Statement from Bishop Victoria Matthews

“This is step one in a two-part process: the next step is to take our Diocesan clerical and lay representatives to participate in General Synod’s consideration of the matter, informed by the decision we have made today.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the people on the Working Group, the authors of the Final Report. We asked them to find a way a collective of people who held different beliefs might move forward in unity, and they have come up with possible solutions. However, as always, this is a conscience vote and General Synod will now consider the report carefully before any recommendations are decided.

“I would also like to thank our Clergy and Diocesan Synod representatives who have put in so much work to get to this stage. Their faithfulness is gratefully received.

“But most importantly, I want to thank the members of the Diocese that bravely got up and spoke about issues that are deeply personal and usually private—I want to assure them that their voices have been heard.

“I look forward to General Synod in May.”