Following a vote in General Synod on 8 July 2024, the Church of England issued the Press Release Synod signals support for ‘Anglican way forward’ on same-sex relationships, extracts of which are reproduced below.

Synod signals support for ‘Anglican way forward’ on same-sex relationships

08/07/2024

The Church of England’s General Synod has given agreement in principle to taking forward outline proposals for the wider use of prayers asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples in church services. Synod members supported a motion signalling approval for a broad package of proposals designed to help hold the Church together amid deep disagreements over questions of sexuality.

A selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples – known as Prayers of Love and Faith, are already in use as part of regular services in some churches such as a Sunday eucharist or evensong.

The package of proposals includes possible arrangements for the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith in special – or standalone – services alongside delegated episcopal ministry and work to provide a timetable towards a decision on clergy in same-sex civil marriages.

[…]

Notes

The motion as approved by Synod was as follows:

That this Synod:

(a) support the overall proposal and timetable set out in GS 2358;

(b) request that the House of Bishops, with the advice of the LLF working groups:

[i] revise the Pastoral Guidance to remove restrictions on the use of PLF in ‘standalone’ services alongside the introduction of an arrangement to register for Pastoral Reassurance;

[ii] establish the basis for the provision of Pastoral Reassurance through a House of Bishops’ Statement and Code of Practice which provides for the delegation of some specific and defined episcopal ministry, and which is overseen by an Independent Review Panel;

[iii]. report to this Synod at its February 2025 group of sessions on the further theological work carried out under the auspices of the Faith and Order Commission around the nature of doctrine, particularly as it relates to the doctrine of marriage and the question of clergy in same-sex civil marriages. This work to be appropriately budgeted and resourced by the Archbishops’ Council in terms of theological advice, travel and meeting costs in order to increase the likelihood of meeting the timescales as set out in GS 2358

(c) Agree that taken together the Pastoral Guidance, the Bishop’s Statement and Code of Practice for pastoral provision will replace Issues in Human Sexuality.

(d) Agree for the arrangements for Pastoral Reassurance to be regularly monitored over a period of at least three years before being formally reviewed by General Synod.’ 

The motion was passed as follows:

• Bishops: 22 for, 12 against, 5 abstained
• Clergy: 99 for, 88 against, 2 abstained
• Laity: 95 for, 91 against, 2 abstained

Comment

Opening the debate the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, the lead bishop for the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process, recognised that people on opposing sides of the argument about moves to recognise same-sex couples “want the best for the Church”. He stated:

“We’ve not yet worked out all the detail of what that will mean in terms of vocations, training, licensing, finance and all the many other practicalities of ministry – but we will return to Synod in February next year with those details.

“So nothing changes this autumn the earliest any of this starts is next February.”