Living in Love and Faith
Living in Love and Faith is the Church of England’s discernment process about matters of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
Since 2017, the Church has been journeying together by means of a suite of Living in Love and Faith resources that were published in November 2020. The bishops of the Church of England invited church communities from across the country to use the resources to learn together, to listen to one another and to God. Everyone who took part was encouraged to complete an online survey in order to share their insights, stories and reflections in order to contribute to the bishops’ discernment about matters of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. The subsequent Listening in Love and Faith report was published in September 2022.
The bishops of the Church of England have now concluded their discernment process and have drafted proposals which include new prayers of blessing, thanksgiving and dedication for couples in same sex relationships. Bishops are not proposing a change to current Church of England doctrine that Holy Matrimony should only be between a man and a woman. You can read more about these proposals here.
The Living in Love and Faith proposals are due to be discussed by the Church of England General Synod in February 2023.
The Bishop of Crediton, the Right Reverend Jackie Searle, is the Diocese of Exeter advocate for the Living in Love and Faith Process.
Even though the churchwide engagement phase has now ended, the LLF book, study guides, podcasts and real-life personal story films are still a very helpful resource for churches and individuals around the subjects of sexuality, gender, identity, relationships and marriage.
To access everything you need please visit the Living in Love and Faith website.
Here is a guide to some useful background reading.
Contact
If you would like a pastoral conversation in confidence about Living in Love and Faith and the proposals please email them here
Bishop Jackie has written this prayer for the LLF Process, which you are welcome to download and use.
