The Church of England’s bishops pushed back key decisions on same-sex liturgies and clergy discipline for nearly a year. Dense theological papers show work is being done.
The Rev. Canon Chris Ahrends: “It’s time for a form of ‘civil disobedience’ within the church — call it ‘ecclesiastical disobedience’ — by clergy of conscience.”
Just as the Church of England has created blessings for same-sex couples that are not wedding rites, the Church of England Evangelical Council has created “spiritual overseers.”
The dean and the cathedral’s governing chapel approved these blessings unanimously, and consulted with the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin of Dover.
Remarkably for this genre of prayers, the 15 drafts released by the archbishop reflect not only proposed blessings, but also a prayer of reservations and prayers that focus more on the divided nature of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
“The outcome of this vote was met with gasps around the chamber, and a coordinated protest from the public gallery, with shouts that the synod was ‘serving Satan.’”
Eleven conservative bishops have issued a dissenting statement, alleging that the plan fails “to safeguard the pastoral stability, mission, and unity of the church,” while LGBT activists in the church complain that it shows a loss of nerve.
