On Thursday 10 July, Southwark’s Diocesan Synod meeting discussed the national Living in Love and Faith consultation, facilitated by Dr Nick Shepherd (national LLF Programme Director and a Reader in this diocese). Ahead of the discussion, Bishop Christopher offered the following words of introduction:
Friends and fellow members of Synod, this Synod is largely given to a discussion on the Prayers of Love and Faith.
After an eight year process – in which Southwark led the way in the number of parishes engaging with Living in Love and Faith – and by far the largest volume of feedback – this evening is an opportunity as a Synod to have an open consultation and listening exercise at the request of the National Church at last to discuss and provide feedback on two issues: first, the question of ‘bespoke’ or ‘standalone’ services using the Prayers of Love and Faith and the question of pastoral reassurance for those who do not, in conscience, wish to use the Prayers; and second, the timetable for considering the question of clergy entering same-sex civil marriages. Clearly the spirit in which we conduct ourselves this evening needs to be one of mutual respect and regard: listening well and contributing well.
In my Presidential Address of November 2022, I said, ‘It is not a Bishop’s job to stifle the work of the Holy Spirit – and shutting down good, healthy and prayerful conversations is a sure sign that the Spirit, who enlightens our God-given reason, is being silenced’.
However, it is a Bishop’s responsibility to ensure that difficult conversations are held with mutual respect, with kindness, and without rancour. On the whole Southwark does rather well in this regard. I have, as you know, expressed frequently my expectation of clergy and lay people in this Diocese that we should at all times speak well of each other – and do so across the spectrum of theological conviction. I am committed to upholding the spectrum of theological conviction because I believe our different convictions are held in good faith. And I say this again now because there will inevitably be some among us who are anxious about this Synod.
Christians whose sexuality means that they are in a minority are directly affected by the questions under consideration in a different way to those who belong to the majority. Our conversation this evening will, I hope, be sensitive to the reality that when we speak about sexuality – let us say that simply, rather than ‘human sexuality’ – we are speaking about a precious and mysterious aspect of our lives that (if we are honest) we only ever partly understand. We are not here this evening to speak about another person’s sexual identity but we are honour-bound to speak with care and consideration.
I stand by what I said in my Presidential Address of November 2022 and I wish to restate it this evening:
‘I support a generous pastoral provision that respects freedom of conscience by the provision of a liturgy of affirmation and commitment for same-sex couples and a conscience clause that means no priest is required to officiate at such a service … I also support on ecumenical and Anglican inter-Provincial grounds the removal of penalties for those clergy who contract a same-sex marriage, either civilly or in one of our sister Churches with whom we are in full communion’. What the Church of England is considering at this stage of the LLF process is not far from this.
In November 2023 after the General Synod motion on LLF, I made the following commitment to this Synod which again I continue to stand by: ‘The leadership of this Diocese will be utterly unshakeable in protecting the spectrum of conviction on this matter and will continue to hold in high esteem and respect the sincerity of those who do not wish to use the prayers – as we will for those who do. I simply ask once again that we continue to speak well of each other as befits our calling as fellow members of the Body of Christ’.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, I make that commitment again to you today, as do my episcopal colleagues, as I also make clear my expectations for our conversation this evening, the Lord being our helper.
