I have been fully involved with the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process since it began. As an Anglican ethicist, I was invited to be a member of the theology and ethics working group, one of several groups set up to resource and inform the project. After the LLF resources were produced, I became a member of the Bristol diocese LLF reference group, and led an LLF course at Trinity College Bristol, where I am the principal.

I have participated in good faith in the process, trusting that this was an opportunity for people across the Church to work together to try to find a way forward that was “founded in scripture, in reason, in tradition, in theology and the Christian faith as the Church of England has received it”, as the Archbishop of Canterbury put it when launching the project in 2017.

But this is not just an academic matter for me. I also write as one of the minority of LGBT people who believe that the current teaching of the Church is true and good for us and should not change. (You can find out more about my story here).

Following the LLF process, the bishops of the Church of England have now published proposals for prayers for couples in committed relationships, including same-sex couples. The Church of England’s General Synod will soon be voting on whether or not to welcome the bishops’ proposals.

As a member of that Synod, I am not able to welcome them as they currently stand, and I want to share my concerns about the proposals. I do this in a spirit of genuine dialogue. There may be things I have misunderstood or overlooked, and I hope I can be corrected where I am wrong.

My concerns are as follows….

Read it all.

8 reasons why Sean Doherty, a same-sex attracted Christian, believes the CofE’s same-sex proposals won’t work:https://t.co/EKhHUAowIW

— Premier Christianity (@Christianitymag) January 31, 2023

Here is the NBC blurb–‘Colorado hiker Ruth Woroniecki plunged 200 feet in California’s San Gabriel Mountains and had to hike with a broken neck to reach the rescue helicopter. NBC News’ Steve Patterson has more details on the extraordinary story.’

Watch it all and note the faith reference at the end.

“Threats to Religious Freedom in the U.S.” with
Dr. Paul Marshall, February 14

Dr. Paul Marshall, Wilson Distinguished Professor of Religious Freedom at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University will be offering  a public lecture at St. Philip’s Church, Charleston on “The Biblical & Theological Roots of Religious Freedom” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14. All are invited to attend, and to have the opportunity to meet the cohort of participants in the 10th  Anglican Leadership Institute. Learn more.

Read it all.

We have no respect for a surgeon who goes in but does not cut deeply enough to cure nor a patient who backs out of an operation because it may hurt; yet people can go through their whole lives attending church, listening to searching exposures of human sin, without ever taking it to themselves, or meeting anyone with skill and concern enough to lay the challenge right in their own laps.

—Experiment of Faith (New York: Harper&Row, 1957), p.22 (emphasis mine)

in Richmond, San Francisco,+Baltimore and the offices of Dean+Bishop. However, he chose to remain at the Pittsburgh church until failing health required his retirement in 1962 https://t.co/SrEJJBhVcg remembering w thanksgiving the ministry+life of Sam Shoemaker today [AMZN] pic.twitter.com/ZI5rKVmyES

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) January 31, 2022

Holy God, we thank thee for the vision of Samuel Shoemaker, who labored for the renewal of all people: Grant, we pray, that we may follow his example to help others find salvation through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Holy God, we thank thee for the vision of Samuel Shoemaker, who labored for the renewal of all people: Grant, we pray, that we may follow his example to help others find salvation through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ our Savior; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Episcopal Church also commemorates Samuel Shoemaker: Priest and Evangelist, 1963http://t.co/YPUOyKXofz pic.twitter.com/qx1Nfe19YD

— The Anglican Church in St Petersburg (@anglicanspb) January 31, 2015

Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that in whatever dangers we are placed we may call upon thy name, and that when deliverance is given us from on high we may never cease from thy praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good morning 🎶🐦🎶 pic.twitter.com/OLLswx0bdR

— Mårten Björkgren 💙💛 (@MartenBjorkgren) January 31, 2023

Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong; you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first; and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you! I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

–Galatians 4:12-20

Morning everyone hope you are well. Sometimes, you just have to stop and take it all in. Loughrigg Fell. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco @ShowcaseCumbria pic.twitter.com/IHXsIgMIkc

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) January 31, 2023