A YouGov poll, commissioned by the Ozanne Foundation shows that a majority of members of the Church of England now support equal marriage for lesbian and gay couples despite the Church of England’s refusal to allow equal marriage or blessings in church. Fifty-five per cent of Anglicans in England believe that same-sex marriage is a right. When the same question was asked in 2013, 38 per cent of Anglicans said the same. The proportion who believe same-sex marriage is wrong has dropped from 47 per cent in 2013 to 29 per cent now.
The current Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process is, in theory, giving the whole Church the opportunity to explore the place of LGBTQIA+ people in its life including “identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage”. The House of Bishops, responsible for initiating the LLF process, have not made any commitment to implementing changes at the conclusion of the process in February 2023. Instead they have said that further consultation would be needed. Proposals from the College and House of Bishops “for a clear direction of travel” will be brought to the General Synod in 2023.
Changing Attitude England has been campaigning for the full equality of LGBTQIA+ people in the Church of England since 1995. The findings of the YouGov poll brings greater urgency to the need for equal marriage and ministry in the Church of England after more than four decades of exploration and study.
The Revd Colin Coward MBE, co-ordinator of the group, said:
“We expect the bishops to respond to this research by presenting General Synod with radical proposals for change at the conclusion of the Living in Love and Faith process in February 2023. The bishops must table their intention to remove the quadruple lock on equal marriages and authorise liturgies to celebrate and bless same-sex relationships in Church.
“Many lesbian and gay clergy and lay people live in faithful, deeply committed, loving relationships. A significant number live in a registered civil partnership. Some are married and as a result are prohibited from exercising their priestly ministry. They require recognition and affirmation of their love. The bishops must remove the prohibition on lesbian and gay clergy and lay people in authorised ministry from getting married or converting their civil partnership into marriage.
“The majority in favour of equal marriage revealed by the YouGov poll is one element of a more significant change underway in the Church. People are being converted to a deeper understanding of the teaching of Jesus. He taught about God as unconditional love. His passion was justice for the poor, exemplified in his parables and in his transgression of religious and social boundaries and taboos. The majority no longer believe in a cruel, punitive, judgmental God who supports the oppression of LGBTQIA people in society or the Christian Church.”
Retired bishop David Gillett has said it is primarily a matter of justice. The failure to grant full equality to LGBTQIA+ people affects the mission of the Church of England which is clearly compromised by its exclusion of LGBTQIA+ people and its refusal to accept same sex marriage. It is time to reflect the Gospel of God’s loving welcome and affirmation for everyone created in God’s image.
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