These articles are in date order, most recent first.
A present with nothing in the box 27 October 2023 In February 2023 General Synod voted to allow the blessing of same-sex couples and for the odious Issues in Human Sexuality to be given the boot and replaced by new, more progressive, Pastoral Guidance – see https://cofe-equal-marriage.org.uk/b/1Ae for full details. Since then we have been waiting expectantly to hear news… ... Read more
‘You are already blessed’ 27 October 2023 A heartfelt letter to the Church of England by Anna Lawrence Dear Church of England, While you decide whether or not you can bring yourself to bless me and the woman that I love, I just wanted to reassure you: We are already blessed. I have tried to do things… ... Read more
A Sum Total of Nothing 24 October 2023 by Charlie Bell The Revd Dr Charlie Bell is a Fellow at Girton College, Cambridge, assistant curate at St John the Divine, Kennington, and a consultant to the LLF Implementation Pastoral Guidance Working Group. In this article, first published in ViaMedia.news, he concludes: "We have had enough. We have been… ... Read more
Playing the Victim 15 June 2023 by Charlie Bell The Revd Dr Charlie Bell is a Fellow at Girton College, Cambridge, assistant curate at St John the Divine, Kennington, and a consultant to the LLF Implementation Pastoral Guidance Working Group. In this article, first published in ViaMedia.news, he concludes: "It’s time – in fact, it’s well… ... Read more
Same-sex Marriage Forced this Priest to Quit 29 March 2023 Recently Channel 4 has created a series of short video documentaries under the title of 'Love Against The Odds'. Overcoming prejudice, trauma, struggles and misunderstanding, these relationships show that even when the odds are stacked against them, love can conquer all. The documentaries are available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiC_gpE7y050ubK3hWmMNgWyBxhrdwrOP. In… ... Read more
Evangelical opinion on the bishops’ LLF proposals 4 March 2023 The following letter from eighteen evangelicals was published in a recent issue of the Church Times (3 March 2023 – https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-march/comment/letters-to-the-editor/letters-to-the-editor). The Equal Campaign approves. For far too long conservative evangelical organizations such as CEEC and the Church Society have claimed that only those who subscribe to their package of… ... Read more
General Synod – watch the best speeches 15 February 2023 Here are some of the best speeches at General Synod last week by progressive and inclusive speakers. They are all about 3 minutes long, as that was the limit throughout the debate. Enjoy! If you think we have missed out a good inclusive speech, which might well have happened inadvertently,… ... Read more
Some reflections on General Synod 12 February 2023 by Nic Tall Some reflections on General Synod, from someone who was there at the heart of the action: From outside the church this will look like a tiny step, a begrudging tokenistic shift which still falls far short of the rights enjoyed by LGBTQIA+ people in British society. But… ... Read more
The Church of England and the mists of time 12 February 2023 by Andrew Foreshew-Cain The Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain married his partner of 14 years, Steve Foreshew, in 2014. One of the founders of the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England, he is currently Chaplain at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Back in 1993 John Major, sometime Conservative Prime Minister,… ... Read more
All About Power: General Synod and the LLF Debate 12 February 2023 by Charlie Bell The Revd Dr Charlie Bell is a Fellow at Girton College, Cambridge and curate at St John the Divine, Kennington. In this article, first published in ViaMedia.news, he concludes: "This Synod, as divisive and tiresome as some of the debate was, has done what no Synod previously… ... Read more