Buck up a bishop: EQUAL campaign calls for Anglicans to encourage senior CofE leaders

The Church of England General Synod logo

GENERAL SYNOD, the governing body of the Church of England, gathers again this month, with a significant focus on its Living In Love And Faith process on identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.

During a meeting for LGBTQIA+ affirming Anglican groups last week, in which the Open Table Network took part, a representative from EQUAL: the Campaign for Equal Marriage in the Church of England, renewed a call to action for LGBTQIA+ Anglicans and allies to write an encouraging card to their bishops.

Member of these groups, particularly those with representatives on General Synod, recognised that bishops are already receiving much correspondence from those opposed to any change and outraged that any concessions are being made to include LGBTQIA+ people.

Nic Tall, a member of the Church of England General Synod House of Laity, and an ally in our Open Table Taunton community, explained after the last Synod in February:

If possible, please consider writing to your local bishop to encourage them to keep going. They will be receiving much correspondence from those opposed to any change and outraged that any concessions are being made to include LGBTQIA+ people. Our bishops could do with some friendly letters and emails thanking them for all they have done so far, and asking that they deliver on much more inclusive pastoral guidance and affirming liturgies for same-sex relationships.

Read more from Nic here: Prayers of Love And Faith - What happens next at General Synod.

EQUAL has now shared some text for its supporters to adapt into a simple message to let their bishops know that there are members of their dioceses who support the proposals of the Living In Love And Faith process and want them to continue.

If you are a member of the Church of England, sharing a positive message of affirmation to your bishop is a good way to get involved with General Synod this month. Below is some text you could use, or you could write your own message.

This Saturday, 8th July, General Synod will receive an update from the three working groups who have been meeting since the vote on Living In Love And Faith in February - one group working on Prayers of Love and Faith (proposed resources for blessing same-gender couples), the others working on Pastoral Guidance and Pastoral Reassurance. This will be a presentation with questions - not a final vote, which is delayed until an extraordinary session this November.

Here is the message from EQUAL:

The bishops have been receiving  substantial numbers of emails from those opposed to change, asking them to resist any further liberalisation around same-sex marriage.

We are inviting you to send a short message of encouragement to your bishop(s), before Synod if possible, expressing your support for the February vote and asking them to stay firm to the majority decision in Synod.

Points you may with to make are:

- The impact further delay has had on your own personal situation e.g. discernment, ordination, licensing, marriage…

- The impact it has had on those with whom you are in contact, whether friends or family members hoping to celebrate their marriage with a service in church, or members of your congregation hoping to arrange a service.

- a reminder that the Prayers of Love and Faith and the general direction of travel was approved by a majority in all three houses in February, and that the bishops should therefore respect the decision of Synod.

Note that what has been approved is a very minimum of what we had hoped for.

Add your encouragement and your prayers for them and for the Synod.

Even if you know your bishop is opposed - please write so they hear your perspective.

Please don’t ‘copy and paste’ to make a standard letter - but make it personal from you.

Thank you.