Part 495. Green shoots?

 For many the decision of the Church of England to terminate the Living in Love and Faith  (LLF) process was depressing, to put it mildly.  The immediate reactions of many understandably were ones of resignation and despair.

However, things may not be quite as bad as the initial reactions suggest.  Arising out of the decision to close the process General Synod approved the following:

commend the House of Bishops in establishing the Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working Group and Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group for continuing work.

To date there has been little information concerning membership, terms of reference, process and timescales,  Whilst one might postulate that the LLF process is not dead, indeed life is extant in the two groups, neverthess one would not gamble the home on the assumption the outcome of the deliberations will lead to greater inclusivity.  

There is a body of opinion that the legal advice submitted to the House of Bishops regarding authorisation of stand-alone (bespoke) services of same-sex marriage blessing  was deficient.   It is argued, persuasively in my opinion, that said services are  legal under the provisions of existing Canon Law and, even if not, the liklihood of disciplinary procedures being invoked by bishops against clergy performing said services is minimal.  Clergy have indicated a willingness to perform such services and are being encouraged so to do by members of Together for the Church of England and Inclusive Church.

Full inclusion requires the Church of England to authorise same-sex marriage services.  This looks a long way off given the decision to terminate the LLF process.  Authorisation will require a two-thirds majority in each of the Houses of General Synod as it is a change in doctrine.  Therefore Together for the Church of England and Inclusive Church are organising campaigns to secure as many individuals supportive of inclusion elected by Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs) onto deanery synods.  Members of the latter elect diocesan synod members and  General Synod members.  The two organisations are up against the well-organised and funded Alliance, Holy Trinity Brompton network and Church of England Evangelical Council.  My opinion is that the latter three organisations may have their membership of the new General Synod dented a little but nowhere near enough to threaten their blocking vote for doctrinal change.

It is my opinion that the way forward is to encourage as many parochial church councils and incumbents to offer same-sex stand-alone services to the extent that they become commonplace.  This will lead to public pressure for same-sex marriage in the Church of England and if needs be parliamentary legislation to enforce it.  To achieve this will take time but it will probably be a quicker route to full inclusion than the election to General Synod process.  A way has to be found to disarm the blocking power of the conservative evangelical group on General Synod..  It will be interesting to follow the steps the new Archbishop of Canterbury initiates to free the logjam.