Understanding the House of Bishops decisions

The Inclusive Evangelical convenors met this week and Steve Hollinghurst writes this response on our behalf for those needing help understanding the present state of play on the slow and very painful journey towards inclusion. Other responses will be offered in due course so this is not a point by point addressing of the particular issues - in part because no final decisions have yet been made.  

Steve writes: What follows is an interpretation of events from me as an IE convenor and as someone married to a member of the house of Bishops (the IE convenors include two bishops and three others who are married to bishops).

We know that the House of Bishops presented to synod several proposals for two forms of prayers - in public services and ‘stand alone’ services - and a proposal that clergy should be able to enter same-sex civil marriage. The hope was that these could both avoid the requirement of a 2/3 majority vote in synod . Firstly, by not changing the doctrine of marriage, and not requiring the normal 2/3 vote to change liturgy by making these commended rather than authorised liturgy. These proposals secured narrow majorities in synod with many clergy and laity opposed but with a large majority in the house of Bishops. These votes meant the bishops were tasked with drawing up legislation to bring to synod. Now there is some debate about whether synod was needed at all. Others may have more legal knowledge here, but I certainly felt by-passing synod wouldn't be good.

Since then those opposed to any acceptance of same-sex relationships, led by the CEEC and the Alliance, have been fighting against the proposals by several routes outside synod. Firstly, they have some influence over legal advisers through a very conservative head of the national church institutions and legal advice to the bishops became more conservative. Secondly, conservatives dominate the national CNC involved in appointing Bishops and have used various tactics to ensure they also dominate local CNCs to seek to ensure new Bishops are conservative and in particular to block the 44 Bishops who signed a letter in support of clergy same sex marriage. They have also increased their presence on the Faith and Order commission (FAOC), so they have increasingly controlled theological advice to the bishops.

The good news is that Inclusives have become wise to this and are increasingly better organised, which is why we have several recent inclusive Bishops and, most significantly, an inclusive Archbishop. Also, good organisation has now ensured the end of the Issues in human sexuality document.

The bad news is only two of the 44 have been appointed to senior posts and when the House of Bishops met last week they were more conservative than in 2021 and were presented with far more conservative legal and theological advice. Under those circumstances there was no majority to propose legislation as had originally been imagined. There was also a recognition that ‘Stand Alone’ services needed a 2/3 majority. This means they won't happen in this synod. The bishops, including many who wanted to see change happen, realises they can't do that.

So where now? This Synod’s five yearly term ends next year. We are already organising for the elections next year. The Together network is really key to this. https://togethercofe.org.uk.  They are co-ordinating all this and providing support and briefing. Please sign up and get as involved as you can in your local Together group. And if you are a lay person, get on deanery synod and encourage others to do same.

 You will then be able to vote in the General Synod elections later next year.

The bishops have agreed that clergy same-sex marriage could go through still on a simple majority. It might get that. What won't happen is bishops supporting that as those who do can't get a majority. Such a proposal needs to be brought as an amendment to whatever does go to Synod. If a member of clergy or laity were to do that a significant number of Bishops would be likely to support.

Lastly it took a very long time to get women priests and bishops. Keep going, keep witnessing to Christ in you, and keep believing. And on behalf of the IE convenors, thank you for being there, and for your faithful discipleship.

Steve Hollinghurst