Church of England clergy now not have to affirm sexuality document

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has welcomed “the gracious conversation and tone” of the General Synod debate when members voted that ordination candidates should now not be required to conform to a 34-year-old document on sexuality. It nonetheless stays concerned concerning the current path of the Church of England.

Issues in Human Sexuality, published by the C of E’s House of Bishops in 1991, declared that clergy should either be celibate or married. It officially prevented practising homosexuals from getting ordained.

The Church of England announced after the controversy on Tuesday: “General Synod backed a motion asking the House of Bishops to remove any requirements regarding the 1991 document Issues in Human Sexuality from the vocations process.

“The motion was supported by nearly all Synod members, encompassing a breadth of theological standpoints.”

The statement added: “The Private Member’s Motion, tabled by Revd Mae Christie and presented by Mr Paul Waddell (each from the Diocese of Southwark), was passed by a near-unanimous show of hands.

“This followed an amendment from the Revd Jenny Bridgman (Chester), ensuring that in the course of the period of transition, candidates will as a substitute be asked to stick to the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy (GPCC).”

The C of E said the motion doesn’t change the Church’s doctrine, which teaches that marriage is between a person and a girl.

“The motion doesn’t alter the Church’s doctrine or canonical requirements, which remain in place. Rather, it reflects a desire to be certain that the discernment process for ordained ministry is each theologically robust and pastorally sensitive,” the Church said.

Progressives within the Church nonetheless see it as a positive step towards more inclusivity for LGBT individuals. 

In a press release after the controversy, CEEC’s national director, Rev Canon John Dunnett, raised concerns concerning the direction of the Church of England.

“CEEC welcomes the gracious conversation and tone that was evident in the controversy across the Vocations Process and Issues of Human Sexuality during General Synod today,” he said. 

“CEEC is grateful for the confirmation by Jenny Bridgman (who proposed the amendment) and Bishop Mark Tanner (Chair of the Church of England’s Ministry Council), that this amendment wouldn’t produce any change to the canons, doctrine, policies and declarations of the Church of England.” 

But Canon Dunnett warned: “We remain concerned that Living in Love and Faith (LLF) continues on a trajectory at odds with a biblical and Anglican understanding of sex and marriage and that the interim measures agreed to by General Synod today still leave the large questions unanswered.”