The House of Bishops will make a final decision on the future of standalone same-sex blessings when it meets again on December 16 but Bishop Philip Mounstephen said the theological and legal advice made clear that any changes will need to be \u201cdone properly according to the norms of our governance\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a recent meeting of the Winchester Diocesan Synod, Bishop Philip Mounstephen said that questions over how such changes could be made without changing the official doctrine of the Church of England \u2013 which upholds marriage between a man and woman \u2013 proved to be \u201cthe game changer\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the theological and legal advice had brought the House of Bishops \u201cface to face with the sheer constitutional difficulty of making such changes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> The Bishop of Winchester has defended the recent decision of the House of Bishops to pause plans to introduce standalone same-sex blessing services https:\/\/t.co\/OD99QBXeo5<\/a> #anglican<\/a> #bishops<\/a> #anthropology<\/a> #parishministry<\/a> #ethics<\/a> #21stc<\/a> #pastoralpractice<\/a> #doctrine<\/a><\/p>— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) December 8, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>