Recent addresses to their diocesan synods by Church of England bishops reveal the battle lines in the hierarchy over services of blessing for same-sex couples.
Since the House of Bishops announced after their meeting in October that ‘bespoke’ or ‘standalone’ services of same-sex blessing and clergy same-sex marriage could not go ahead without two-thirds majorities in General Synod, revisionist bishops have been pushing back.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, told her diocesan synod on November 22:
‘I’ve been known, for some time, as someone who wants to see greater progress in the use of Prayers of Love and Faith. To see greater freedom for clergy, if they choose, to offer blessings to same sex couples and, for gay and lesbian clergy themselves, to be able to enter into same sex marriages without fear of sanctions. I recognise that my views differ from some of my colleagues in the House and College of Bishops. The Church of England is a broad church with deep roots, and it holds difference within it and I value that diversity.
But, regarding where we seem to have arrived in relation to the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith, let me say plainly that, although I understand why, I’m still dismayed and disappointed and I regret profoundly the ongoing pain and hurt caused especially to LGBT+ people, and I recognise that it is for them that the cost is greatest.’
The strongest statement of revisionist dissent so far has come from the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley. Her convictions resulted in her resignation in February 2024 as the co-lead bishop in the C of E’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process on sexuality over the appointment of a conservative opponent of same-sex blessings as interim theological adviser to the House of Bishops.
She told her diocesan synod on November 29: ‘I acknowledge that we are a diocese that holds differing views on human sexuality while in the main desires progress and inclusion. It is my role as your bishop to hold this together. I have sought faithfully to do that, and I will continue to do so in a spirit of generosity and gratitude. But I need to make clear now my views which will not come as a surprise, that I in the firmest way possible want to see full inclusion for LGBTQI+ people. This means, as far as the current LLF issues before us concern, I support standalone services of blessing for same-sex couples who are civilly married and I long for a Church that enables clergy holding my licence who are able to marry their same-sex partner.’
The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, has now emerged as the leading proponent of the ‘due process’ line over LLF.
He told his diocesan synod on November 27: ‘Due process really does matter, and in the life of the Church we should never duck it. It’s why the Canons and the Church Representation Rules are there, and we should use them and abide by them. They are there essentially to protect us. I’ve always felt that I can sleep easily if people disagree with decisions I have made, as long as they can’t say they were inappropriately taken. And in a fractious age I would plead with all of us to ensure that in our parishes and deaneries we do indeed abide by the norms of our governance. Cutting corners rarely ends well, as the story of LLF demonstrates.’
Bishop Mounstephen, when he was Bishop of Truro, was one of the 36 bishops who voted for the services of same-sex blessing at the General Synod in February 2023. Does he consider now that his LLF vote for same-sex blessings was an instance of ‘cutting corners’? He chose not to tell Winchester Diocese synod members.
Anglican Ink contacted Bishop Mounstephen’s office to ask why he voted for the services of same-sex blessing in February 2023. A spokeswoman for Winchester Diocese said: ‘Bishop Philip will not be commenting on the matter you raise.’
Bishop Mounstephen was not present at the General Synod in November 2023 when members voted to ‘encourage the House {of Bishops} to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023’.
The announcement of his appointment as Bishop of Winchester had been made in July 2023 so he had decided to have a General Synod off before starting in his new role.
Would he have voted against the November motion along with other bishops such as the Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox, and the Bishop of Rochester, Jonathan Gibbs, who had voted for the same-sex blessings the previous February?
He has not explained. Nor has he explained whether he believes in the traditional Christian teaching that the expression of sexual love should be reserved exclusively for heterosexual marriage.
It would therefore seem that the division in the House of Bishops is between those who firmly believe LGBT ‘inclusion’ trumps institutional processes and those inclined to follow the rules even if they do not have a great deal of conviction about the biblical sexual ethic.
Julian Mann, a former Church of England vicar, is an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire, UK.