LLF Implementation Groups Formed Before Final Vote
Behaving as if the LLF proposal has passed its final reading and vote to become Canon Law, the College of Bishops has announced “Membership Implementation Groups” in advance of the vote.
The two Co-Chairs are Bishops Philip Mountstephen and Sarah Mullally assisted by the Co-Chairs of Sub-groups; Pastoral Guidance, Prayers of Love and Faith, and Pastoral Reassurance each along with supporting staff.
The members of the Pastoral Guidance sub-committee are: Bishops Sellin, Corley, Chamberlain, Conway, Frost, Faull, Winter, Wilcox, Duff, Thomas with Ms Jo Winn-Smith, Mr Neil Patterson, Mr Charlie Bell, Ms Sarah Jackson, Mr Andrew Goddard, and Mr David Bennett.
The members of the Prayers of Love and Faith sub-committee are: Bishops Atwell, Mallet, Ipgrave, Lane, Cocksworth, Baker, Bushyager with David Runcorn, Rachel Mann, Leah Vasey-Saunders, and Fiona Gibson
The Pastoral Reassurance sub-committee members are: Bishops Watson, Searle, Sanderson, Jelley, Holbrook, Seeley, Collins, Saner-Haigh, Morris with Joe Hawes, Izzy McDonald-Booth, Christopher Landau, Charlie Skrine, Barney de Berry, Esther Prior, Ed Shaw, Kate Wharton, Tim Goode, and Giles Goddard.
The Final Wording of the Proposal as Approved
‘That this Synod, recognising the commitment to learning and deep listening to God and to each other of the Living in Love and Faith process, and desiring with God’s help to journey together while acknowledging the different deeply held convictions within the Church:
- lament and repent of the failure of the Church to be welcoming to LGBTQI+ people and the harm that LGBTQI+ people have experienced and continue to experience in the life of the Church;
- recommit to our shared witness to God’s love for and acceptance of every person by continuing to embed the Pastoral Principles in our life together locally and nationally;
- commend the continued learning together enabled by the Living in Love and Faith process and resources in relation to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage;
- welcome the decision of the House of Bishops to replace Issues in Human Sexuality with new pastoral guidance;
- welcome the response from the College of Bishops and look forward to the House of Bishops further refining, commending and issuing the Prayers of Love and Faith described in GS 2289 and its Annexes;
- invite the House of Bishops to monitor the Church’s use of and response to the Prayers of Love and Faith, once they have been commended and published, and to report back to Synod in five years’ time.’
- endorse the decision of the College and House of Bishops not to propose any change to the doctrine of marriage, and their intention that the final version of the Prayers of Love and Faith should not be contrary to or indicative of a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England.
