St Patrick's Day, 2023

We met recently and discussed a wide range of topics. This included receiving updates on mission initiatives and undertaking work on our plans for the future.

On the Church of England's Living in Love and Faith process, we intend to issue a further statement in the coming months, in line with the timetable outlined for the July 2023 session of General Synod. In the meantime, we wholly endorse the contents of the attached paper on the Church of England's doctrine of marriage, which - among others - the Bishops of Chichester and of Fulham have signed.

Paper on the Church of England's Doctrine of Marriage

Living in Love and Faith has been a major exercise in learning and listening undertaken by the Church of England, not only about the question of same-sex relationships but on many issues touching on our understanding of the human person, made in God’s image, in relation to marriage, sexuality, gender and relationships. We are grateful for all who have led and contributed to this work, which we believe has a value not just within the life of the Church of England, but as a contribution to the deep reflection on these matters which is taking place within every part of the universal Church. We are of the view that continuing theological work in this field will enrich our understanding of the many complex issues arising.

The Church of England has issued a statement on the proposals which will be brought by the House of Bishops for consideration at General Synod in February, following a period of reflection by the national College of Bishops on the Living in Love and Faith resources.

We welcome and reinforce the clear commitment to maintain the doctrine of marriage as the Church of England has received it, and which is shared with the great churches of East and West. We are glad that no changes to the Canons or authorised liturgies of the Church of England as they touch on Holy Matrimony are proposed.

In two days’ time, prayers and other guidance will be published in draft form, for consideration at General Synod. If commended in due course by the House of Bishops, these prayers would enable clergy, at their discretion, to offer services of thanksgiving and dedication for committed, faithful same-sex couples, and to ask God’s blessings on them.

The use of these prayers will be entirely discretionary, and they would be commended by the House of Bishops in accordance with Canon B5 which requires that such forms of service are commensurate with the doctrine and teaching of the Church of England. We will study this material carefully when it is published and, in due course, we anticipate issuing pastoral guidance to the clergy who look to us for oversight as to how best these prayers might be used locally. 

We note the commitment by the House of Bishops to rescind Issues in Human Sexuality and to replace it with new pastoral guidance. A number of legal as well as pastoral questions are raised here, which will require significant further work.

Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of The Society's Council of Bishops, has responded to the announcement of the appointment of the Bishop of Blackburn: "I am delighted that the Church of England has stood by its Five Guiding Principles in appointing the next Bishop of Blackburn. Bishop Philip, as a suffragan bishop in that diocese, has amply demonstrated that he can minister effectively to people and parishes of all traditions and he will make an excellent diocesan bishop. Moreover, his flair for mission and for communication is a great asset for the Church as a whole. We wish Bishop Philip well and pray for him as he prepares to take up this important role."

Bishop Tony Robinson, Chairman of The Society's Council of Bishops, has responded to news of the death of His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: "Pope Benedict stood for the highest standards in liturgy and theological scholarship and we mourn his death. He instinctively grasped the depths and strengths of worship and practice in the Anglican Catholic tradition in the English speaking world and responded by establishing three Ordinariates to witness to that tradition within the Western Church. May His Holiness rest in peace."

The Society's Council of Bishops records its deep sadness at the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. Her Majesty steadfastly witnessed to the Christian Faith for just over seventy years as monarch and administered the responsibilities as our nation's head of state dutifully and without complaint in that time. We are all poorer for Her Majesty's death and we offer our heartfelt prayers for the repose of Her Majesty's soul and for all those who mourn across this nation, the nations of the Commonwealth and indeed all the nations of the world. We ask that God will make his presence known to the Royal Family at this time of grieving.