The appointment of a conservative opponent of same-sex blessings as interim theological adviser to the Church of England’s House of Bishops has led to the bombshell resignation of the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, as co-lead bishop of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
Bishop Hartley became co-lead LLF bishop with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, after the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, stepped down as the LLF lead bishop in November. Bishop Hartley said in a statement posted on the Newcastle Diocese website on February 1st:
‘It has become clear to me in the last 48 hours that there are serious concerns relating to the recent process of appointing an Interim Theological Advisor to the House of Bishops. This was, and is not, an LLF appointment, and neither Bishop Martyn nor myself were involved in it. Whilst the remit of the theological advisor is broader than any matters relating to LLF, there is no doubt that LLF remains front and centre in the life of our Church at this time.
‘What has transpired in the last 48 hours has had a critically negative impact on the work Bishop Martyn and I were seeking, in good faith, to do. My role as co-lead bishop for the LLF process is now undermining my capacity to fulfil my primary calling, to lead and care for the people and places of the Diocese of Newcastle.’
The interim theological adviser is the Revd Dr Tom Woolford, who as a member of General Synod has opposed the introduction of services of blessing for same-sex couples. According to a statement issued by the CofE’s Faith and Order Commission: ‘Following the announcement that the Rev Dr Isabelle Hamley, Secretary for Theology to the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops, is leaving at the end of February to become Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, a recruitment process is due to begin shortly to appoint a permanent successor.
‘It is not expected that the permanent post-holder will be able to take up this role until September so the Chair of FAOC, Bishop Robert Innes, is pleased to appoint the Rev Dr Tom Woolford as Interim Theology Adviser, following an open and competitive recruitment process.
‘Dr Woolford, Vicar of All Saints’ Church, New Longton, in the Diocese of Blackburn, and Tutor in Theology at Emmanuel Theological College will take on the role on a full-time secondment from March. He is currently a member of the House of Clergy of General Synod in the York Convocation, but in line with the Church Representation Rules, will resign his membership of the General Synod before he takes up this secondment.’
Bishop Hartley reaffirmed her commitment to changing the C of E’s official teaching on marriage and sexual ethics in her statement: ‘I am fully committed to the vocation and life of the Church of England, its place in our diverse communities across this land, and in the wider Anglican Communion. Mindful of different views within my own diocese, I am also fully committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. I do not believe these are mutually exclusive, and I am not naïve in saying this.’
Anglican Ink invited Bishop Snow to comment on Bishop Hartley’s resignation via his chaplain. In its press release about her resignation, the Church of England says Bishop Snow is not stepping down from his LLF role: ‘The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, remains in post and is in discussions with the archbishops about the future shape of the leadership team
