The terrible quandary facing C of E evangelicals

An informal update on Living in Love and Faith in the York General Synod only shed light on division and stalemate.

After the vote in February, much was left to be brought back in July. Though the synod voted in favour of the House of Bishops’ proposals, vital questions remained unanswered about the final form of the prayers, the pastoral guidance for their use and the provision for those who in conscience could not accept them. In truth, it was a vote to continue with a process, a process which was instantly hampered by the same profound disagreements that were aired in the debate. Church Society Associate Director, Ros Clarke, a member of General Synod, shared in the session that, ‘despite all the good conversations, the sharing and the hearing, the growing fellowship and friendships, there is a profound disagreement which continues to exist on these issues.’

Three workstreams were set up – for the revision of the prayers, the pastoral guidance and pastoral reassurance. Yet very quickly, these carefully selected groups ran into problems, not least dealing with the large overlap between them, and they have now been disbanded. Even before the July synod, an additional synod was called for November, and even then, Ros Clarke said, ‘I honestly think that November may be equally unrealistic.’ She continued, ‘But it may also be that there is no time frame which would be long enough to square this circle.’

Conservative evangelicals in the Church of England have first been exercised by how to articulate an orthodox view clearly, and that has been done, faithfully and graciously. The House of Bishops and General Synod are patently aware of the evangelical stance on marriage, just as much as they are aware of the revisionist view.

Attention has since moved to preparing a response to what might eventually come. While the bishops have expressed, ‘no intention to change the doctrine of marriage as expressed in the canons and authorised in the marriage liturgies,’ from an evangelical perspective, it seems highly likely that the outcome will do exactly that. Given that the process has been openly predicated on ‘walking together’, we would be unwillingly invested in both a doctrinal shift and a suppression of the truth. This raises the question of whether and how we need to walk apart.

At the same time, evangelicals in the Church of England are in a troubling ecclesiological quandary. Our ecclesial identity is moulded and fashioned on ecclesial solidarity; wider church relationships and structures are a defining and Biblical feature of our polity. Evangelicals have all too often sat too light with this, but now in a crisis, like a seatbelt in a car crash, it is not easily adjusted. The Church of England is not simply an association of churches like the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. One cannot simply stop paying the subs and find a new association to join. It is an organic relationship, and diseased or severed body parts cause pain and loss of function.

After a presentation and three hours of questions, Synod demonstrated that the process that aims to lead to a resolution has been slowed to a stop by the question of the place of sexual intimacy. After the session, Church Society Regional Director, Chris Moore reflected, ‘There is no decision as to how to implement the prayers, and bishops seem rattled to know that they might personally be open to legal challenge.’ Thus, we find ourselves in a confused state of suspended animation, a limping limbo.

Yet we cannot simply sit and wait and worry, for however long it might take. Right now, in our everyday church life, we need to respond faithfully to the continuing lack of faithful spiritual leadership and doctrinal fidelity from our bishops. We still have the mission Christ has given the church, and, though we are injured and weakened, God gives us strength in weakness. We still need to hold out the word of life. We still need more workers for the harvest field.

In his letter to Church Society members, Lee Gatiss commended our evangelical activism, but noted, by contrast, the apostolic impulse is first and foremost to pray. Inspired by 1 Timothy, he wrote, ‘Prayer is the first thing to do to combat heresy.’ Last month a brief report in en noted a gathering in All Souls Langham Place, organised by LonDEN (Diocese of London Evangelical Network). And meetings and gatherings of evangelicals to pray together have been happening around the country in different networks and formats.