Church of England could make decision on LGBT+ issues by 2022

LGBT+ rights campaigners say parishes can be unwelcoming and hostile

Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, apologised for the ‘huge damage and hurt' caused to LGBT+ people within the church (PA)

The Church of England has issued a self-imposed deadline to rethink its stance on LGBT+ issues by 2022, after bishops promised on Monday that there will be a decision on historic changes to traditional teachings.

This comes following years of discussion and less than two years after bishops pledged to reconsider issues, such as teaching on sexuality, marriage and identity.

The House of Bishops announced on Monday that it intended to begin a formal “decision-making” process to draw up proposals that will be put forward to the Church’s General Synod, which has the final say regarding changes to the doctrine.

When asked whether this could mean a decision on same-sex marriages within the church, Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Coventry, said that this was “only one question among many”.

Though a decision could result in the clergy permitting to conduct same-sex marriages, it may also result in the church deciding to reinforce traditional teaching on marriage, sexuality and gender.

On Monday, the church published a 480-page document, entitled Living in Love and Faith, which explores the churches teachings on traditional marriage. The three-year long mission urges for further “engagement and learning” by parishes.

The project has produced a “suite of learning resources,” including a book, videos, podcast and a course.

The church does not currently allow for same-sex marriage and does not officially sanction same-sex civil marriages, while gay clergy are permitted to have a partner providing they remain celibate.

The Bishop of London, the Right Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, said bishops intend to “draw up scenarios for different outcomes” to put forward to the synod, though she added she did not know what “the outcome of this process is going to be”.

For years, LGBT+ rights groups have campaigned on the issue, alleging that parishes can be unwelcoming and hostile, which in some cases has led to emotional or spiritual abuse.

The materials state: “Most pressing among our differences are questions around same-sex relationships, and we recognise that here decisions in several interconnected areas need to be made with some urgency.”

Throughout the discussions, there has been internal division over issues and frequent debates in the church’s ruling body.

The project was set up in 2017 after the synod rebuffed attempts to uphold traditional marriage values by throwing out a conservative report from bishops regarding same-sex marriage.

Around 40 people, including five openly LGBT+ individuals, were involved in collating the learning materials, which they encourage parishes to engage with through discussion.

The project was led by Bishop Cocksworth, who said the material highlighted impetus within the church to revise traditional teaching, which is “ripe for development”.

When asked whether the project could help bring about a vote on the issue of same-sex marriage, the bishop said it would “help the church eventually to face that sort of questions”.

In a foreword, Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, alongside Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, apologised for the “huge damage and hurt” caused to the LGBT+ people within the church.

They added that though many want the church to “jump to a quick decision” over its doctrine, the process was “moving comparatively quickly, at least in terms of the average speed of change in church history”.

However, some warn continual delays over the decision is causing depression among many gay and transgender Christians, sometimes leading to suicide. Jayne Ozanne, a prominent campaigner for LGBT+ rights within the church, said delay causes further rejection and harm for LGBT+ people.

“While it’s good to hear that decisions may finally be afoot in two years’ time, we must act now to safeguard LGBT people in our care,” Ozanne said. “We cannot go on acknowledging and apologising for the harm church teaching is causing without recognising the safeguarding responsibilities we have.

“It is imperative that we now act to ensure that no more lives are impacted, or sadly lost,” she continued.

Meanwhile, individual worshippers and parishes are being asked to engage with the resources and provide feedback to bishops.