In 2017 fourteen retired bishops voiced concern over the same sex relationships report

In 2017 fourteen retired bishops voiced concern over the same sex relationships report

In advance of the Synod debate in February 2017 fourteen retired bishops took the unprecedented step of intervening in the Church of England’s controversial debate over Same Sex Marriage. They said that the 2017 report would only have integrity if it honoured “the assurance that the voices of those who participated would not be drowned out by the ‘majority view’ or ‘established position’”. Do I think that at the end of the Living Love and Faith process, LGBTIQ+ voices will have been authentically heard and not drowned out by ‘the majority view’ or ‘established position’? No.

Campaigning for radical LGBTIQ+ inclusion

Campaigning for radical LGBTIQ+ inclusion

Why do we, LGBTIQ+ people become so quickly disputatious and defensive among ourselves? Because we have been living in an incredibly unhealthy, abusive, toxic environment in Church and Society for centuries for starters. We don’t seem to recognise that this unhealthy, toxic, abusive environment continues to dominate nationally, however much our local church seems to be welcoming and valued. There is a reluctance to organise ourselves to campaign actively for an ambition far greater than the Archbishops’ understanding of what radical inclusion means - a really radically inclusive outcome for LGBTIQ+ people.

Trans leaders and CA England advise Bishop of London a working group to consider gender identity and transition is unadvisable

Trans leaders and CA England advise Bishop of London a working group to consider gender identity and transition is unadvisable

Alex Clare-Young and Christina Beardsley and the Changing Attitude England steering group have replied to the Bishop of London convinced that the formation a working group to consider gender identity and transition supplementary to the work already undertaken in this area by the LLF project would be inadvisable.

Changing Attitude England ask Archbishops what new radical Christian inclusion means for LGTBIQ+ people

Changing Attitude England ask Archbishops what new radical Christian inclusion means for LGTBIQ+ people

Changing Attitude England has written to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York asking them to spell out in detail what new radical Christian inclusion actually means. Where, in scripture, in reason, in tradition, in theology, and the Christian faith as the Church has received it, is radical Christian inclusion to be found?

Trans leaders ask Next Steps Group chair to ensure trans membership on new working group

Trans leaders ask Next Steps Group chair to ensure trans membership on new working group

Tina Beardsley and Alex Clare-Young have written to the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Sarah Mullally, bishop of London and chair of the LLF Next Steps Group, asking her to confirm that the new working group on gender identity and transition will be composed of a wide range of trans members, including transfeminine, transmasculine and non-binary people together with those who are recognised specialists in the field of gender identity and in overseeing people’s transitions.

Living in Love & Faith (LLF) to reconsider gender identity and transition

Living in Love & Faith (LLF) to reconsider gender identity and transition

The House of Bishops’ meeting held on Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th May “agreed in principle to the formation of a working group on gender identity and transition under the auspices of the LLF Next Steps Group.” Tina Beardsley and Alex Clare-Young argue that the membership of the proposed working group should embrace a broad range of trans and gender variant people. It must also include people who are specialists in the field of gender identity and in overseeing people’s transitions. It should not include those who dismiss trans people’s experience as a mental illness, a fantasy, a sinful temptation, a gnostic claim to secret self-knowledge, or a symptom of the decadence of Western self-consciousness.

So-called conversion therapy, gender identity, and the dangers of coercion and consultation

So-called conversion therapy, gender identity, and the dangers of coercion and consultation

The Church of England’s General Synod Motion of 2017 was unequivocal in its call for a ban on so-called conversion therapy. The UK Government has not only delayed taking action but has recently begun to add the qualifying word ‘coercive’. Is a distinction being drawn between so-called conversion therapy that is coercive and other practices, such as prayer ministry, that are thought to be acceptable? Clarity about the meaning of coercive and non-coercive in this context is urgently needed. The Government seems to be consulting with those determined to protect harmful faith-based practices.

LLF Next Steps Group refuses to act on trans people’s concerns

LLF Next Steps Group refuses to act on trans people’s concerns

The LLF course comes with videos of people telling their stories. One of them shows Debbie Hayton who has been repeatedly condemned for transphobia. She is a rare example of a member of a minority who sides with those who fight against their rights. She doesn't speak for trans people. Despite these significant concerns raised by Changing Attitude England with the LLF Next Steps Group, all bishops, they have decided to retain Debbie’s film story as part of the LLF resources. This decision demonstrates the fantasy of ‘fair play’ that is at work in the LLF process, blind to the inequalities of power at work.

Victim of abuse failed by London bishops who perversely then pursue the victim’s defender

Victim of abuse failed by London bishops who perversely then pursue the victim’s defender

This blog describes the abuse experienced by Rachel Gillingham at St Luke’s, Kentish Town, and the complaint for misconduct raised against Fr Robert Thompson, Vicar of St James’ Church, West Hampstead in the same Deanery under the Clergy Discipline Measure. Fr Robert is supporting and advocating on behalf of Rachel. The hierarchy of the Church of England when dealing with cases of abuse has repeatedly prioritised the defence of the reputation of individual bishops and of the Church rather than recognising the impact on victims and the priority to deal effectively with the abuse perpetrated on them. Rachel’s abuser has not been effectively dealt with by the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, nor by the Bishop of Edmonton the Rt Revd Rob Wickham, who instead pursue Robert, a gay priest.

Orgone Energy, Orgasms and Christian Suppression

Orgone Energy, Orgasms and Christian Suppression

Wilhelm Reich, the renegade disciple of Sigmund Freud, was driven to try and understand why his patients might want to escape or subdue their bodies and emotions and why, despite that, the body remains a naked source of power. An article about Reich provoked me to realise that although the Changing Attitude England campaign for equality in ministry and relationships is driven to reject biblical fundamentalist homophobic teaching, it also has to become a campaign against the abuse of LGBTIQ+ people by the Christian Church in general and the Church of England House of Bishops in particular. The House of Bishops, supported by various conservative movements and a toxic reading of the Bible, seek to maintain teachings that prohibit intimacy and sexual activity for clergy and licenced lay people, suppressing our bodies, emotions and life energies.