CAPTION: The three bishops say they have been strongly committed to the Living in Love and Faith process since it started
Devon’s Bishops Send Pastoral Letter as Living in Love and Faith Process Concludes
The bishops of the Diocese of Exeter have sent a pastoral letter to clergy and lay people in Devon following the decision by the Church of England’s House of Bishops to conclude the Living in Love and Faith Process.
The House of Bishops, which is made up of all England’s diocesean bishops and archbishops met on 14 January to finalise their agreed position on the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process – which explores the Church’s approach to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. You can read more from the House of Bishops here.
Pastoral Letter in Full
We are writing further to the House of Bishops recent meeting (14.1.26) and statement concerning LLF.
As Devon’s Anglican bishops we might be a new team, but we have each been strongly committed to the Living in Love and Faith process since it started. Among us there are different views – but we seek to model generous dialogue and a shared desire to seek God’s will in this and follow God’s way forward. As your bishops there are a number of points we want to convey at this time.
First we want to say that LGBTQI+ colleagues are highly valued in this diocese and continue to be treasured, that we are deeply grateful for your ministries, undertaken with grace and commitment and that we profoundly regret the pain and difficulty the LLF process has caused you. We underline that there is no place at all for ill will or intolerance towards you. The apology made by the House of Bishops in January 2023 concluded: ‘As we have listened, we have been told time and time again how we have failed LGBTQI+ people. We have not loved you as God loves you, and that is profoundly wrong’. We affirm what that document said, that ‘LGBTQI+ people are welcomed and valued: we are all children of God’.
Second, we also underline that those holding to a traditional view of marriage and sexuality are highly valued and continue to be treasured in this diocese, that again we are deeply grateful for your ministries and we appreciate that there are those among you who may be disappointed at the lack of hoped for pastoral provision by way of alternative forms of oversight. Furthermore, as we continue to reiterate, no one should feel compelled to use the Prayers of Love and Faith if they are not comfortable doing so.
Third, we are a broad Church and Exeter diocese aspires to be a safe diocese for all God’s people to thrive. While our diversity is God’s gift and blessing, it is costly, costly because it demands of us that we recognise Christ in those who differ from us, and asks of us a degree of humility, loving regard and consideration which challenges us. Nevertheless, we recognise God’s love for all God’s children and seek to be a Church for all.
Fourth, while some might see the decisions to submit proposals for bespoke services to the Canon B2 process and to require further legislative and theological work before considering enabling clergy to enter same sex marriage as attempts to stop change happening, the House of Bishops as a whole has felt it the right way to ensure that any future changes passed by a majority in General Synod are thoroughly tested and viewed as legitimate by all. The House of Bishops felt the need to acknowledge that there are differences here that could fracture our understanding of the Church and as such whatever else happens that what was needed was transparent, legally vouchsafed processes to assist in discerning the way forward.
Fifth we need to acknowledge straightforwardly that while some of us cannot see how there is any theological difference between Prayers of Love and Faith being offered in scheduled services (as commended by the House of Bishops) and in bespoke services which have not been commended, for others there are significant differences. And while some want to see gay and lesbian clergy being able to enter into same sex marriages without fear of sanctions, others regard this as anathema to scripture and doctrine and thus a ‘first order’ issue. Resolving such differences (even within a broad Church) while retaining coherence as the Body of Christ remains massively challenging and needs our dependence on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and ongoing prayer.
As mentioned above, we approach the next chapter of this journey dependent on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and with a continued desire to support a way forward which enables different voices to be heard and respected, a way which puts Jesus’ greatest commandment, to love God and one another, first.
We would be grateful for your prayers for wisdom for us, our fellow bishops and our General Synod representatives.
“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-26
Epiphanic Blessings,
The Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter
The Rt. Rev’d Moira Astin, Bishop of Crediton
The Rt. Rev’d James Grier, Bishop of Plymouth
Click here to read the statement from the House of Bishops on the Church of England Website.
Click here to find out more about Living in Love and Faith (LLF).
