SAME SEX PLAN 

The Church of England’s General Synod this week backed a revised plan for blessing same-sex couples as the church moves closer to full LGBTQ+ inclusion while accommodating Anglicans with conservative theological beliefs on human sexuality.

General Synod, the church’s primary governing body, has wrestled for years with whether and how to offer the blessings as part of an ongoing Church of England initiative, Living in Love and Faith. Same-sex couples still cannot marry in Anglican churches there, but the blessings, known as Prayers of Love and Faith, were first authorized in February 2023. Anglican churches began offering the blessings for the first time in December.

Those first blessings, however, were only allowed as part of congregations’ regular worship services, such as Holy Eucharist on Sunday. The revised plan that General Synod approved July 8 authorizes same-sex couples to receive the blessings in standalone services. Church leaders still need to work out the details for how to offer such services.

The revised plan also affirms that no Church of England clergy will be forced to offer the blessings, and General Synod committed the church to developing a system of “delegated episcopal ministry” when bishops do not share the same theological beliefs on human sexuality as those wishing to offer or receive the blessings. (Such arrangements have become more common in The Episcopal Church since General Convention passed its 2018 compromise resolution, B012, on same-sex marriage.)

“No parish, no priest has to offer these prayers but once the detail has been worked out – not yet done, we’re still on a journey – standalone service can take place,” Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said during General Synod’s debate on the proposals. For “those who for reasons of conscience and theological conviction cannot support this, delegated and extended episcopal ministry for pastoral care, sacramental care and teaching ministry will be put in place.”

Cottrell underscored this was a compromise solution. “What’s before us isn’t what everyone wants,” he said, “but it is an Anglican way forward.”