Devon’s bishops have been attending a national meeting of the College of Bishops in the latest stage in the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) discernment process about matters of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev’d Jackie Searle, is the Diocese of Exeter’s LLF advocate and said “In September the Church of England published ‘Listening with Love and Faith,’ gathering the responses from churchwide engagement with Living in Love and Faith.
Bishop Jackie and Bishop Robert with General Synod representatives at an LLF prayer event in Exeter Cathedral in April
“Thank you to everyone who completed the survey or sent artwork or other responses. There was a high level of engagement and response from this diocese.”
Bishop Jackie shared these highlights from the Listening in Love and Faith report:
Highlights from the responses:
- The majority of people who hade taken part in an LLF course agreed it had deepened their understanding of topics relating to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
- Participants said the LLF course had helped to clarify issues, given opportunity to study the Bible and hear from experience, given confidence in discussion, increased empathy, given space for different views and explored complex issues.
The report found that when thinking about what should happen next:
The Listening in Love and Faith report found there was a desire to keep the Church together and to work together across differences
- There is a strong desire across all Church traditions and perspectives for the Church to be more welcoming
- There is an equally strong desire to keep the Church together and to work together across differences
- Along with that, a majority of respondents would like to see the acceptance of same-sex marriage or the blessing of same sex partnerships
- And there is a desire for a clear outcome from the discernment that has now passed to the Bishops and to the General Synod.
What is happening now?
The College of Bishops has been reading and and listening to the LLF survey responses and has done preparatory work ahead of two residentials (one taking place now and one in December). The residentials are focusing on responses to the listening exercise, scenarios for the way forward, and working towards proposals. In addition, the LLF Next Steps Group has been meeting with 21 different Christian organisations, some of them campaigning for a more conservative approach to sexuality and identity and some for a more inclusive one.
Bishop Jackie said “It is envisaged that proposals will be brought to the February 2023 General Synod.
“This is a journey from discernment to decision making and it needs all our prayers, creativity and wisdom. Pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit.”
You can contact the Diocese of Exeter about the Living in Love and Faith Process by email.
