General Synod: a watershed moment?

At the weekend, the Church of England’s General Synod will meet in York. All eyes are on the ‘big debate’ on Monday, concerning Living in Love and Faith.

What proposals are being dropped at General Synod?

In summary, the Church of England’s General Synod is being asked: to endorse a direction of travel that continues to maneuver away from our biblical and historic inheritance; to support the introduction of standalone services of blessings for same-sex couples; to support a timetable towards allowing clergy to marry their same-sex partners; and to support provision for orthodox Anglicans based on delegation relatively than structural rearrangement.

These are proposals that the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) cannot support because they go against Scripture and so they are also indicative of a departure from Church of England doctrine. The CEEC stands with the opposite members of the Alliance (a broad coalition of leaders from networks throughout the Church of England) in upholding the prevailing biblical, historic doctrine of sex and marriage and opposing these proposals.

This is a watershed moment for the Church of England. If the General Synod approves these proposals (which we predict is probably going), we consider a change in doctrine will likely be initiated in an illegal and unconstitutional way.

Isn’t the availability outlined in Synod papers enough to guard those holding to the prevailing doctrine of marriage?

Some people have asked if the provisions for orthodoxy of delegated oversight outlined within the Synod papers may very well be supported by CEEC.

In short – the reply needs to be ‘no’ – and for several substantive reasons:

1. A proposal for provision based on delegated oversight from orthodox bishops is treating the Prayers of Love and Faith as ‘adiaphora’ – in other words – we are able to conform to disagree on this (and wherein case delegated oversight may very well be a proportionate response).However – we don’t consider that is an ‘conform to disagree’ issue since the Bible is obvious that you just cannot bless a sexually lively relationship outside of male/female marriage.
2. It’s a ‘no’ since the delegation of episcopal oversight/care depends upon the goodwill of the diocesan bishop agreeing to the delegation – something which can’t be guaranteed as we go forwards. So, clergy and congregations might find themselves within the situation where they’re not allowed to have this alternative oversight even whether it is purported to be available.
3. It’s a ‘no’ since it doesn’t address the crucial issue of ‘doctrinal assurance’. Delegated oversight still leaves us in a room with two doctrines of sex and marriage – we want some form of doctrinal firewall between the 2 (hence CEEC’s repeated insistence through the years that structural differentiation is crucial)
4. It’s a ‘no’ because this provision shouldn’t be guaranteed indefinitely. We are seeing this ‘non guaranteeability’ being played out currently regarding the Settlement that was made as a way to enable women to be bishops – there are those that are actually working to erode the delegated provisions that were made – i.e. delegated shouldn’t be similar to everlasting.

Delegated episcopal oversight might sound reassuringly formal and powerful, but in reality it sounds greater than it’s.

So what should we expect from Synod and beyond?

Last week, the Alliance sent a letter to the archbishops of Canterbury and York, plus the College of Bishops, warning that ought to these proposals be voted through, it might be forced to rapidly establish a de facto parallel province for those wishing to carry to the prevailing canons and doctrine of the Church of England. This is a serious step and one which is not going to be taken frivolously. However, for a lot of, it’ll be the one solution to enable those holding to the prevailing doctrine to have the opportunity to stay within the Church of England and preserve a point of unity.

Based on the way in which the Synod has voted in the previous couple of meetings, we assume that these proposals will likely be voted through. That will kick off the strategy of establishing the de facto province. With immediate effect, a pipeline for orthodox ordinands will likely be established. Alternative Spiritual Oversight, which CEEC launched in November 2023, will likely be available for those PCCs or clergy who hold to orthodox teaching and the prevailing doctrine of the Church of England. The Ephesian Fund will enable those, who in good conscience cannot proceed giving to their revisionist bishop(s)/diocese to pay their parish share or give in support of orthodox ministry. These provisions will likely be developed further in the approaching weeks and months.

CEEC continues to consider that everlasting structural reorganisation is the one provision that can guarantee orthodox life going forwards. We will proceed to work to make that a reality within the Church of England.

The Rev Canon John Dunnett is National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC).