this can be done through data we already have but prayers of blessing with same sex couples are still only allowed in existing services however i can save the c of e some time here a church near you already includes a tag for churches to add if they are willing to use the plf so why not use that maybe it s just too easy the much delayed faith and order commission faoc documents which came out in november are mentioned yet again they are in the gs misc section here and i wrote about them here but not the various critiques of them that have appeared on via media e g here and other blogs instead we are promised an orientation webinar on them prior to the february 2026 group of sessions i suppose this is the zoom on 26 january tomorrow which was flagged up in an email sent to synod members on 21 january i m signed up for that anyone thinking of standing for synod later this year make a note not just that there are extra meetings that turn up ahead of the actual five days in london but also of the short notice that you are given and probably better not to be working the briefing for safeguarding structures is scheduled for 3 pm on 2 february is this the end the summary of the bishops statement is that it contains a plan to conclude the work under the llf motions but this doesn t mean all conversations are ended so a conclusion to one thing and llf was a very large thing but somehow not an end there s a hint that we need a pause a period of rest which could leave more space for the holy spirit to move i am afraid that comes across as a convenient excuse for doing nothing and there s more because despite the word conclude the proposal is not in fact to do nothing the intro to gs 2426 points the reader to part 3 which offers a more permanent structural framework for the continued conversations which are to happen as part of regular ongoing work i ll get to that shortly the continued work is going to include areas that have received less focus to date and in my negative moments i read that to mean that a load more people are going to be discovering just how indescribably painful it is to have your life dissected your identity challenged and your most important relationships defined as sinful part 2 the house of bishops letter to the church of england while the second part of gs 2426 just repeats the january 2026 statement of the house of bishops we can read these alongside the minutes of their october meeting when the decisions were made these came out very late in the day but they are interesting part 2 states the point that the llf process is ending in a way that is imperfect untidy and which leaves some important questions unresolved 34 that lessons need to be learned point this time referring to the 2023 2026 period 35 well one lesson is that what synod passes doesn t necessarily happen that there will be yet more faoc work 29 and we ve already seen how long it takes to get reports from them i am sure for good reasons but it does look like a delaying tactic this time on delegated episcopal ministry which the rest of the document suggests is already dead so why do we need another report but the main take home message from part 2 is the proposal for another another working group this one would be to talk about how canon b2 could be used to make standalone services of the plf possible that makes no sense at all we already have the long list of legal steps that would be necessary if canon b2 were to be used the group would also talk about the legislation and the theology needed for clergy to be in same sex civil marriages you ll remember that same sex civil partnerships are fine for them but marriages aren t because apparently there s no sex in civil partnerships something addressed in a recent blog post from neil patterson the c of e really does feel like an alternative universe and not in a fun way as for those areas that have received less focus to date the spotlight will be falling on singleness transgender identity technology and sexuality and the wider sexualisation of society i am not sure what this says about how we respond to changes in society like it is one thing perhaps by the time this group says anything society will have moved back towards purity culture again part 3 the new group this is where the interesting stuff begins the llf process is concluding but it isn t part 3 tells us that the temporary programme of llf a temporary programme that has been dragging on since 2017 now needs an established ongoing place within the life and work of the church with longer term resourcing enter a new group the relationships sexuality and gender working group not a very snazzy title but we get the picture it will be driving and marshalling the work it will issue advice not relationships advice i trust but the bishops will make the decisions it will have workstreams it will manage teams and it will report back to synod by 2028 annex 2 gives the details as usual it s designed to be bishop heavy up to 5 bishops the 10 12 members will be picked by archbishops in consultation with the llf programme board it will meet four times a year which doesn t seem like a recipe for making progress this group if synod agrees and maybe even if it doesn t will explore how standalone services for same sex couples can happen under b2 and how clergy could enter same sex marriages interestingly the document doesn t say this is on p 20 same sex civil marriages so are we talking about church marriage that seems unlikely but it will also consider proportionate pastoral reassurance measures to accompany these marriages maybe we are talking about church marriages after all part 4 what comes to synod next month part 4 simply consists of the 4 clause motion for synod to vote on closing llf and setting up the rsgwg annex 3 asking the dioceses in the introduction to the document the feedback from consultations at diocesan synods was described as helpful but gs 2426 also has a very short report on these consultations which shows that no conclusions were possible because they weren t all working with the same questions and anyway the results from only 24 dioceses were available for analysis the material analysed isn t just from the consultations but also from emails from those who couldn t be there in person that s a surprise i note that in my diocese we were told no participation was possible if you weren t at the meeting pastoral guidance and finally we have an updated version of the pastoral guidance document which is about how to decide whether to use the plf in a church cathedral or chaplaincy this still includes some pretty dodgy questions like 1 2 2 do the plf presuppose sexual activity could or should a minister ask questions of the couple with regards to sexual activity while the answer is no and no even seeing the question is distasteful there are also some questions which i...
|
