House of Bishops proceed work on LLF ahead of bringing proposals to February General Synod

BISHOPS considered the subsequent steps within the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process at a residential meeting this week.

During a House of Bishops meeting in Berkshire from 6-8 October, the bishops “received an update from members of the LLF working groups, members of the LLF Programme Board, and the Faith and Order Commission, together with legal advice”, a press release issued by Church House, Westminster, said.

“Bishops frolicked in groups and in plenary session discussing different areas of the present LLF proposals, and the important thing elements which needs to be included in a Bishops’ Statement.

“They considered possible legislative processes. The bishops made progress, with a view to reaching final decisions, when the House next meets in December, on proposals to bring to the General Synod in February 2026,” the statement said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, previously led the LLF process, under which blessings for same-sex couples, often called the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF), have been authorised to be used in existing Church of England services.

The bishops’ further proposals are expected to cover the usage of the PLF in “bespoke” services, whether clergy can be formally permitted to enter same-sex relationships, and the potential for structural provision for many who oppose the changes.

When her nomination as the subsequent Archbishop was announced, Canon Neil Patterson, who chairs Together for the Church of England, said that Bishop Mullally’s “clever and thoughtful leadership of Living in Love and Faith bore fruit within the initial decisions of Synod and the commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith”.

A spokesperson for the Church of England Evangelical Council said on Friday that the announcement got here “at a difficult difficult time for the Church of England”.

LLF had created “significant divisions” within the Church of England, and across the Anglican Communion there had been “a big lack of confidence within the role of the Archbishop and a cry for leadership consonant with our Anglican doctrinal heritage [News, 3 October]”, the spokesperson said.

“We subsequently pray that God will enable Bishop Sarah to carry to the apostolic faith and call the Church of England to recommit to the historic doctrines and formularies entrusted to it. We pray that this is likely to be a moment where the present drift away from a biblical and Anglican understanding of marriage and sexual ethics is either halted or a way is found to secure biblical convictions within the Church of England for the long run.”

AT THE meeting, the bishops also heard an update from the group considering the recommendations of the Makin report into the abuse perpetuated by John Smyth.

Disciplinary proceedings are already under way against a lot of people criticised within the report (News, 25 February).

The bishops heard that the group, which incorporates survivors and independent safeguarding professionals, “will now concentrate on reviewing progress already made, and identifying what further work is required to make sure full delivery”.

They also discussed a review into how members of the clergy, including the episcopate, are held accountable. A review, commissioned by the Ministry Development Board, will “provide a scientific review of accountability for bishops and other clergy to discover gaps in the present arrangements, note areas where there may be an absence of clarity or ambiguity, and to discover and implement any solutions needed”, based on the Church House statement.

Other topics of dialogue included ordinations, and changes expected to the variety of clergy and the proportion who receive a stipend. The impact of clergy well-being on the number of individuals staying in ministry was considered, and it was agreed that data can be commissioned on vacancies and clergy retention.

The bishops also reflected on children, and youth and family ministry, sharing “experiences of the success of targeted leadership programmes and ways to enable families to participate in numerous services across different traditions”.