Will the Church of England keep the faith?

In February it is likely the General Synod of the Church of England will be asked to express its opinions/wishes about the Church of England’s teaching and practice in relation to marriage, gender identity and sexuality following recommendations released on 20 January from the bishops at the end of the process known as ‘Living in Love and Faith’ (LLF). Any decisions will shape the future of the Church of England for a generation and more.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) believes that the current doctrine and liturgy of the Church of England around issues of human sexuality reflects the revelation of God as given in the Bible and as understood across centuries and continents.

CEEC believes these wonderful truths to be good for the flourishing of society and of each and every individual whoever we are. Our primary hope and prayer as we move towards the end of the LLF process is that the House of Bishops will bring to General Synod a proposal to reaffirm the doctrine and liturgy we have inherited and recommit ourselves as a church to upholding it.

However, if the House of Bishops proposes changes going forwards of either a doctrinal, liturgical or practical manner, CEEC will contend against anything that is not supported in Scripture.

If the House of Bishops’ proposal successfully navigates change through the General Synod (or some other route?) that cannot be supported by Scripture, then CEEC believes differentiation of some kind will become an immediate necessity. Many evangelicals would find it difficult to be part of a church that affirms relationships that Scripture defines as outside God’s plan for human flourishing.

It is possible that any proposed changes would come with a conscience ‘get out’ clause. But clergy who have to actively decline an invitation to conduct an affirmation, celebration or blessing of a same-sex partnership, are likely to receive substantial negative attention on social media and in their local communities. And the pipeline for the recruitment of ordinands and appointment of clergy will marginalise those unable to indicate an ‘affirming’ position.

Orthodox bishops may find themselves having to sanction and support decisions and actions that go against their conscience.

And if every PCC has to hold a discussion in the light of a request for a service of affirmation or blessing of a relationship outside of heterosexual marriage, change without differentiation will be a recipe for pain and division.

If differentiation is needed, it could be provided in different forms and at different levels.

An informal provision (e.g. the formation of a ‘society’) is attractive in that it is easy to set up, but not so helpful in that it carries no structural weight/influence to secure orthodoxy going forward. The employment of some form of episcopal oversight might provide a greater level of security – though the disadvantage is that clergy and parishes will still have to choose to opt into orthodoxy, and the actual making of this decision may cause significant damage and split with evangelical churches.

The highest ‘form’ of differentiation involves the rearrangement of episcopal oversight, dioceses and provinces, an enormous exercise. But it would provide the level of security that is needed for orthodoxy to flourish permanently within the Church of England. It could be done a number of ways.

Possibly through the provision of a new province in which change could be pursued (a so-called ‘third province for liberals’). Or it could include allowing the two existing provinces of Canterbury and York to hold varying positions around sexual ethics (with clergy / churches choosing which they belong to), or the creation of a new province for orthodoxy. If you would like to see more detail about these options, please go to the CEEC website www.ceec.info.

We need wisdom from above, we need the obedience of faith, we need the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 1-3 tells us the Lord knows what is going on in His worldwide church as He walks among the lampstands (Rev. 2:1), and He knows what He is for and what He is against. Whether you are in the Church of England or not, please pray at this critical time, that we may listen to what the Spirit is saying as we listen to that word given in Holy Scripture that the same Spirit caused to be written for our learning.