An update from Bishop Helen-Ann regarding LLF following a meeting of the House of Bishops today, Tuesday 16 December 2025.
Dear siblings in Christ,
The House of Bishops met today, December 16th to discuss LLF. As we await published details of that meeting and any statement from the House of Bishops, in what follows, I simply wish to remind us of our own recent Synod motion and to express again my gratitude to our LGBTQI+ chaplaincy and in particular its lead chaplain, Emma Duff.
Our own Diocesan Synod met at the end of November and in a respectful and prayerful debate discussed a motion moved by the Rev’d Gill Alexander. The motion lamented the further hurt and pain experienced by LGBTQI+ people as a result of the House of Bishops’ announcement following its October meeting. The motion also called upon the House of Bishops to progress a path to inclusion for LGBTQI+ people, a path already agreed to by General Synod. The Newcastle motion was passed with an overwhelming majority. In my Presidential Address to the Synod at the end of November I framed a response to the LLF process with a question and a statement: who is my neighbour, and that we are living in an era of a crisis of welcome.
Some words from my Presidential Address on November 29th:
‘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…One of the saddest aspects of where we have reached as a Church, is the erosion of the witness of real lives and a disregard for the fear and distress our LGBTQI+ siblings live with…We have nothing to fear in implementing inclusion and everything to hope for’.
I am deeply grateful to serve as Bishop of Newcastle, and rejoice that as a diocese we are able to hold together in our differences. I am deeply grateful that we voted with clarity at our November Diocesan Synod meeting and know that this has offered hope to so many. I recommit myself to offering leadership that encourages more and different people to encounter the love of God, lifted by the dynamics of seeking, sharing and sending and ask for your prayers as you are assured of mine for you.
+Helen-Ann Newcastle.