The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has just released the fourth film in its current series ‘God’s Beautiful Story’, developed as the Church of England considers potential change in the area of human sexuality and marriage.
The latest film explores one possibility that the Church of England might adopt – to allow some form of recognition/ celebration of sexually active relationships other than that of a marriage between a man and a woman. Such a proposal might be accompanied by reassurance that the teaching of the Church of England regarding marriage has not changed and that no one will be forced to do anything against their conscience.
The new film highlights a number of concerns about this possibility, with CEEC convinced that this approach cannot be supported by Scripture and that any such change would make it nigh on impossible for evangelical leaders and churches to hold to a Biblical line in parishes.
‘I have spoken with vicars in all kinds of parishes – large and small, rural and urban, rich and poor – who tell me that a “compromise” along the lines of an affirmation, celebration or blessing of same-sex relationships will be unworkable and create deep schism in their parishes. I hope that the House of Bishops will “smell the coffee” of this reality’, says John Dunnett, Director of Strategy and Operations, CEEC.
This kind of proposal also falls short of the aspirations of those wishing to see significant change in the Church of England’s position on same-sex relationships. They might be willing to welcome it as a ‘first step’ but it will not bring an end to the current tensions and angst within the Church of England for significant change in this area.
In the remaining films in the series, CEEC will offer perspectives from elsewhere in the Anglican Communion and suggest an approach that might enable General Synod (and others involved in the decision-making process over the next 12 months) to address the radically different convictions that exist within the Church of England in a way that might enable evangelical witness to flourish in the longer term.
The CEEC is holding Zoom prayer gatherings during the Lambeth Conference, 25–29 July. Details at www.ceec.info
