TWO outstanding umbrella groups have given their response to the General Synod’s decision to endorse plans for stand-alone services of blessing for same-sex couples and delegate episcopal ministry for opponents to the changes (News, 8 July).
Together for the Church of England, an organisation that speaks for a lot of groups promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion, welcomed the vote, and pledged to proceed engaging within the means of refining the detail of the proposals.
The statement expressed hope that those that opposed the changes would likewise proceed to have interaction “with honesty and kindness, as they’ve up to now, so that we may seek together for the welfare of the entire Church of England”.
By contrast, the national director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), Canon John Dunnett, said on Tuesday that it was “deeply disappointing” that the motion had been passed, “despite hearing repeatedly in speeches of the necessity to construct trust by avoiding bad process, and CEEC’s continued advocacy of the insufficiency of delegated arrangements”.
He repeated calls for the structural reorganisation of the C of E, and warned that the Synod’s decision would result in unilateral motion being taken to create a “de facto parallel province” (News, 27 June).
“We are committed to remaining inside the Church of England, and hope that the bishops will come to the table to barter a suitable settlement,” Canon Dunnett said.
After the controversy on Monday, the Archbishop of Canterbury had said: “The only way forward is a watertight and enduring protection of conscience. We at the moment are at the purpose of searching for to work out how that works; it must give those of all views a spot as treasured and flourishing parts of the Church of England, and the protection will need to have teeth to guard against harassment and bullying.”
