same-sex couples
I have and will support moves to enable same sex couples to marry in our churches, and to allow clergy to marry same sex partners.
I suspect that this is where we will end up eventually but, as I said, I would like to help make this happen as soon as possible because our inability to bless same-sex couples or allow LGBT priests to marry, negatively impacts a lot of people and, as our former Archbishop Justin said, is catastrophic for the witness and mission of the church.
I support the use of the Living in Love and Faith prayers for same sex couples by those clergy who wish to use them, and the right of clergy, following their own discernment, to decline to use them.
To help achieve that aim, I believe that same sex couples should be allowed to marry in church.
However, throughout the debates in General Synod on the introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith and Stand-alone services for same sex couples I have consistently voted against their introduction.
We now have blessings for same- sex couples and we all agreed to get rid of the
As a member of Together for the Church of England, I am committed to supporting the work of the Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Working and Pastoral Consultative groups to work for the day when the love shared between same sex couples as a gift from God which can be celebrated and blessed within Church and for clergy to be able to enter into a same sex marriage without facing punitive consequences for their ministry.
So I will resist changing either the church’s doctrine of marriage or canon law in a way which would allow same-sex couples to “marry” in church or clergy to enter into civil same-sex marriages.
The Church must find a way of remaining doctrinally coherent while making genuine provision for same-sex couples and for clergy and congregations who cannot conscientiously participate in such provision.
Yet my friendships and pastoral relationships with same-sex couples have convinced me that we need greater provision to support, care for and bless people in faithful, lifelong relationships.
Prayers for same sex couples I am wholly in favour of prayers of blessings for same sex couples.
I support clergy being able to use the Prayers of Love and Faith with same sex couples, where they think it is pastorally appropriate.
I voted for the Prayers of Love and Faith to welcome same-sex couples in our churches, and I support equal marriage, with no expectation that all churches would offer this; as with marrying divorced people, it would be up to the incumbent’s conscience.
We need to support the House of Bishops’ acceptance of the Legal Officers’ advice that stand-alone services for same-sex couples is a change of doctrine and requires two-thirds majorities in each of the Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity.
That includes continuing to work for the possibility of blessings for same-sex couples and for LGBTQIA+ people to be fully recognised and valued within the Church.
School Governor (since 2019) Member of my parish church environmental group Supporter of Prayers of Love & Faith for same-sex couples Advocate for equality, inclusion, Fairtrade and the environment Volunteer English teacher with local Ukrainian support group Former Modern languages teacher
The last five years have seen significant progress, including strengthened safeguarding, Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples, action towards Net Zero Carbon by 2030, greater recognition of neurodiversity and support for social justice and those in need.
Although the Living in Love and Faith programme was brought to a conclusion by the last General Synod, a number of key matters remain to be addressed, including whether to allow standalone services for same sex couples, and whether to allow clergy to contract same sex civil marriages.
I would, as a member of General Synod, commit myself to supporting moves to allow same sex couples, and particularly those in civil marriages, to have their relationships recognised by, and blessed within, the Church.
On LLF I have voted consistently for change, to recognise, celebrate and rejoice with the same sex couples who have been part of church life certainly for my whole lifetime.
Human sexuality The process known as Living in Love and Faith drew to a close this year, with the Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples commended for use in regular services, and the much-criticised guidelines in Issues in Human Sexuality withdrawn from use in the discernment process.
Since 2022 I’ve convened LGBT+ clergy and diocesan staff, calling on the Bishop and Synod, to proclaim God's blessing on committed same-sex couples.
I welcome the Church of England's movement towards marriage for same-sex couples and want all people to know that they are valued, welcomed and able to flourish.