Home Op-Ed A 10 point summary of what General Synod support for the bishops...
- That prayers to bless same sex couples will be commended by the bishops,
- That we are to look for the ‘goods’ in relationships and be less concerned about whether they are sexually active in a way that is contrary to Scripture,
- That prayers for/to celebrate a same-sex couple can be offered during regular services of Holy Communion and Morning/Evening Worship,
- An invitation for the bishops to pursue the possibility of clergy marrying their same-sex partners,
- The suggestion that all parish churches should debate their position with regard to same sex blessings and make it public (perhaps on a website),
- A recognition of the possibility of ‘pastoral breakdown’ in parishes between clergy and PCCs (where they do not share the same view over the proposed Blessings),
- An open door for the possibility that potential ordinands will not have to offer any reassurances about their sexual life/practices,
- Every diocese is to have a system to signpost people to churches that will offer prayers of blessing to same-sex couples,
- Clergy using the prayers of blessing might be open to legal challenge – as might also any clergy refusing to use the prayers,
- That ‘standalone’ services to bless same sex same couples who have entered civil partnerships and marriages will be presented to General Synod in due course.
