THE Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, has announced that he’s stepping down as lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.
On Facebook on Friday afternoon, he wrote that he was doing so “with a really heavy heart”. He was “hugely grateful to the staff team that I even have worked with over the past 18 months and similarly the Working Group members who’ve given hours of their time to hunt an agreed way forward within the Church of England on matters of sexuality, relationships, and marriage. I hope it could yet be possible to succeed in such an agreement, but I don’t think that may occur under my leadership.”
It has been suggested that Bishop Snow made his decision after it became clear that a majority of bishops didn’t back his proposals to supply delegated episcopal ministry for churches that opposed the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples, referred to as Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF)
Groups on either side of the LLF debate have objected to the plan for delegated episcopal ministry: either since it went too far in dividing the Church, or didn’t go far enough in providing legal and structural distinction for many who object to the PLF.
Diocesan bishops have been meeting in Canterbury this week, the Church Times understands.
On Friday afternoon, the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, and the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, released a joint statement paying tribute to Bishop Martyn’s “invaluable contribution” to the LLF process.
“While we’re saddened by Bishop Martyn’s decision to step down from this role, we fully recognise the burden of responsibility he has carried and the massive commitment in time and energy to bring the method to a latest phase. We pray for him, as he moves on from this role.”
Archbishop Cottrell and Bishop Mullally offered reassurance that the general oversight and timetable for the LLF process remained in place.
“The LLF Programme Board, chaired by the Archbishop of York, stays firmly committed to completing the diocesan consultations, before reporting to the House of Bishops after which General Synod in February next 12 months,” they said.
The Programme Board was formed in April 2024 to support Bishop Snow and to supply oversight of the implementation process. Its creation followed the choice by the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, to resign as co-lead bishop (News, 1 February 2024).
The collaboration between Dr Hartley and Bishop Snow had been intended to share the burden of the high-profile portfolio, previously been held by Bishop Mullally.
Consultations on the subsequent steps within the LLF process, including the proposal for delegated episcopal ministry, were expected to happen at diocesan synods this 12 months.
The chair of the campaign group Together for the Church of England, Canon Neil Patterson, said on Friday that he was “sorry” that Bishop Snow had felt it mandatory to step down.
“He has shown great patience in striving to fulfil the choice of General Synod to proceed with PLF and a timetable for clergy same-sex marriage, against his own stated views and despite some determined efforts to derail the method.
“I even have at all times appreciated his readiness to listen and understand a variety of views, including mine. The Church now needs clear leadership from the House of Bishops in order that the minority view that same-sex relationships are at all times sinful doesn’t proceed to carry the pass within the Church of England.”
A spokesperson for the group Inclusive Evangelicals (News, 31 October 2023) said that the group “desires to offer our due to Bishop Martyn as fellow Evangelicals for his work in a difficult role.
“He has sought to seek out a way forward for PLF to occur, as an Evangelical who personally doesn’t support same-sex marriage, and we value the integrity with which he has done that. Going forward, we’re aware that many Evangelicals are supportive of same-sex marriage, and we consider that, whilst a majority will not be, they’re open to support PLF if assured they are going to not need to use it. We hope this offers a way forward despite what we consider is a minority deeply opposed.”
