Among the papers sent to members of General Synod last week is GS Misc 1306. It is a guide, particularly for Members of General Synod elected for the first time this year, giving an overview of Living in Love and Faith to enable the new Synod to understand the LLF journey since the inception of the project in 2017. The document sets out in detail the dates and stages of the evolution of LLF.
The process didn’t begin in 2017, of course, and I want to remind us briefly of earlier stages.
1998 - 2021
In July 2011 the House of Bishops announced a review of its 2005 Pastoral Statement on civil partnerships and proposals on how the continuing discussion in the Church of England initiated by the 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution 1.10 listening process initiative might be shaped. Note, the beginnings of the current LLF process go at least as far back as 1998. The question of civil partnerships for same-sex couples was a key factor in 2011. The House of Bishops set up a Working Group on Human Sexuality chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling and in November 2013 produced a report know generally as the Pilling Report. The key outcome of the Report was a proposal to set up a process of facilitated conversations, and that became the Shared Conversations. The Findings and Recommendations of the Pilling Report addressed same-sex relationships, homophobia, same-sex attraction, the unconditional acceptance of all people, marking the formation of a permanent same sex relationship in a public service, and the avoidance of intrusive questioning. The acronym LGBTIQ+ was never used. It was essentially about homosexuality; specifically same-sex male relationships. Lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex identities were not considered. The Report contained two dissenting chapters by the Bishop of Birkenhead who opposed any concessions to enable ‘homosexual’ people to be more fully included.
The outcome of the Shared Conversations was GS 2055, Marriage and same-sex relationships after the Shared Conversations: A Report from the House of Bishops, presented to General Synod in February 2017. The motion ‘That the Synod do take note of this Report’ was lost: the Houses of Bishops and Laity voting for and the House of Clergy against. The Archbishops returned to Synod in July with a proposal that included the intention of working towards what they called “a radical new Christian inclusion”. Changing Attitude England has been asking Archbishops and the Next Steps Group to produce a definition of radical new Christian inclusion and sent them our own proposal as a guide. Yet there is no mention of radical new Christian inclusion in the Guide for Members of General Synod. We may conclude that such a radical proposal by the Archbishops has proved to be too radical for the NSG to take on board.
What about LGBTIQ+ people?
My first observation about the Guide for Members, GS Misc 1306, is that homosexuals are not named even once in the 11 page document. That might be thought to be a good development until you discover that the Guide names LGBTIQ+ people just once, in the final section about hopeful aspirations for the future, which includes: “Listen to the lament and fear and pain of people, especially, LGBTQI+ people.” That’s it – we are expecting people to listen to our fears and pains come 2023 when the process is completed.
Purpose of LLF
The resources so far produced, and the new resources proposed “are for the whole Church to use to learn together as the whole people of God … discern what it is that God is saying to the Church today about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage – and perhaps other aspects of our life and witness.” Not only will you search in vain not only for any indication that LLF is really about LGBTIQ+ people; you will search in vain for any specific references to heterosexual or cisgender people.
The next four stages of the LLF journey
The Living in Love and Faith journey, the Guide reveals, has four more stages to come:
Learning together about the subject matter, about each other, about God and about our calling as a Church. → 30 April 2022
Listening to what is emerging from our learning together about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage and about our life together as church communities and as a national Church. → September 2022
Discerning what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today. → December 2022
Deciding how discernment is translated into a way forward for the Church. → February 2023
Note that the opportunity to provide feedback on the current stage of the process, ‘Listening to the Whole Church’, closes on 30 April 2022.
The findings of ‘Listening to the Whole Church’ and the newly-announced resource, ‘The Gift of the Church’, are to be published in September 2022 in a variety of media. In other words, there is going to be yet another publication with allied resources for us to buy and engage with.
In September 2022 the College of Bishops begin “the discernment process in the light of the LLF Book, the findings of ‘Listening to the Whole Church’ and ‘The Gift of the Church’”. They will work on proposals for a way forward, indicating the implications for formal decision-making and by December 2022 finalise proposals and reflect on what is needed to support the decision-making processes in General Synod. Note that this part of the process is entirely undertaken by the College of Bishops.
In February 2023 General Synod will be allowed to “consider proposals from the College and House of Bishops and agree a clear direction of travel.”
Where are we now?
In section 3.b under ‘Where are we now’ we learn that everyone who engages with the LLF resources is encouraged to share their reflections with the wider Church, allowing them to be ‘captured’ by completing the LLF online questionnaire or in creative ways: through photography, painting, colouring, poetry, music or in a recorded conversation or video or through Focus groups that will take place towards the end of 2021 and spring 2022 and will enable deeper reflections on emerging themes. So, friends, watch out for an announcement about the focus groups next month or early in 2022. I wonder who is going to be entitled to membership of a focus group.
Further resources
Under further resources, GS Misc 1306 announces an annotated bibliography relating to gender identity and transition will gather and summarize resources to help the Church:
to be better informed about the questions relating to gender identity, fluidity and transition that are being debated in society;
to better understand the impact of these debates on trans and gender fluid people and others affected by them.
It will involve gathering resources from experts in different fields, from transgender and gender fluid people as well as other people affected by these questions.
Tina Beardsley has discussed the place of trans people at length with the Changing Attitude Steering Group and with her trans colleagues. They have written twice to the Next Steps Group stating clearly that the Church of England has already agreed a clear policy about trans people which, while not perfect, is entirely acceptable to trans people. They have stated equally clearly their objection to further work being undertaken.
There follows in GS Misc 1306 a detailed history of the LLF process to date.
The Guide concludes by looking ahead, asking Synod members to imagine themselves at General Synod in February 2023. Members of the last Synod were asked “What steps can the LLF Next Steps Group and all of us in the wider church take to help make your most hopeful aspirations a reality?” Their answers are listed:
Use and share the LLF resources; encourage one another and move towards one another.
Continue to listen actively and to exercise deep respect for those with whom we disagree, with a humility and willingness to learn.
Move towards a compassionate theological process – engaging with heart as well as head, modelling attentiveness, generosity, graciousness, and love.
Listen to the lament and fear and pain of people, especially, LGBTQI+ people.
Move from a less adversarial to a more conversational listening approach that involves genuine encounter.
Listen to the wider church and pay attention to marginalised perspectives.
Be courageous, honest, patient, gentle, kind. Uphold the Pastoral Principles.
Keep the focus on Jesus: listen to Jesus, let Jesus, thank Jesus.
Look for the beauty of Jesus in others, including those with whom we disagree.
Pray in faith without ceasing.
In Synod, find ways of listening to all the voices, not just the loudest.
There you have it - the outcome of 23 years work since Lambeth 1998 and 10 years work since the Pilling Group was created. And the best that LGBTIQ+ people can hope for is that our lament, fear and pain will be listened to.
Changing Attitude England’s goal
Changing Attitude England is determined to campaign for a radical outcome, an outcome that genuinely embodies a radical new Christian inclusion.
We are engaged in conversations among ourselves and with other radical Anglican activists. We know what the Christlike outcome has to be – equality in relationships and ministry for LGBTIQ+ people.
The strategy to achieve our goal is constantly evolving. Our determination increases in proportion to the anger created at each step by the Archbishops and bishops and by those who are attempting to block progress.